NASCAR Cup Series

Ernie Cope to crew chief Chase Elliott in 2015

Published Aug. 18, 2014 3:07 p.m. ET

foxsports

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (AP) Ernie Cope will crew chief Chase Elliott next season at JR Motorsports.

Cope will replace Greg Ives at the end of the season. Ives is moving from JRM to Hendrick Motorsports to crew chief Dale Earnhardt Jr. Cope has been crew chief for JRM's part-time No. 5 Chevrolet, which has three wins this season with Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne.

Elliott is the current Nationwide Series points leader. He heads into Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend with a 10-point lead over teammate Regan Smith.

JRM general manager Kelley Earnhardt Miller said Monday the organization will take its time finding a crew chief to replace Cope on the No. 5 car, which will be primarily driven next year by Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr.