Shawn Reed Racing is making a change at the top of its Top Fuel operation, parting ways with longtime crew chief Rob Wendland and turning the tuning duties over to Ryan Elliott on an interim basis.
The team announced the move Wednesday, ending Wendland’s run with an organization he helped build from the ground up. Elliott’s move into the crew chief position is effective immediately.
Wendland’s departure comes a little more than a year after he helped deliver one of the defining moments for Reed’s independent operation. Reed scored his first NHRA Top Fuel national event victory at the 2025 Reading Nationals, giving the young team proof it could win against the established heavyweights of the category.
Wendland had been a central figure in developing the program, its personnel and the race-day combination that eventually carried Reed into an NHRA winner’s circle.
“Rob has been an important part of Shawn Reed Racing from the beginning, and I have a tremendous amount of respect and appreciation for everything he has put into this team,” Reed said. “He helped us build this program, develop our people and turn this team into an NHRA national event winner. Winning Reading together is something I’ll always be proud of, and I’m grateful to Rob for the role he played in getting us there.”
The change comes as Reed evaluates where his Top Fuel program goes next. The team characterized the move as part of its effort to position the operation for continued growth, but Reed made it clear the expectations inside the trailer have not been lowered.
Elliott will take over tuning and competition operations while the team determines its longer-term direction. His familiarity with the operation gives Reed continuity at a time when a crew chief change can easily create disruption.
“Ryan knows this team, understands our program and has earned the opportunity to lead us through this transition,” Reed said. “Our expectations haven’t changed. We want to compete at a high level, continue improving and put ourselves in a position to win races.”
For Reed, the move closes an important chapter in the short history of his Top Fuel team without erasing what Wendland helped accomplish. He leaves as the crew chief who helped take Reed from building an independent operation to becoming an NHRA national event winner.
Shawn Reed Racing thanked Wendland for his commitment and leadership and said additional information regarding the team’s competition program will be announced when appropriate.
