Kevin Harvick’s over-the-wall crew picked up the Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge win in Sunday’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup event at Phoenix International Raceway. The winning effort by the #29 pit crew helped Harvick capture the victory at the one-mile oval. It was the third pit crew win of the season for Harvick’s crew. The team’s other pit crew victories were at the May race in Richmond, Va. and the July race in Joliet, Ill. Harvick’s over-the-wall crew, which will receive $10,500 for the win from Checkers/Rally’s, consists of: Nick Terry (jackman), Josh Mick (front-tire carrier), Jason Pulver (front-tire changer), Matt Krueter (rear-tire carrier), Clint Pittman (rear-tire changer), Brian Englehart (gasman), Scott Naset (catch can), Rick Tulbert (2nd gas can) and John Goodwin (eighth-man). The team is led by crew chief Todd Berrier. Heading into Sunday’s (Nov. 19) final Nextel Cup event at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the over-the-wall crews for Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart are tied for first in the season-long competition with five wins each. If the competition is still tied after Sunday’s Cup finale, the Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge championship and the $105,000 bonus will be awarded to Johnson’s No. 48 crew since the tie-breaker is decided on driver point standings. Johnson, who leads in the Chase standings, cannot be passed by any team still in contention for the pit crew title. To date, Checkers/Rally’s has paid out $367,500 in NEXTEL Cup Series prize money during this season. Checkers/Rally’s is the Official Burger and Drive-Thru Restaurant of NASCAR, more info at checkers.com. The Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge is in its second season with the Nextel Cup Series.(DMF Communications PR)(11-15-2006)
