Pit 101

Every sport requires its athletes to have proficiency in selected athletic skills. Pit Crew athletes are no exception to this rule.

Movement skills are critically important during a pit stop. Being able to display quick precise changes of direction and footwork are highly sought after qualities. A pit-stop requires the athlete to move around a stationary car while air hoses, loose lug nuts, team members and speeding cars try to impair your moving into position. Certain skill tests are great indicators of the type of skills requires to be a good pit crew athlete.

Pit stops are necessary when cars need to be refueled and worn tires need to be replaced. As pit crews members become better trained and increasing more athlete pit stop times become faster and faster. Once fifteen seconds was considered a time that could not be improve upon. Now in the new millennium pit stop times of 11.90 - 12.25 are achievable. This of course requires a great team effort and flawless movements throughout the stop. With racing speeds around 200 mile per hour, a tenth of a second lost can mean the difference of 6 car lengths, a second lost can mean the difference of three quarters of a mile. Great pit stops can help make up lost time, while bad stops can lose a race. This is why it is every more critical for teams to find the right athletes to make up their crews.

NASCAR allows seven crew members to service their teams car during a stop. An additional eighth man is sometimes allowed to service the cars driver.

Tire Carriers -- These athletes are responsible for carrying the new tires to the car. Once the old tire is removed by the tire changer, the Carrier use quickness, strength and accuracy to pivot and throw the tire into place so that its five post holes perfectly center the corresponding post on the hub. Each tire weighs around 70 pounds. During a four tire stop both the front and the rear Carriers carry left side and right side tires to their respective section of the car. A great carrier can deliver a perfect "strike" without a rotation of the tire, in less than a second. Often the rear Tire Carrier is also responsible for setting and turning wrenches that adjust the alignment of the car.

Jackman  -- Using a 25-pound hydraulic jack the Jackman smoothly and rapidly raises the car on both sides to allow the tires to be changed. The Jackman is also responsible for removing the right rear tire for the rear Changer. A great Jackman can peg his jack on the right side and lift the car in less than a second. Also he can then drop, run around, peg and lift the left side of the car in around 3.6 to 3.8 seconds.

Tire Changers  -- The Tire Changer, from a kneeling posture, uses an air-powered impact wrench to loosen and tighten the five lug nuts which hold the wheels in place. Like the Carrier; the Changer's job requires a high degree of accuracy. During a four tire stop both the front and rear Changers attempt to remove and replace 20 lug nuts without missing a single lug. Great Changers can remove five lugs in just over a second, and then ratchet on the replacement lugs (already glued in place on the wheel) in just under a second. After hitting the last lug on the right side of the car, a great Changer has about 2.20 to 2.4 seconds to quickly move from his or her knees, sprint around the car, and kneel again to hit the first lug on the car's left side.

Catch Can Man  -- This crew member holds a can that collects overflow from the fuel cell as it is being filled and signals the rest of the team when the fueling process is finished. In some cases the catch can man is responsible for turning wrenches to make adjustments to the cars alignment. The Catch can man may also have to catch and return used tires to the pit wall.

Gas Man  -- The gas man fills the car's fuel cell with one or two 12-gallon cans of fuel (81 pounds each). He may have other duties as well depending on the needs of the stop, including setting and adjusting wrenches to better align the car.

Extra Man  -- Occasionally, an eighth man is allowed to clean the windshield, provide water or assist the driver as needed.