Subscibe to our feedMost Valuable Pit Crew Improvements
The pit crew for Team 48 is our secret weapon, an incredibly valuable asset that has helped us win three straight championships. They even brought home the Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew award for the second time in 2008.
So how do we make our pit crew even more valuable? What kinds of improvements can we make during the off-season so we’re ready for action once the season starts?
Just like homeowners who are planning a renovation or a repair to their most valuable asset – their house – we do a comprehensive evaluation of our pit crew, their performance and their process.
Last year was pretty good for the Team 48 pit crew, so we didn’t have to make a lot of changes for this season. But, there are always areas for improvement.
First, we look at the people. Are the right people in the right positions? Is the team performing well together?
This year, we’re fortunate to basically have the same lineup that we did at the end of last season. This seasoned experience together is invaluable.
Once we determine our lineup, then we look at our tools. Air guns are getting lighter and more powerful, and cordless guns aren’t that far off. Jacks are being developed with new lighter, stronger alloys. Even gloves are changing with “stickier” surfaces for tire carriers and advanced padding for protection. We are always looking for something to give us an extra edge.
Finally, we look at our process. This is the elaborate choreography that allows seven guys to change four tires, adjust the car and fill it with gas in less than 14 seconds without getting tangled together or missing a change.
Each time NASCAR makes an adjustment to the car, we have to make changes to our pit stops. When the current car came out, we had to adjust our movements to allow for the rear wing and front spoiler.
We also had to adjust for the hotter temperatures on the current car, which alters how we change tires and work on the front end.
The Lowe’s team constantly reviews film of our pit stops to evaluate footwork and body position to find areas we can improve speed, performance and efficiency. Every quarter-second we shave off in a task can translate to big gains on the racetrack.
So while homeowners are hard at work on their spring improvements, so are we. Their work helps increase the value of their homes, while ours will help us improve our chances for Victory Lane.