Richard Childress Racing No. 31 Chevrolet Pit Crew Members Bring Home Individual Awards at NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge
WELCOME, N.C. (May 18, 2012) – Two members of Richard Childress Racing’s No. 31 Chevrolet pit crew took home individual awards at the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge at Bobcats Arena in Charlotte, N.C. on Thursday, May 17.
RCR’s 2012 individual award winners include front-tire carrier J.D. Holcomb and front-tire changer Tim Sheets. Each victor was presented a check for $10,000 and a commemorative ring.
Holcomb and Sheets fired off a time of 13.615 seconds, more than three-tenths of a second faster than the closest competitors, in the first round of Thursday night’s annual event in Uptown Charlotte. In the team competition, the No. 31 Chevrolet pit crew scored wins over the No. 39 Chevrolet team and their RCR teammates on the No. 29 Chevrolet before being edged out in the quarterfinal round of the single-elimination bracket competition.
“It was a great night for our guys on the No. 31 team,” said RCR Pit Crew Coach Eric Wilson. “These No. 31 guys have been so strong on pit road all season, but their individual performances tonight showcased their hard work, talent and dedication. It’s great to see these guys get credit for all the hours they put in everyday at pit practice and in the weight room.”
“This is just a great event for all of the crew guys and their families,” said Burton, driver RCR’s No. 31 Caterpillar/Wheaties/BB&T Chevrolet. “These guys have been the backbone of our team so far this season and they showed it tonight. It was great to see them finally get some credit for their talent and ability.”
The Sprint Pit Crew Challenge, in its eighth year at Bobcats Arena, is the only indoor event sanctioned by NASCAR that pits 24 top pit crews against one another in a head-to-head competition. Each crew member performed his respective duty in one of four different stations before pushing their respective race cars 40 yards to the finish line.
RCR has claimed six pit crew competition titles. The legendary No. 3 team took home the trophy four consecutive years, 1985-1988, before the No. 31 team captured the bragging rights in 2009 – the first time an RCR pit crew has captured the championship in the eight years of its current structure.
NASCAR Sprint All-Star Week festivities move to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the annual NASCAR Sprint Showdown and Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday, May 19. Live coverage of the events will be televised on SPEED, beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time and will also broadcast worldwide on the Performance Racing Network and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Qualifying for the second and final non points-paying event on the Sprint Cup Series tour will be televised on SPEED Friday, May 18, beginning at 5 p.m. EDT.
