The #9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge pit crew of driver Kasey Kahne battled against the clock and 23 teams to earn the title as 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Pit Crew Challenge Champions at the inaugural event presented by Motorola Thursday at the Charlotte Coliseum. Racing against the clock in team and individual skills components, 24 teams battled through four rounds of competition with only one team remaining at the events conclusion to answer the question of who owns pit road. In the final round of competition, the # 9 team defeated the # 42 Texaco Havoline team of driver Jamie McMurray by 1.69 seconds to secure the championship. Kahnes pit crew completed a four-tire pit stop in 16.14 seconds in the finals to the # 42 teams 17.83-second stop.
The team received $70,000 in cash, as well as special leather jackets and championship rings by Jostens, which produced rings for the 2005 Super Bowl Champions, the New England Patriots and the 2005 World Series Champions, the Boston Red Sox. Seven individual champions were also crowned in their respective positions. Each winning crew member was awarded a fully stocked Craftsman toolbox, along with a $10,000 cash prize, a special leather jacket and a championship ring from Jostens. Gas man Rodney Rhodes and catch-can man Brent Wentz were crowned champions in their fueling discipline in addition to winning the team title.
The NASCAR NEXTEL Pit Crew Challenge presented by Motorola was an added component to the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge, one of the nations elite sporting events. The only event of its kind officially sanctioned by NASCAR, this contest pitted over-the-wall athletes against each other in seven head-to-head skills competitions designed to showcase the talents of NASCARs top crew members. Components of the competition included individual and team contests for tire changers, tire carriers, gas men, jack men and catch-can men, with competitors earning more than $250,000 in guaranteed cash and prizes. Eligible teams included those able to compete in the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge.
Position: Name, Team, Time (seconds)
Front-tire change/carrierr: Mike Trower/Shane Cook, #10 Valvoline Chevy, 14.29
Rear-tire changer/carrier: Andy Brown/Donald Richardson, #2-Miller Lite Dodge, 14.72
Jack man: Kevin Pennell, #15 Napa Auto Parts 7.24
Gas man and Catch-Can man: Rodney Rhodes/Brent Wentz, #9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge, 14.50
Fans across the country can see the top teams in action during a special television presentation of the NASCAR NEXTEL Pit Crew Challenge. The one-hour show will air on FX at 6 p.m., leading into the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge on Saturday, May 21. MRN radio will also broadcast event highlights on May 21 at 6:00pm/et., see more on my Pit Crew News page, some results and images.(5-20-2005)
