He started as a crew chief in 1997 for the #20 Hardee's Ford for Ranier-Walsh Racing. After Hardee's was acquired by CKE Restaurants early in the year, the chain's new parent company pulled their sponsorship, forcing the team to shut down. Baldwin soon became the crew chief for car owner Junie Donlavey and driver Dick Trickle. After a little over a year with the team, during which the pairing of Trickle & Baldwin garnered the team its first Top 5 finishes in 3 seasons, he moved to Bill Davis Racing as the crew chief for Ward Burton in the Fall of 1998. Burton and Baldwin won four races together, including the 2002 Daytona 500, until his departure late that season. In 2003, Baldwin became the crew chief of the No. 7 Dodge Intrepid for Ultra Motorsports driven by Jimmy Spencer.