Everything you need to know about NASCAR pit crew’s
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No:18 JGR Pit-crew (2)
NASCAR just like every other motor racing series or championship in the world is a team sport as it’s beyond one man getting everything together to race a motor vehicle within a time frame, even at the amateur level. So every inch of effort that is put in by the crew members of a driver can make or break his race.
The importance of an efficient pit crew can be seen when we look into the fact that it’s easier for the pilot to resolve a mistake from him on track than the one from the pit crew as it usually costs the team more. If you have any doubt about it ask Bubba Wallace of 23X1 Racing as he saw his season getting revived after a few adjustments made to his error-prone pit crew.
What does it take to be a NASCAR pit-crew member?
A near-perfect pit crew is essential for a driver if they want to have a genuine shot at the championship and usually for a team in NASCAR the team consists of 5 to 6 individuals who are assigned multiple duties along with a prime task. Being a pit crew personnel means you have to have both mentally and physically fit to do your task.
The major qualification for someone to become a pit crew member is that the men or women (it’s mostly a male-dominated field) have to be an athletic-automobile wizards. This single demand makes it an exclusive job. The individuals who currently are pit-crew staff are ones who were mechanics in the team shops that got promoted.
The individuals dreaming of a pit-crew entry should have strong automobile knowledge which they can acquire by attending automobile engineering schools or gaining experience from apprenticeship. This will be followed by rigorous training from the team and if you are able to showcase your skills to the best while working in the team shops you might get a trail to secure the dream spot.
Who all are the memebers of a NASCAR pit-crew ?
Depending on the team you are working with individuals have 5 to 6 usual spots in the pit crew that they can have a shot at. The six spots that are available for taking in the team are Crew Chief, Spotter, Jack-man, Fueler, Front Tire Changer, Front Tire Carrier, Rear Tire Changer, and Rear Tire Carrier.
The crew chief and the spotter are mentally demanding jobs to take up in a pit crew as they have a huge role in managing the whole race of their driver by giving them advice and instructions. The rest of the spots demands the individuals to be both physically and mentally active. The latter also wants the members to be efficient and effective all the time.
Also read: “Shut the heck up for a lot of people,” Bubba Wallace wins at Kansas edging team boss Denny Hamlin
What does it take to be a NASCAR crew chief and what are the tasks assigned to him?
A crew chief is one of the most important people after the driver in a team as he is the one who makes the all-important decisions regarding the pit stops as well as instructs drivers on how they should drive on the track. The advice from the crew chief can make or break drivers’ day at the track as he is the one that is assigned to give them the best advice to maximize the car’s performance.
All these traits of the job demand the crew chief be the guy the team wants to turn to if they found themselves in a tough situation mid-race. This calls for experience at the same time skilled personas to take over the job and execute it. This responsibility means the crew chiefs are equally respected as the driver when the team achieves the final glory. Chand Kanus can be taken as an example as he was instrumental in Jimmie Johnson winning a record 7 cup titles.
What it takes to be a NASCAR spotter and what are the tasks assigned to him?
The spotter is yet another important persona for the driver to have in a race as he instructs advice the drivers on the track. He acts as the third eye for the pilot and narrates the incidents and advances made by his opponents to him on the team radio.
The spotter has a lot at stake for the team and driver when he makes the calls or advises as one wrong move or lack of concentration can end the day for the team or can sometimes cause deadly crashes. The job also is one of the flashiest ones among the ones available as it gives an instant spotlight on them, which spotters such as Freddie Kraft ( spots for Bubba Wallace) use to create their own bands.
What does it take to be a NASCAR Jackman and what are the tasks assigned to him?
The Jackman literally balances the pit-stop of a driver as his primary job is to jack up the car from both sides which will allow the tire changers to correctly fit the new tires. He also takes the responsibility of signaling the driver when to leave the pit.
What does it take to be a NASCAR Fueler and what are the tasks assigned to him?
As the name suggests the primary task assigned to a Fueler is refueling the car at the pit stop. The efficiency of the individual assigned with the task is vital as a mistake from him can end the deadly incident. The fact that the fact Fueler has to make way for the direction change of the tire changer when they shift sides also makes his task hard.
What does it takes to be a NASCAR tire changer and what are the tasks assigned to him?
A NASCAR tire changer is yet another vital member of the team. There are two tire changers in a team and one is taken with putting in new front tires while the other work on the rear. The Next-Gen car has made there work more hard as the new single nut of the tires makes it more prone to getting lost, a common occurrence in the first half of 2022, that is dangerous.
What does it takes to be a NASCAR tire career and what are the tasks assigned to him?
The tire career is considered one of the easiest jobs in the pit but does carry its significance as he is tasked with increasing the efficiency of the tire changer by placing and removing the tire as required with pace. A mistake from him might cause the tire to get lose on the pit road which will result in the team getting a time penalty that might change their chance in the race.
Why NASCAR teams are hiring athletes instead of Mechanics for pit crew?
There is a recent trend with NASCAR that they are hiring college athletes and training them to become experienced mechanics. This is done after the team identified the fact that it is easier to train athletes to become Mechanics than to train mechanics to be athletes. The small supply of athletic-mechanic in the job market is the reason behind the new recruitment policy.
How much does NASCAR pity-crew members earn?
One of the professional goals of people who are more interested in the technological components of motorsports than the driving spectacle is becoming a member of the pit crew. But aside from whether you are passionate about it, the first consideration when picking a profession is if it will pay well. It is true that NASCAR pit crew duties are more complicated and hence pay more.
The payment depends on the team you are part of, the level of experience you have, and the skill level required to do the assigned task. The table below showcases how much these athletes can make in a season. NASCAR contracts being a secret affair there is no definite numbers available regarding their salary.
| Members | Avg. Earnings in a season (USD) | Winning Bonus in Raceday |
| Crew Chief | 200,000 to 1,000,000 | $2,500 |
| Spotter | $2,500/ Race | $500 |
| Jack-man | 100,000 to 300,000 | $500 |
| Fueler | 100,000 to 300,000 | $500 |
| Front Tire Changer | 50,000 to 65,000 | $300 |
| Front Tire Carrier | 35,000 to 50,000 | $300 |
| Rear Tire Changer | 50,000 to 65,000 | $300 |
| Rear Tire Carrier | 35,000 to 50,000 | $300 |
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Justin P Joy
(4885 Articles Published)