The Excitement of the Pit Crew Combine at Hendrick Motorsports

The Thrill of the Pit Crew Combine

D.J. Twitty stood amidst the frenetic energy of the pit crew combine, absorbing the sounds and sights that surrounded him. The jackmen were hoisting racecars into the air, the sharp whirring of air guns echoed as they swiftly tightened lug nuts, and the clattering of hefty, 50-pound wheels being tossed around filled the air. For Twitty, a 24-year-old from South Carolina, this vibrant scene felt like a slice of paradise.

“I’m ready to make this my home,” Twitty declared, filled with enthusiasm. He was one of the 55 hopeful athletes participating in the annual pit crew combine hosted by Hendrick Motorsports. This all-day event, held in June, along with a subsequent three-day minicamp last week, serves as a crucial platform for the team’s coaches and trainers. They aim to identify a select few athletes capable of executing lightning-fast pit stops — gassing a car and changing tires in under 10 seconds.

Twitty, who previously played as a running back at the University of South Carolina, found himself in this unique setting because many racing teams, including Hendrick, have discovered that former football players often make exceptional candidates for pit crews. Their innate strength, agility, and speed translate remarkably well to the demands of racing. Consequently, teams actively scout college campuses for athletes like Twitty, particularly those who may not have made it to the N.F.L. but are eager to swap their football helmets for fireproof racing suits.

While Twitty had a background in NASCAR — being a fan of driver Denny Hamlin since childhood — many of his fellow recruits were new to the sport, some even struggling with basic car maintenance tasks like changing oil. “You don’t grow up playing pit crew in your backyard,” noted Keith Flynn, Hendrick’s developmental pit crew director, who has been on the lookout for talent for 14 years. “Most of these football guys had no idea that this is even a possibility. However, once they arrive on campus and witness the operation, their excitement is palpable.”

NASCAR races can stretch over 600 miles, with cars hurtling around the track at speeds nearing 200 miles per hour. Yet, victory is often determined by mere seconds or even fractions of a second. A slow pit stop can set teams back hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential prize money and sponsorship opportunities. Each second shaved off during a stop can equate to approximately 20 car lengths on the track. Last season, the average margin of victory was a slim 1.11 seconds, and in 19 out of 36 races, it was under one second. Remarkably, this season, 10 out of the 23 races have also concluded with margins of victory below the one-second mark.