Team Penske Appoint New NASCAR Pit Crew Head Coach

Without a doubt, pit crews are hugely important as they can make or break a race. In NASCAR, pit-stops are usually a bit longer than Formula One, as the pit crew can only change two tires at a time.

Owing to this, the teams usually have coaches to train the pit crews. Now the latest news is that Team Penske have appointed Ray Gallahan as the interim Head Coach.

Up until this point, Gallahan used to take on over-the-wall duties. Sadly, he retired from that at the end of the 2018 season and joined the team’s athletic department. Since then, he has been the pit crew coach for a long time, and not will be the interim head coach.

Obviously, due to the lengthy nature of NASCAR pit stops, the crews need training. The faster the pit stop, the quicker they can get the car back on the track without losing too many positions.

Without a doubt, their expertise will be needed, especially since Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, and Ryan Blaney are in the Playoff battle.

What does a pit crew head coach do and why is he important for Team Penske?

“What we look for when we have the minicamps number one is a prospect’s athletic ability,” Hendrick Motorsports pit crew coach Jon Carvin said.

“We like that to stand out because the more athletic, the more they are able to move and show athletic movements, the more likely they will be able to go fast when they learn what they are doing.”

On an interesting note, the ideal recruits are former football and rugby players. This is largely down to the similarities in the intense training and team atmosphere between both fields.

Often, the more experienced members help the newcomers adjust to the new environment. After the minicamp, the prospective members are interviewed by coaches to see how they can perform and adapt.

READ MORE: UNVEILED: Team Penske Reveal Striking Livery for Brad Keselowski for Watkins Glen Race