CONCORD, N.C. – This Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series pit crews get to show off their skills for a chance to win $100,000 in the pit crew challenge during the All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway, and the No. 48 team is primed to perform.
The Ally pit crew currently holds the fastest average four-tire pit stop in the 2021 Cup Series season of 13.641 seconds. The team also hold the second-fastest stop of the year at 12.178 seconds from the race at Dover International Speedway in May. The flawless stop allowed driver Alex Bowman to take the lead on the 304th lap and win the race.
“I think everybody is going to be on it for the pit crew challenge,” Bowman said. “My guys have obviously been the fastest this year but it’s going to be ten-tenths on everything.”
The pit stop challenge will take place after round five of the six-round event where all cars must pit for a mandatory four-tire stop. Each tire changer will wear a GoPro for video review to make sure each lug nut is secured to the tire. The team with the fastest stop without penalties will be awarded the $100,000 payout.
“Your entry time will be slow to be perfect at your lights when you get on pit road,” Bowman said. “It’s going to be interesting to see people play that. But I’m excited to see the guys get a shot at winning $100,000.”
In Bowman’s 11 starts at Texas, the 28-year-old driver has secured two top-five finishes and two top-10s. He had his best performance at the track in October when he finished fifth during the playoff race at the Fort Worth track.
“I think you just have to run every round as hard as you can,” Bowman said of his driving strategy. “That’s all you really can do.”
Tune in this Sunday at 8 p.m. ET to see the Bowman, his pit crew and the rest of the Hendrick Motorsports teams take on the All-Star Race at Texas.