Elliott's Crew Wins Union 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Competition

Evernham Motorsports’ No. 9 Dodge Squad Set New World Record In 2003 Union 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Competition. A new world record paced the field of the 36th Annual Union 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Competition today at North Carolina Speedway.

Bill Elliott’s crew, led by crew chief Mike Ford, changed four tires and added two cans of fuel in a world record time of 16.725 seconds. This year’s champions bested the exiting world record by .098 seconds. In addition to $30,000 awarded to the pit crew champs, the team received a $10,000 bonus for setting the new world record. Evernham Motorsports owner Ray Evernham won the world pit crew title in 1994 as a crew chief, but this is his first title as a Winston Cup owner.

“There is a big difference from winning as a crew chief because then I had a lot to do with it. This time I didn’t have much to do with it other than stand there and watch the guys,” Evernham said. “This really goes to Greg Miller and Mike Ford and the guys that work so hard on the pit crew. What is really neat is that I knew that winning the title was something they really wanted to do and was a goal they set several months ago and here they sit today. I’m really proud of them.”

Today Elliott drove for his third world championship team (he has two prior wins in 1990 and 1997) but is quick to point out that the crew, not the driver, is what the 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Competition is all about.

“They did what they had to do and I’m proud of them,” Elliott said of his crew. “I was just along for the ride. I’m just so proud of these guys and what they’ve put into it, and so appreciative of 76 the past number of years. These guys put in the practice the effort every day to be the best pit crew and it makes my job easier. I see how hard these guys work and the amount of pressure they are under. They do a great job.”

Crew chief Mike Ford led the crew to the title, keeping the crew focused on the prize along with pit crew trainer Greg Miller.

“The bar keeps being raised and we knew coming into this year that in order to win we’d need to set a new world record. We said all week long that if we came in and had a good solid pit stop without making any mistakes that we’d have a solid shot at it. Greg does a great job getting the guys prepared not only for this competition but every Sunday. They deserve this. They’ve had excellent pit stops for the last few races and they were able to get focused for a one stop deal today.”

The over the wall members that make up the #9 Dodge Squad include:
Jim Pohlman (front changer)
Joe Kruschek (rear changer)
Todd Colburn (jack man)
Rodney Rhodes (gas man)
Steve Lawrence (catch can)
Nick Bailey (front carrier)
Eric Wakeland (rear carrier)

The remaining crews in the top five of the 36th Annual 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Competition include the crew of #5 Kellogg’s/Hendrick Motorsports, #17 DeWalt/Roush Racing, #19 Dodge Dealers/Evernham Motorsports and #29 GM Goodwrench/Richard Childress Racing.