By Anthony Caruso III
Brian Husen has a tuning position once again. He has been hired as the Scrappers Racing crew chief.
Husen replaces Doug Kuch, who had served as Salinas’ crew chief in 2018 in his first full-time season. Kuch helped guide Salinas to the Countdown to the Championship.
Kuch will be looking for employment opportunities elsewhere in 2019. Salinas finished seventh in the Countdown to the Championship in 2018.
The move unites Alan Johnson and Husen. Johnson served as a tuning advisor for Salinas last season.
Husen and Johnson go back 15-years together. Husen spent the last several seasons as a crew chief for Brittany Force.
Together, they helped guide Force to her first career Top Fuel Championship in 2017.
Joining Husen with several crew members, who worked on Force’s team last year.
Besides working together with Force, the tuning specialists also guided Shawn Langdon to the championship in 2013. They also helped guide Del Worsham to the Championship in 2011.
During the 2018 season, Force had a 17-23 round record. She was eliminated 13 times in the first-round.
In the 24 races, the Yorba Linda, California native was the No. 1 qualifier twice and won one race. She won the NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas.
She defeated Terry McMillen in the final round. Force went 3.762, while McMillen went 3.818.
Salinas, on the other hand, made 23 starts. He also had a 17-23 round record.
The San Jose, California native was eliminated in the first-round 12 times. Yet, he had one No. 1 qualifier and one runner-up finish.
The Scrappers Racing pilot lost to Tony Schumacher in the final round at Bristol in June. Schumacher went 3.946, while Salinas went 5.251.
