- NASCAR Pit Crew Challenge
There are not many race weekends where the winning team can perform a 24.66-second pit stop, celebrate in Victory Lane and sneak out with the trophy. But such is the case in Thursday’s NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge (May 15 at 9pm ET on SPEED) when accuracy is paramount and seven guys pushing a 3,200-pound race car 40 yards up to six separate times is just part of the game.
There are individual competitions for front tire changer, rear tire changer, jackman and gasman. Participants can register for multiple categories. Team competition will follow individual competitions. Trophies and prizes will be awarded to individuals and team winners, compliments of Sprint, Craftsman and NASCAR.
The Sprint Pit Crew Challenge recognizes not only the premier seven-man pit crew, it singles out the best in each individual position and awards that man $10,000 at the end of the evening.
“While it’s about the group of guys, it’s also about individuals and how they perform,” explained McReynolds, who shares his technical expertise each week as host of the popular SPEED program NASCAR Performance. “But the end result is about how the team performs and that’s the same thing they face on race day. If the front-tire changer is done with both front tires in 12.5 seconds and the rear tire changer is done in 14.5 seconds, they’ll have a 14.5-second stop. This combines two things: the individual’s performance and the team’s performance.”
Recognition and trophy aside, pit crew members have the chance to showcase their skills one time a year for their home crowd and oftentimes their families.
