Elliott’s Pit Crew Wins for Seventh Time; Points Chase for $200,000 Bonus Tightens

Bill Elliott’s No. 9 pit crew took first place honors in Atlanta, scoring its seventh win of the season in the McDonald’s Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by POWERade.

It was also the fourth win in the last nine races for Elliott’s crew, which has pocketed a series-leading $140,000 in the inaugural championship that recognizes the unsung heroes on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit.

Bill Elliott

In the McDonald’s/POWERade season point standings, the pit crew for Dale Earnhardt Jr. has seriously cut into the lead of Michael Waltrip’s crew. With Waltrip’s crew placing 25th in Atlanta and Earnhardt’s crew sixth, the point differential is now at 19. The season champion of the McDonald’s Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by POWERade will earn a $200,000 bonus.

Elliott’s crew narrowly edged Bobby Labonte’s No. 18 crew in Atlanta for the weekly prize. The No. 9 Dodge spent the least amount of time on pit road – 199.037 seconds. Labonte’s Interstate Batteries Chevrolet was a few ticks away with a time of 200.176. Third was Kurt Busch’s Ford at 202.485.

“I told the guys on the radio during the race that they were doing an awesome job,” said Elliott. “They kept me up front when it mattered. I can't say enough about how this team has come together. These guys deserve every bit of recognition for the hard work they've put in, not just the past few months, but all season."

Elliott’s over-the-wall crew consists of: Todd Colburn (jackman), Nick Bailey (front tire carrier), Jim Pohlman (front tire changer), Eric Wakeland (rear tire carrier), Joe Kruschek (rear tire changer), Rodney Rhodes (gasman) and Steve Lawrence (catch can). The team’s crew chief is Mike Ford and the pit crew coach is Greg Miller.

How it Works
During each 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup points event, the participating team whose car spends the least amount of aggregate time off the race track will be named the weekly winner of the McDonald’s Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by POWERADE, provided the team’s driver takes the green flag at the beginning of the event. A timing line at the entrance and exit of pit road triggers the car’s transponder and records the total time spent off the race track.

The point distribution per race is: 43 for first place, descending in increments of one.

The McDonald’s Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by POWERADE is the largest monetary contingency program in NASCAR history.

Top 10 Pit Crews For Participating Teams In Monday’s (Oct. 27) race at Atlanta Motor Speedway

Time Car # Points
1. Bill Elliott Team 199.037 seconds 9 43
2. Bobby Labonte. Team 200.176 “ 18 42
3. Kurt Busch Team 202.485 “ 97 41
4. Tony Stewart Team 211.152 “ 20 40
5. John Andretti Team 235.105 “ 1 39
6. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Team 236.762 “ 8 38
7. Kyle Petty Team 243.154 “ 43 37
8. Robby Gordon Team 245.800 “ 31 36
9. Ward Burton Team 279.211 “ 0 35
10. Joe Nemechek Team 288.377 “ 01 34

2003 Winners of The McDonald’s Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by POWERade:

Daytona (2/16) Michael Waltrip Team
Rockingham (2/23) Dave Blaney Team
Las Vegas (3/2) Dale Earnhardt Jr. Team
Atlanta (3/9) Dale Earnhardt Jr. Team
Darlington (3/16) Jeff Green Team (RCR)
Bristol (3/23) Bill Elliott Team
Texas (3/30) Robby Gordon Team
Talladega (4/6) Bill Elliott Team
Martinsville (4/13) Bobby Labonte Team
California (4/27) Bobby Labonte Team
Richmond (5/3) Jeff Burton Team
Charlotte (5/25) Dale Jarrett Team
Dover (6/1) Michael Waltrip Team
Pocono (6/8) Todd Bodine Team
Michigan (6/15) Sterling Marlin Team
Sonoma (6/22) Robby Gordon Team
Daytona (7/5) Jeff Burton Team
Chicago (7/13) Michael Waltrip Team
New Hampshire (7/20) Bill Elliott Team
Pocono (7/27) Dale Earnhardt Jr. Team
Indianapolis (8/3) Kurt Busch Team
Watkins Glen (8/10) Elliott Sadler Team
Michigan (8/17) Greg Biffle Team
Bristol (8/23) Kurt Busch Team
Darlington (8/31) Bill Elliott Team
Richmond (9/6) Dale Earnhardt Jr. Team
N. Hampshire (9/14) Dale Earnhardt Jr. Team
Dover (9/21) Bill Elliott Team
Talladega (9/29) Tony Stewart Team
Kansas (Oct. 5) Bobby Labonte Team
Charlotte (Oct. 11) Bill Elliott Team
Martinsville (Oct. 19) Michael Waltrip Team
Atlanta (Oct. 27) Bill Elliott Team

Point Standings For NASCAR Winston Cup Teams Participating In The McDonald’s Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by POWERADE:

(following Atlanta 10/27/03; pit crew wins in parentheses)

Pos. Car # Pit Crew of Points Prize Money
1 15 Michael Waltrip Team (4) 1151 80,000
2 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Team (5) 1132 100,000
3 18 Bobby Labonte Team (3) 1100 60,000
4 97 Kurt Busch Team (2) 1083 40,000
5 9 Bill Elliott Team (7) 1077 140,000
6 31 Robby Gordon Team (2) 1061 40,000
7 20 Tony Stewart Team (1) 1043 20,000
7 42 Jamie McMurray Team 1031
9 40 Sterling Marlin Team (1) 1017 20,000
10 16 Greg Biffle Team (1) 1004 20,000
11 38 Elliott Sadler Team (1) 1002 20,000
12 99 Jeff Burton (2) 1000 40,000
13 88 Dale Jarrett Team (1) 989 20,000
14 1 John Andretti Team 981
15 77 Dave Blaney Team (1) 973 20,000
16 21 Ricky Rudd Team 967
17 30 Steve Park Team (1) 936 20,000
18 7 Jimmy Spencer Team 922
19 01 Joe Nemechek Team 907
20 41 Casey Mears Team 898
21 54 Todd Bodine Team (1) 881 20,000
22 74 Tony Raines Team 867
23 0 Ward Burton Team 852
24 45 Kyle Petty Team 833
25 49 Ken Schrader Team 806
26 43 Jeff Green Team 781
27 14 Larry Foyt Team 323
28 09 Mike Wallace Team 216
29 02 Hermie Sadler Team 180
30 11 Brett Bodine Team 144
31 37 Derrick Cope Team 129
32 44 Christian Fittipaldi Team 80
33 57 Kevin Lepage Team 76
34 150 (A.J. Foyt Racing) 64