At the halfway point of the NASCAR Winston Cup season it appears that Michael Waltrip’s pit crew is well on its way to collecting the $200,000 season bonus that goes to the champion of the McDonald’s Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by POWERade. Waltrip’s NAPA pit crew became the first team to win three McDonald’s Drive-Thru Pit Championships this season when the No. 15 crew outscored the participating field in Sunday’s Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Waltrip’s #15 Chevrolet, owned by Dale Earnhardt Inc., spent the least amount of aggregate time off the track – 190.368 seconds. Jeff Burton’s pit crew came in second with a time of 193.689 and Tony Stewart’s crew was third at 225.375. The pit crew victory increased the lead for Waltrip’s team. After 18 races, the No. 15 crew has a commanding lead with 681 points. Dale Earnhardt’s pit crew is second with 609 points and Bobby Labonte’s crew is third with 582. Waltrip’s pit crew also leads in prize money with $60,000 collected — $20,000 for each McDonald’s Drive-Thru Pit Championship victory. The team’s other pit crew wins were at the season-opening Daytona 500 (Feb. 16) and at Dover (June 1). “The best part about leading this competition, is our team is just that – a team,” said crew chief Richard “Slugger” Labbe, “The McDonald’s/POWERade pit crew challenge is a great way for other people to see how this group has jelled since its inception. There are forty-some crew members that make up the NAPA team and only eight of them really ever get any credit for the success we’ve enjoyed this year. Those guys that make up the guts of the NAPA team put the everyday pieces into place, which allow the over-the-wall guys to excel in each of their positions. I am extremely proud of our over-the-wall team, but it’s the overall effort that impresses me the most.” The over-the-wall pit crew for Waltrip’s team consists of: Brian Chase (jackman), Jeff Opal (gasman), Chris Crumley (front tire changer), Greg Osborne (rear tire changer), Shawn Ward (front tire carrier), Chad Walter (rear tire carrier) and Pete Rondeau (catch can). For the season standings, who has won each week, the top 10 last race, see my Pit Crew Page .(DMF Communications PR)(7-16-2003)
