Testing SpeedwayMedia.com

Tag: Pit Crew Challenge

  • Logano claims first All-Star Race pole; Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 team wins Pit Crew Challenge

    Logano claims first All-Star Race pole; Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 team wins Pit Crew Challenge

    Joey Logano achieved a silver lining amid a difficult first-half span of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series regular-season stretch by claiming the pole position for the 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Saturday, May 18. 

    The starting lineup for this year’s All-Star Race was determined through a special qualifying format infused with the return of the Pit Crew Challenge that was postponed to early Saturday afternoon after the qualifying session’s initial occurrence on Friday night, May 17, was canceled due to ongoing precipitation. 

    For the format, each competitor eligible for the All-Star Race exited pit road and commenced their qualifying session by taking the green flag and cycling once around the North Wilkesboro Speedway circuit for a full lap before making a mandatory four-tire pit stop with a mock fuel run in a designated pit stall during the second lap. At the conclusion of the pit stops the competitors would return to the track and race back to the checkered flag to conclude their qualifying session. 

    With a fast three-lap qualifying session of one minute, 29.75 seconds, that included his four-tire pit stop, Logano, who was the sixth of 17 competitors to qualify through the event’s qualifying order, will start on pole position for the All-Star Race for the first time in his career as this season will mark his 14th career start in the All-Star event. In addition, Logano, who will contend for his second All-Star victory and first since 2016, will start on the pole for the first of two 60-lap All-Star Heat events that will occur on Saturday evening. 

    “[I’m] Very proud of the whole team,” Logano said on FS1. “This qualifying session is the most fun session of the year. It really takes every crew member all the way through. Everybody’s got to do their part to make it happen and that’s why it means a lot to get an All-Star pole. Obviously, a great starting spot. Get a little momentum booster for our team.”

    While Logano emerged as the fastest on the track amid his three-lap qualifying session, his No. 22 Team Penske Ford Mustang Dark Horse pit crew led by crew chief Paul Wolfe posted the fifth-fastest pit session at 13.592 seconds.  

    The team that emerged as this year’s Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge winner was the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry XSE pit crew led by Adam Stevens and piloted by Christopher Bell, with the team generating the fastest four-tire pit service during Bell’s qualifying run at 13.223 seconds. Ironically, Bell’s pit crew features the same crew members that won the 2023 Pit Crew Challenge while servicing Ty Gibbs and the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota team to pole position for the 2023 All-Star Open. Despite Bell posting the third-fastest qualifying run on the track in one minute, 30.17 seconds, his No. 20 team has the first choice of pit stall selection for the All-Star event as they also claim a $100,000 prize. In addition, Bell will start alongside Logano for the first 60-lap Heat event on Saturday evening.

    “What can you say? This is two in a row for these guys and they’ve been awesome,” Bell said. “I’m incredibly happy for them and honored to be their driver. That was a lot of fun.”

    “I wouldn’t want to battle with no other guys and I wouldn’t want to do it for no other driver than Christopher Bell,” Derrell Edwards. Bell’s jackman, added. “We knew it was gonna come down to a Joe Gibbs [Racing] crew, which was special to say. We’ve been good, man. Back to back, baby.”

    “I’m blessed to be with a good group of guys,” Michael Hicks, Bell’s rear tire changer, added. “I couldn’t do this if I didn’t have a good supporting cast. [The No. 20 crew] are the best on pit road. We got a stud for a driver. It’s awesome to win with these guys.”

    Brad Keselowski, winner of last weekend’s Cup event at Darlington Raceway, posted the second-fastest three-lap qualifying session in one minute, 30.14 seconds as he will start on the pole for the second Heat event that will occur on Saturday evening. His No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford Mustang Dark Horse pit crew led by crew chief Matt McCall posted the second-best four-tire pit service in 13.323 seconds. 

    Daniel Suarez and Chris Buescher qualified in the top five while Tyler Reddick, Ross Chastain, Martin Truex Jr., Michael McDowell and AJ Allmendinger rounded out the top 10 in the qualifying session. 

    Notably, Kevin Harvick qualified in the 12th position in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entry while serving as a standby competitor for Kyle Larson, who is qualifying for the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Arrow McLaren. 

    Denny Hamlin posted the 11th-fastest qualifying run while William Byron, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Ryan Blaney rounded out the 17-car field of competitors currently guaranteed starting spots for this year’s All-Star Race. 

    Qualifying Results/Time: 

    1. Joey Logano, 1:29.75 

    2. Brad Keselowski, 1:30.14 

    3. Christopher Bell, 1:30.17 

    4. Daniel Suarez, 1:30.20 

    5. Chris Buescher, 1:30.29 

    6. Tyler Reddick, 1:30.67 

    7. Ross Chastain, 1:30.77 

    8. Martin Truex Jr., 1:30.95 

    9. Michael McDowell, 1:30.99 

    10. AJ Allmendinger, 1:31.67 

    11. Denny Hamlin, 1:31.85 

    12. Kevin Harvick, 1:36.33 

    13. William Byron, 1:39.54 

    14. Kyle Busch, 1:39.79 

    15. Chase Elliott, 1:42.52 

    16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 1:43.31 

    17. Ryan Blaney, 1:49.89 

    Pit Crew Challenge Results/Time:

    1. Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Toyota, 13.223 seconds

    2. Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing No. 6 Ford, 13.323 seconds

    3. Team Penske No. 12 Ford, 13.514 seconds

    4. Trackhouse Racing No. 1 Chevrolet, 13.523 seconds

    5. Team Penske No. 22 Ford, 13.592 seconds.

    6. Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet, 13.842 seconds

    7. 23XI Racing No. 45 Toyota, 13.954 seconds

    8. Richard Childress Racing No. 8 Chevrolet, 13.981 seconds

    9. Trackhouse Racing No. 99 Chevrolet, 14.039 seconds

    10. Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 Toyota, 14.072 seconds

    11. Kaulig Racing No. 16 Chevrolet, 14.180 seconds

    12. Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing No. 17 Ford, 14.185 seconds

    13. Front Row Motorsports No. 34 Ford, 14.389 seconds

    14. Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 Toyota, 15.387 seconds

    15. Hendrick Motorsports No. 9 Chevrolet, 16.939 seconds

    16. Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet, 17.949 seconds

    17. JTG-Daugherty Racing No. 47 Chevrolet, 25.741 seconds

    The 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race festivities continue with a pair of All-Star Race Heat events that will commence on Saturday evening at 5:20 p.m. ET on FS2 and set the rest of the starting lineup for this year’s All-Star Race. The 2024 All-Star Race is scheduled to occur on Sunday, May 19, at 8 p.m. ET on FS1. 

  • NASCAR postpones 2024 All-Star Race Qualifying/Pit Crew Challenge to Saturday due to inclement weather

    NASCAR postpones 2024 All-Star Race Qualifying/Pit Crew Challenge to Saturday due to inclement weather

    The 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race’s Qualifying session that includes the Pit Crew Challenge at North Wilkesboro Speedway has been postponed until Saturday at 11:40 a.m. ET due to ongoing precipitation that prevented the session from occurring on Friday evening.

    The return of this year’s All-Star Race weekend at the famed North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, also features the return of a combined session between on-track qualifying and the Pit Crew Challenge.

    From the format, each competitor eligible for the All-Star event would take the green flag to commence a qualifying attempt and cycle around the North Wilkesboro circuit for a full lap before pitting their respective entries during the second lap. After the pit crews of each team perform a four-tire pit service and a mock fuel service for their respective entries, their respective competitors would return to the track and race back to the frontstretch to claim the checkered flag and complete the qualifying session.

    The competitor who posts the fastest qualifying run throughout the entire procedure, with no penalties generated during the pit stops, will earn the pole position for the All-Star Race and the event’s first of two 60-lap heat sessions that is scheduled to occur this Saturday evening, May 18. In addition, the team that generates the fastest pit service will be crowned the Pit Crew Challenge winner.

    With the cancellation and through a revised schedule, the All-Star Race’s Qualifying and Pit Crew Challenge sessions will follow suit after the Craftsman Truck Series’ qualifying session for the Wright Brand 250 occurs, with the latter airing at 10:35 a.m. ET on FS1 and both occurring on Saturday. At the conclusion of both series’ qualifying sessions, the Truck Series’ Wright Brand 250 will occur at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1 before the All-Star Race’s two 60-lap Heat events will commence, beginning at 5:20 p.m. ET on FS2 and all also occurring on Saturday. The 2024 All-Star Race is scheduled for Sunday, May 19, and will air at 8 p.m. ET on FS1.

    Prior to the cancellation of the All-Star Race Qualifying session, the 2024 All-Star Open Qualifying session was also shortened due to rain, but the lineup for the event was determined based on the current owner’s standings. With the lineup, Ty Gibbs, who is coming off a career-best runner-up result at Darlington Raceway and whose No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota team is ranked in seventh place in this year’s owner’s standings, will start on the pole position for the Open for a second consecutive season. Joining him on the front row will be Alex Bowman, whose No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team is ranked in ninth place in the owner’s standings and will attempt to return to the All-Star Race after being absent from the 2023 event.

    Ironically, this season will mark the second consecutive time that Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 54 Toyota entry and Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 48 Chevrolet entry will occupy the front row for an All-Star Open.

    Both Gibbs and Bowman are two of 20 entered competitors who will participate in the All-Star Open on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. ET on FS1 as they attempt to race their way into the All-Star Race either by finishing in the top two spots on the track during the Open or by being named the Fan Vote winner, which will be announced at the Open’s conclusion.

    The 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race’s Qualifying and Pit Crew Challenge sessions are scheduled to occur on May 18 and air at 11:40 a.m. ET on FS1.

  • Over the Wall with the RCR No. 8 Pit Crew

    Over the Wall with the RCR No. 8 Pit Crew

    This year the All-StarRace Pit Crew Challenge is presented by Mechanix Wear at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The team pit crews play a vital role in every race, but none more so than this weekend.

    The starting lineups for the two heat races on Saturday and the All-Star Open on Sunday will be determined by the Pit Crew Challenge on Friday and the fastest pit crew team will also earn a 100k bonus.

    This is how the pit crew challenge works:

    It will consist of only one driver at a time and no speeding penalties. When the driver reaches one stall away from their designated box, the time begins. Once the driver is in their pit stall, it’s a four-tire stop and no fuel. However, the fuel man will be there with an empty can. After the driver reaches the speed line, which is one pit stall past their box, the timing ends for the stop.

    If there’s any equipment out of the box, or if they go over the wall too soon, there will be a five-second infraction deducted from their time for each violation. If they have a loose wheel, then they’re disqualified. The results of the pit stop time only will determine the starting lineups for both the All-Star Heat Races and All-Star Open.

    I spoke with all five of the pit crewman for the No.8 team of Kyle Busch about today’s All-Star competition to determine how they approach this event.

    MW: As the jackman, you’re leveraging the car for your other teammates to complete the stop together. Do you feel any added pressure during the All-Star pit crew challenge?

    Josh Sobecki: (Jackman) I don’t feel any added pressure. I guess I never really have. It’s a little nerve-racking having everybody watch you during that stop but, it’s also really fun and a great experience. Just have to execute what you already know and you’ll be just fine.

    MW: Are there any advantages with the rules entering and exiting the box that are in your favor?

    Josh Sobecki: The best advantage, we have is Kyle Busch. The man is P1 on and off pit road all the time, so any help is the best. And he always hits his marks well which makes us do our job better as a team.

    MW: Once the jackman has the car up, as a tire changer,  briefly explain your position. 

    Bryan Backus: (Front Tire Changer) Before the car stops, I should be on the lug nut already. Once the jackman gets the car up, the lug should be off. Then I have to pull the tire and roll it back to the wall then switch my button and zip the lug nut back on after the jackman hangs the tire. 

    MW: While passing the tire off to the tire carrier, do you feel any added pressure since this isn’t a normal race pit stop, but a challenge of speed?

    Bryan Backus: I actually never hand the tire off to the carrier because I roll the tire back to the wall. It actually feels like less pressure because we are just going to try and do the fastest stop possible. 

    MW: Coming into today’s All-Star Pit Crew Challenge, how do you mentally prepare for it?

    Marcus Horton: (Rear Tire Changer)

    I mentally prepared for today just like any other race. Easy going. Relaxing. 

    MW: What if anything, do you feel will be the toughest challenge as the rear tire changer?

    Marcus Horton: Getting to the right rear is always my toughest challenge. Depending on where Kyle stops the car makes all the difference for me. 

    MW: On a normal fuel stop,  you feel the weight of the can plus the fuel. Explain how today’s challenge is different.

    Justin White: (Fuel Man)   First off, today will be a lot of fun because Fuelers will get to participate. In years past we had to watch the competition from behind the wall. Having an empty can will feel different from a normal pit stop, but it allows me to be there for my rear changer to help guide the left rear tire coming off back to pit wall as I’m fueling the car.

    MW: In the past, teams have had tires roll away on pit road. Coming into today’s challenge, how do you prepare for this and your role as the tire carrier? 

    Lamar Neal:(Tire Carrier) I always try and prepare myself mentally before any pit stop by doing that, I get to visualize executing each component of my job, setting the tire for the jackman, hanging the tire for the rear changer, and cleaning up anything that is left behind going into the left side. As a carrier, I am depended on to be the cleanup man and that’s what I pride myself in doing.

    The format is unique and to be eligible for the All-Star Race, a driver has to meet one of the following four criteria: They have to be a points race winner in the NASCAR Cup Series in either 2022 or 2023, a former All-Star Race winner, or a NASCAR Cup Series champion, top-two finisher in the All-Star Open, or win the NASCAR Fan Vote.

    Even though Alex Bowman qualified for the race, because of an injury that has him temporarily sidelined, Josh Berry will be piloting the No.48 in the All-Star Open. He will need to finish in first or second place to transfer to the main event. Drivers who are not eligible for the All-Star Race will compete in the All-Star Open, where the top two finishers will advance to the main event. The Fan Vote winner will complete the field. 

    I’d personally like to thank the entire Richard Childress Racing No.8 Cup Series Over the Wall Pit Crew of Kyle Busch as they head into today’s All-Star competition at North Wilkesboro.

    “This one’s for you old buddy !!!! Going to Give ’em hell tonight !!!” – Josh Sobecki 
    jongurley @nascar #allstarpitcrewchallenge @rcrracing

    In loving memory of Jon Gurley