Joe Gibbs Racing’s Underdog and His Pit Crew Members Go Gaga After Securing a Second Consecutive Win in Pit Crew Challenge

The stakes couldn’t have been higher at the Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge with a whopping $100,000 prize money and a particular strategic advantage on the line. Every team was geared up to ace this challenge. But amidst it all, came a winner who is not known to be someone exceptional with pit stops–Christopher Bell. But with him behind the wheel, the Joe Gibbs Racing #20 team claimed the crown and clocked the fastest pit stop time at 13.233 seconds. Notably, this was Joe Gibbs Racing’s second consecutive victory as Ty Gibbs aced this very contest last year. 

However, the road to victory wasn’t easy and Christopher Bell had to face immense pressure going into the challenge. 

Joe Gibbs Racing is on a roll during the All-Star weekend!

We see one person go in and out of the car–the driver. But NASCAR is not just about drivers, it’s about the teams. And while it might be a tough pill to swallow, your favorite driver couldn’t do it at all without the support and helping hand of his pit crew. Pit crews are the invisible heroes of NASCAR. On paper, their work looks simple. A driver pits in, the crew takes out the old tires and replaces them with new ones. But no! It is a carefully practiced and synchronized dance of two teams that requires practice and keen hand-eye coordination. This pre-race event is one event where all attention is on them and the Joe Gibbs Racing team didn’t let the moment slide. 

But that being said, Bell’s efforts paid off and even luck was by his side. Denny Hamlin’s team was about to snatch the victory from him and yet they missed by a hair’s breadth! Moreover, Bell’s team officially clocked in with what was just “one-tenth” faster than Keselowski’s No.6 team.

The entire team from pit crew Brian Haaland, rear tire changer Michael Hicks, crew chief Adam Stevens, jackman Derrell Edwards, and more celebrated the win. In between the celebrations, some of the crew members took time to express their feelings about this very special occasion. Michael Hicks said, “You can be in a position and in one of these teams but if you don’t have a good support cast, you can’t showcase your talent. I am blessed with a lot of great guys. So it’s an honor to win this back-to-back.” It is true, and we have seen this play in action several times, even with veterans like Kyle Busch who struggled with a crew that didn’t just sit well for the team. 

Crew chief Adam Stevens credited the entire team for their efforts. He said, “Yeah, you know, a great group of guys, they have each other’s backs. They put so much effort into it, it is remarkable to see. He even claimed that “they have the habit of rising to the occasion” describing how the team made it to the playoffs last year and the year before. 

Additionally, basketball player-turned-NASCAR pit crew member Derell Edwards said, “We know it’s going to come down to Joe Gibbs Racing crew which is special to say. You know what I mean good man. Back-to-back baby!” 

And even Christopher Bell was in high spirits after this much-needed win.

Christopher Bell overcame the odds of winning this challenge

Trending

Chevy Prodigy Loses NASCAR Seat, Fans Allege Ignorance to Kyle Busch’s Daytona Setback Behind It

Michael Jordan’s Opponent’s Warning Comes True as Roger Penske Shuts Down NASCAR’s Infiltration

Joey Logano Leaks NASCAR’s Threat to Kick Teams Out of Daytona 500 After Chevy’s Defiance to $400,000 Fine

NASCAR Rumor: Despite Lawsuit Uncertainty, Tony Stewart’s Veteran Eyeing FRM Switch After Noah Gragson’s Lead

“There’s Going to Be a New Player”- Kyle Petty Warns the Entire NASCAR Garage With Bold Prediction About Spire Motorsports Star

As they say, “Teamwork makes the dream work”. Christopher Bell, illustrating this spirit, opened up about the challenges he faced, trying to get into the right rhythm to ace the challenge. The racer was standing in support of the guys in the spotlight. He said, “What can you say? It’s two in a row for these guys and it’s been awesome. I’m incredibly happy for them and honored to be their driver.” 

Furthermore, he also added, “So I am happy that I was able to stop at my mark. That’s been a huge topic of conversation in our meetings. Just making sure you get to the sign deep enough and the tires locked up, so they can get on the lug while you are stopping and obviously taking off the jackdrop.” Also, he must have felt the pressure going into the challenge, as Ty Gibbs had previously helped the team win this very challenge in 2023.

The finish timing although didn’t impress fans with someone on Twitter saying, “Aren’t their teams posting way faster in races? How is a 13 fast?” And while we agree that 13 is no stellar clock number for the pit crew, on this day it was. You can say they were better than the rest, and on this day that was enough! While the prize money is there, the win also grants a major advantage. The Bell team will get the first choice of pit stall for Sunday night’s NASCAR All-Star Race main event. With two wins in consecutive years, the entire team was undoubtedly thrilled!

The pit crew are the heroes of NASCAR without whom the sport could never survive. We can only say *cheers* to the entire #20 team. And we hope that they had a blast celebrating their win- because they deserve every bit.