The quest for a championship in the 2003 Winston Cup season isnt limited to Sunday races. Pit crews, rather than drivers, are in the spotlight November 8, 2003, at North Carolina Speedway for the 36th annual 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Competition. The purse for this years event is $100,000, with $30,000 going to the winning team. Setting a new world record will result in a $10,000 bonus. Reigning champion winning consecutively in 2001 and 2002 is Roush Racings No. 17 DeWalt pit crew for current Winston Cup points leader Matt Kenseth. The DeWalt crew bettered their own world record last year by .862 seconds, becoming the first crew to break the 16-second barrier since teams began changing four tires. The current world record, and the time teams will aim to beat in 2003, is 16.823 seconds. Past champions of this elite event include such notable teams as Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and Petty Enterprises. Richard Childress Racing and the Wood Brothers organization each won the championship a record four times. Roush Racing holds two titles with the No. 17 DeWalt team, but three 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Championships overall.(Elevation Motorsports PR), see full PR and more info on my Pit Crew News page for past few years Pit Crew Championships results. ALSO – no word on if Sunoco will take over the Competition in 2004 since Union 76 is leaving at the end of 2003.(11-4-2003)
