13.5 Seconds

This is about NASCAR so I'll keep it short since I know no one will admit to being a fan even though it is behind only football in popularity. No one hardly gives credit to the crew members in NASCAR. Most fans think the driver is the only member of the team. But yes, NASCAR is a team sport. Pit crew members risk their lives every time they jump over that wall to pit the car. These 7 members of the pit crew basically perform a ballet every time the car pits with cars zipping past them at 55 mph while they carry a 60 pound tire or a 25 pound jack. Two tire carriers, two tire changers, a jackman, gas man, and the catch can man make up the team.

It is amazing to see how the same tire will pass through two or three different sets of hands. How it's all perfectly timed. 5 lug nuts come off, the jack man lifts the car, tire carriers are there, tires come on, 5 lug nuts on and jackman lowers the car. Then run around to the other side, not forgetting to bring the old tires back, and do the same thing all over again. While all of this is going on, the gas man is trying to fill the 20 gallon tank as fast as he can. The catch can man has to catch any fuel overflow. This coordinated dance has to happen in under 13.5 seconds. Each second the car is in the pit is about 100 feet on the track. If you can get the car out in under 12 seconds you may have just picked up 2 or 3 spots and put your driver in a very good position.

The next time you are near a TV that happens to have a NASCAR race on and you see a caution flag come out (Yes, the yellow flag) pause and take a moment to watch. You will see controlled chaos as the field of cars enters pit road, criss-crossing, crew members trying not to get hit by the cars, and 14 seconds later its all over. Pay special attention to the front tire and you will see what I mean as it changes hands from one crew member to the other. And if you are lucky to make it to a race one day then be sure to bring along a scanner so you can hear the sounds from the pit.

Ok so maybe that wasn't that short of an entry. I want to continue writing but I am sure no one has read this far down.