By: Jay W. Pennell
Sprint Cup Correspondent
HardcoreRaceFans.com

Thursday night the stars of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be on full display in Uptown Charlotte – however, it won’t be the drivers getting all of the attention. The fourth annual Pit Crew Challenge presented by Craftsman takes place at the Time Warner Arena Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 7 p.m. to kick-off the week’s All-Star activities.

All teams eligible for the Sprint All-Star Race will be competing against one another for bragging rights and pit selection for Saturday night’s shootout. The competition is broken up into five rounds with one team being crowned champs. Last year, Penske Racing’s No. 12 Alltel Dodge pit crew took home the title and set a new record with a time of 23.35 seconds.

Unlike a normal pit stop, crew members from each team will compete against the respective crew members of the opposing team. The arena is broken up into four different pit stalls on each side, with a full-size Cup car in each pit box. Front tire changers and carriers will compete against each other in one box, while rear tire changers and carriers compete in another, gas men and catch-can men compete in another and jack men in another.

Once each individual’s section are complete, the crew members must push a ‘stop’ button on the pit wall and then the team must push a 3,200-pound car – complete with driver – 40 yards across the finish line.

While each team’s cumulative time will be what determines the winning team, each individual section is also timed. Those members with the fastest individual times win a $10,000 cash prize.

This competition – although fairly new – is becoming one of the most popular events during the All-Star week. With so much attention focused on the drivers, the Pit Crew Challenge allows those men that go over the wall each week to enjoy some of the spotlight and get the credit they deserve.

The NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge presented by Craftsman takes place at the Time Warner Arena (formerly Bobcats Arena) Thursday night, May 15, 2008 at 7 p.m. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by visiting www.pitcrewchallenge.com or by calling 1-800-495-2295.