2009 NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge

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2009 NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge: The 2009 NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge presented by Craftsman will feature the top-24 NASCAR Sprint Cup SeriesTM pit crews in a head-to-head competition at 7:00pm/et Thursday, May 14 at the Time Warner Cable Arena [in Charlotte, NC]. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased online at www.pitcrewchallenge.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 495-2295. SPEED’s broadcast of the event begins at 9pm/et.
Eligibility for the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge presented by Craftsman is determined by teams qualified for the 2009 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, which includes NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race winners from 2008 and 2009, NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race winners of the past 10 years and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions of the past 10 years who are active drivers and have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event during the 2008 or 2009 season. Also, the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge winner is eligible to compete. For more info and the entry list, see my 2009 Pit Crew News page.(5-12-2009)

The 31 team won.

Burton's crew wins NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge: The #31 Caterpillar Chevy team led by crew chief Scott Miller and pit crew coach Matt Clark won the fifth annual NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge presented by Craftsman with a time of 22.115 seconds, a new event record, and a $70,675 payout. “It’s a total team effort,” said Clark. “These guys have been unbelievable with their diligence in pushing the car and had some horsepower tonight.” The #43 United States Air Force Dodge finished the event second with a time of 23.839 seconds, approximately 1.7 seconds behind the event winner. The individual championship crowned six new winners and one return winner, of which five individual winners originated from the #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet team and two members from the #18 M&Ms Toyota team.The NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge presented by Craftsman is a fan-friendly event that featured competition between the series’ top-24 pit crews and is the only indoor event sanctioned by NASCAR.
Burton's over-the-wall crew of gas man Curt Bowman, catch-can man Andrew Childers, front-tire changer Daniel Blizzard, front-tire carrier Jon Wallace, rear-tire changer Terry Spalding, rear-tire carrier Chris Martin and jackman Adam North completed their respective skills and the 40-yard car push in 22.115 seconds, an event record, to defeat the #43 Richard Petty Motorsports Dodge team of driver Reed Sorenson in the finals. "I'm really proud of them," said Burton, who attended the event in support of his crew and his wife Kim, who steered the car during the push. "They put so much effort into the pit stops, and they take this very seriously. They truly are athletes, and they work very hard at it." The 31 team, led by crew chief Scott Miller, won the event with a rear tire changer (Spalding) who had just joined the team, after a stint with Michael Waltrip Racing. "Terry literally started for us yesterday," said pit crew coach Matt Clark. "Yesterday was his first practice. We did two practice runs with him… We were having performance problems, and Terry became available. We liked what we saw, and we definitely liked what we saw tonight."

Individual Champions
Front-Tire Changer – Dennis Terry, #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet (14.855 seconds)
Front-Tire Carrier – Shannon Keys, #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet (14.855 seconds)
Rear-Tire Changer – Jake Seminara, #18 M&M’s Toyota (14.900 seconds)
Rear-Tire Carrier – Kenny Barber, #18 M&M’s Toyota (14.900 seconds)
Gas Man – Preston Cordell, #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet (10.072 seconds)
Catch-Can Man – Eric Hoyle, #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet (10.072 seconds)
Jack Man – Jeff Kerr, #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet (5.666 seconds)
(NASCAR)(5-15-2009)

-Jayski

Congrats to the #31 Team