Elliott's Pit Crew Takes Center Stage For Third Time

Bill Elliott's No. 9 pit crew showcased its fast and accurate skill again - winning the McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by POWERade at Sunday's New England 300 in Loudon, N.H.

It was the third time this season the No. 9 Dodge pit crew captured top honors and the $20,000 first-place prize that comes with winning the weekly McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championship. The team's other wins were at Bristol (March 23) and Talladega (April 6). The only other pit crew to win three times is Michael Waltrip's No. 15 team.

Bill Elliott

Elliott's No. 9 Dodge, owned by Ray Evernham Motorsports, totaled 165.612 seconds on pit road Sunday, nearly three seconds ahead of Robby Gordon's car (168.115). Kurt Busch's Ford was third with 175.217 seconds.

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 Mike Goins (catch can). The team's crew chief is Mike Ford and the pit crew coach is Greg Miller.

"These guys work hard every week," said Elliott. "It's a total team effort and that's what you need these days with the competition so close. Every position on the track counts and being able to pick up spots on pit road is important. My guys are doing a good job, and I'm proud of them. It's nice to see their efforts rewarded."

Despite not joining the program until the fifth race of the season, Elliott's pit crew is ranked 11th in the season standings with 524 points. Waltrip's No. 15 crew continues to have a comfortable lead with 719 points. Dale Earnhardt Jr's crew is second with 644. The season champion of the McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by POWERade will receive a $200,000 bonus.

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 and the checkered flag at the conclusion 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 points 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
Sunday's (July 20 New England 300 at New Hampshire Int'l Speedway)

1. Bill Elliott Team 165.612 Seconds
2. Robby Gordon Team 168.115 "
3. Kurt Busch Team 175.217 "
4. Dale Jarrett Team 175.468 "
5. Tony Raines Team 191.540 "
6. Michael Waltrip Team 197.258 "
7. Dave Blaney Team 202.557 "
8. Bobby Labonte Team 212.518 "
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Team 214.413 "
10. Steve Park Team 222.943 "

2003 Winners of The McDonald's Drive-Thru
Pit Championship fueled by POWERADE:

Race Team Winner
Daytona (Feb. 16) Michael Waltrip Team
Rockingham (Feb. 23) Dave Blaney Team
Las Vegas (March 2) Dale Earnhardt Jr. Team
Atlanta (March 9) Dale Earnhardt Jr. Team
Darlington (March 16) Jeff Green Team (Richard Childress Racing)
Bristol (March 23) Bill Elliott Team
Texas (March 30) Robby Gordon Team
Talladega (April 6) Bill Elliott Team
Martinsville (April 13) Bobby Labonte Team
California (April 27) Bobby Labonte Team
Richmond (May 3) Jeff Burton Team
Charlotte (May 25) Dale Jarrett Team
Dover (June 1) Michael Waltrip Team
Pocono (June 8) Todd Bodine Team
Michigan (June 15) Sterling Marlin Team
Sonoma (June 22) Robby Gordon Team
Daytona (July 5) Jeff Burton Team
Chicago (July 13) Michael Waltrip Team
New Hampshire (July 29) Bill Elliott Team

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

(following New Hampshire 7/20/03; pit crew wins in parentheses)

Pos. Car # Pit Crew of Points
1 15 Michael Waltrip Team (3) 719
2 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Team (2) 644
3 31 Robby Gordon Team (2) 621
4 18 Bobby Labonte Team (2) 618
5 97 Kurt Busch Team 585
6 40 Sterling Marlin Team (1) 584
7 16 Greg Biffle Team 573
8 38 Elliott Sadler Team 570
9 77 Dave Blaney Team 539
10 42 Jamie McMurray Team 530
11 9 Bill Elliott Team (3) 524
T12 1 Jeff Green Team 506
T12 41 Casey Mears Team 506
14 20 Tony Stewart Team 505
15 99 Jeff Burton Team (2) 504
16 30 Steve Park Team (1) 501
17 88 Dale Jarrett Team (1) 490
18 21 Ricky Rudd Team 487
19 54 Todd Bodine Team (1) 480
20 7 Jimmy Spencer Team 473
21 43 Christian Fittipaldi Team 472
22 45 Kyle Petty Team 466
23 01 Jerry Nadeau Team 449
24 74 Tony Raines Team 445
25 0 John Andretti Team 438
26 49 Kenny Schrader Team 415
27 14 Larry Foyt Team 221
28 11 Brett Bodine Team 128
29 09 Phoenix Racing 97
30 66 Hideo Fukuyama Team 46
31 37 Derrike Cope Team 28
32 02 Hermie Sadler Team 28
33 57 (Edward Campbell car owner) 26
34 33 (Andy Petree car owner) 22

*joined program at fifth race of season - Darlington, 3/16