Jimmie Johnson’s #48 pit crew earned its first Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge win of the season by spending the least amount of time on pit road during Sunday’s (March 18) Nextel Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, helping lift its driver to a victory in the Kobalt Tools 500. Johnson’s over-the-wall crew is the reigning Checkers/Rally’s Double-Drive Thru Challenge champion, having earned five pit crew wins in 2006. “I couldn’t be more proud of our guys,” said Johnson, whose team spent 323.450 seconds on pit road. “They worked hard all weekend and it showed on Sunday when their strong, consistent pit stops helped us win the race.” Checkers/Rally’s awards the winning Nextel Cup pit crew each week with a cash prize of $11,000. An additional $111,150 will be presented to the pit crew with the most wins at the completion of the 36-race Nextel Cup schedule. The #48 Lowe’s over-the-wall crew includes: Chris Anderson (jackman), Art Simmons (front-tire carrier), Mike Trower (front-tire changer), Ron Malec (rear-tire carrier), Tim Ladyga (rear-tire changer), Rich Gutierrez (gasman), Mike Knauer (catch can) and Sean Kerlin (eighth-man). The team’s pit crew coach is Matt Clark and the crew chief is Chad Knaus. An additional $111,150 will be presented to the pit crew with the most wins at the completion of the 36-race Nextel Cup schedule. To win the Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge, teams are required to finish on the lead lap while spending the least amount of time on pit road. Checkers/Rally’s is in its third season as title sponsor for the pit crew challenge. Checkers/Rally’s is the Official Burger and Drive-Thru Restaurant of NASCAR, more info at checkers.com.(DMF Communications PR)(3-22-2007)
