Jeff Gordon’s Team Wins Pit Crew Challenge in Darlington
For the second week in a row, Jeff Gordon’s over-the-wall crew secured the weekly Checkers®/Rally’s® Double Drive-Thru Challenge by spending the least amount of time on pit road during Sunday’s Nextel Cup event at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.
The winning effort by the No. 24 DuPont® crew lifted Jeff Gordon to his third victory of the season.
"The No. 24 DuPont team and pit crew have done an amazing job all year," said Jeff Gordon. "They had great pit stops again on Sunday but, ultimately, it was Steve's decision not to pit late in the race that got us to Victory Lane."
Checkers/Rally’s will award an $11,000 prize to Jeff Gordon’s crew for winning the weekly competition. An additional $111,150 will be presented to the pit crew with the most Double Drive-Thru Challenge wins at the completion of the 36-race Nextel Cup schedule.
The No. 24 crew, out of the Hendrick Motorsports stable, includes: Jeff Cook (jackman), Mike "Tiny" Houston (front-tire carrier), Clay Robinson (front-tire changer), Jeff Knight (rear-tire carrier), Kevin Gilman (rear-tire changer), Caleb Hurd (gasman), Jamie Frady (catch can) and Andy Kruep (eighth-man). The crew chief is Steve Letarte.
After eleven Nextel Cup races, Mark Martin’s/Regan Smith’s No. 01 pit crew leads the Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge standings with four wins. Jeff Gordon’s and Denny Hamlin’s crews are tied for second with two victories each.
To win the Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge, 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
* Daytona (2/18) Mark Martin Team
* California (2/25) Mark Martin Team
* Las Vegas (3/11) Mark Martin Team
* Atlanta (3/18) Jimmie Johnson Team
* Bristol (3/25) Denny Hamlin Team
* Martinsville (4/1) Dale Earnhardt Jr. Team
* Texas (4/15) Mark Martin Team
* Phoenix (4/22) Denny Hamlin Team
* Talladega (4/29) Kurt Busch Team
* Richmond (5/6) Jeff Gordon Team
* Darlington (5/13) Jeff Gordon Team
Busch Series Result – Darlington Raceway
Jason Leffler’s No. 38 crew won the Busch Series Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge at Darlington Raceway. The team spent the least amount of time on pit road-- 160.561 seconds -- during Friday’s Diamond Hill Plywood 200.
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