Jayski's NASCAR Archives

Schrader’s Team Grabs Pit Crew Win in Richmond:

#21-Ken Schrader’s pit crew claimed the Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge win in Saturday night’s Chevy Rock & Roll 400, becoming the 13th Nextel Cup team of the season to capture the weekly competition. The pit crew win, which helped lift Schrader to a season-best seventh-place finish, was the result of the #21 U.S. Air Force/Little Debbie/Motorcraft Ford Fusion spending the least amount of time on Richmond International Raceway’s pit road – 418.964 seconds. “They’ve been solid all year,” said Schrader of the #21 pit crew. “Enthusiasm is a very infectious disease. The better the car has been running the better they’ve been in getting us in and out of the pits. I’m glad this happened because they certainly deserve to be recognized.” Schrader’s over-the-wall crew consists of: Chuck White (jackman), Brandon Pegram (front-tire carrier), Mike “Andretti” Smith (front-tire changer), Dwayne Doucette (rear-tire carrier), Chris McMullen (rear-tire changer), Jimmy Watts (gasman), James Rhoades (catch can) and Mike Hartman (eighth man). The pit crew coach is Gary Smith and crew chief is Michael “Fatback” McSwain. The competition awards $10,500 per week to the top pit crew. In addition, the pit crew with the most wins will be awarded a $105,000 bonus at the completion of the 36-race schedule. Checkers/Rally’s is the Official Burger and Drive-Thru Restaurant of NASCAR, more info at checkers.com.(DMF Communications PR)(9-14-2006)