CONCORD, N.C. – Competing at the highest level in the NASCAR Cup Series demands an extraordinary effort and Alex Bowman’s No. 48 pit crew rose to the challenge during the 2024 Cup Series playoffs.
The team’s performance earned it the 2024 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award, which is a testament to dedication and execution under pressure.
“I think for me being able to work with those guys, I’m just incredibly excited for them,” said pit department head coach Jacob Claborn. “The work that they’ve put in over the year that they’ve been together, and it’s really good to see how much work they’ve put in and it pay off. It really shows our depth in the pit department and several crews that can perform at a very high level and that can create competition and more success.”
The Mechanix Wear MVPC Award evaluates performance through a playoff-based metric system, considering factors like pit stop speed, positions gained or lost on pit road, and overall strength of each pit stop.
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Claborn emphasized that the team’s approach didn’t waver during the playoffs. When asked if their strategy had shifted heading into the playoffs, he explained that their focus stayed consistent which included putting each car in contention to win. The unique layout of the 2024 Cup Series playoff schedule included a superspeedway and road course early on and presented fewer opportunities for pit stops in the initial round. However, as the playoffs continued, the crew had more chances to make an impact on the outcome.
The No. 48 pit crew is composed of jackman Allen Holman, tire carrier Brandon Grier, front-tire changer Donnie Tasser, rear-tire changer Andrew Bridgeforth and fueler Jacob Conley. Together, they played a key role in supporting Bowman’s 2024 season which included one win, eight top fives, 17 top-10 finishes and a ninth-place finish in the NASCAR Cup Series point standings.
Their success has been celebrated across Hendrick Motorsports competition, with praise coming from both the No. 48 crew chief Blake Harris and the road crew.
“Really proud of the No. 48 guys for their strong season and taking home the Mechanix Wear MVPC Award this year,” said crew chief Blake Harris. “I know how much being at the top of this sport means to them and watching their preparation and process payoff is really rewarding. We strive to be the best in this sport every week on and off the track, and to see the No. 48 pit crew carry the banner for Hendrick Motorsports defines why we compete.”