Dale Earnhardt Jr. ’s Team Earns Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge Victory
Sep 04, 2007
CIA Stock Photo
Dale Earnhardt Jr. ’s over-the-wall crew picked up its second Checkers®/Rally’s® Double Drive-Thru Challenge win of the season during Sunday night’s Nextel Cup event at California Speedway.
On its way to a fifth-place finish, the team spent 302.234 seconds on pit road.
“I am so proud of my guys – they worked so hard, ” said Earnhardt. “I am proud of them for sticking it out and giving us a good run. I would like to think they could run just as good without me, I would never be able to run this good without them. ”
“They’ve become so fast and consistent on pit lane that they get upset or argue when they have a 13-second stop, ” added Earnhardt. “That’s how good they have become. They have been ‘on’ all season, and it’s been a confidence-boost for me knowing they’re going to give me a great stop almost every time. “
Earnhardt’s No. 8 team, out of the Dale Earnhardt Inc. stable, will be presented with an $11,000 check by Checkers/Rally’s for winning the weekly competition. An additional $111,150 prize will be presented to the pit crew with the most wins at the completion of the 36-race Nextel Cup schedule.
The No. 8 crew includes: Brian “Hootie” Chase (jackman), Shawn Ward (front-tire carrier), D.J. Copp (front-tire changer), Erik Wakeland (rear-tire carrier), Greg Burkhart (rear-tire changer), Jeff Clark (gasman), Craig Lund (catch can) and Jay Guarneri (windshield). The team’s crew chief is Tony Eury Jr. and the pit crew coordinator is Walt Smith.
Mark Martin’s No. 01 crew leads the season-long Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge standings with four wins.
To win, teams are required to finish on the lead lap while spending the least amount of time on pit road. Checkers/Rally’s is in its third season as title sponsor for the Pit Crew Challenge.
2007 Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge Winners – Nextel Cup Series
Pos Car No. Pit Crew Wins Prize Money
1 01 Mark Martin 4 44,000
T2 24 Jeff Gordon 3 33,000
T2 11 Denny Hamlin 3 33,000
T4 48 Jimmie Johnson 2 22,000
T4 29 Kevin Harvick 2 22,000
T4 12 Ryan Newman 2 22,000
T4 2 Kurt Busch 2 22,000
T4 5 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2 22,000
T9 8 Kyle Busch 1 11,000
T9 25 Casey Mears 1 11,000
T9 41 Reed Sorenson 1 11,000
T9 1 Martin Truex 1 11,000
T9 07 Clint Bowyer 1 11,000
Note: To date, Checkers/Rally’s has paid out
$275,000 to NEXTEL Cup pit crews
Daytona (2/18) Martin Team Chicago (7/15) Harvick Team
California (2/25) Martin Team Indianapolis (7/30) Sorenson Team
Las Vegas (3/11) Martin Team Pocono (8/5) Newman Team
Atlanta (3/18) Johnson Team Watkins Glen (8/12) Truex Team
Bristol (3/25) Hamlin Team Michigan (8/21) Kurt Busch Team
Martinsville (4/1) Earnhardt Team Bristol (8/25) Bowyer Team
Texas (4/15) Martin Team California (9/3) Earnhardt Team
Phoenix (4/22) Hamlin Team
Talladega (4/29) Busch Team
Richmond (5/6) Gordon Team
Darlington (5/13) Gordon Team
Charlotte (5/27) Hamlin Team
Dover (6/4) Newman Team
Pocono (6/10) Gordon Team
Michigan (6/17) Kyle Busch Team
Infineon (6/24) Harvick Team
New Hampshire (7/1) Johnson Team
Daytona (7/7) Mears Team
Busch Series Result – California Speedway
Marcos Ambrose’s No. 59 crew earned its fourth Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge win of the season by picking up the honor in Saturday night’s Busch race at California Speedway. The team, which spent 188.445 seconds on pit road, has moved into a tie (with No. 15 Paul Menard’s crew) for second-place in the season-long standings. Scott Wimmer’s crew leads with six wins.
Truck Series Result – Gateway International Raceway
The No. 33 over-the-wall crew of Ron Hornaday grabbed the Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Challenge win during Friday’s Craftsman Truck Series race at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis. The crew spent 97.953 seconds on pit road.
