PIT

The Gatorade Duel Race Party

We will be hosting a Gatorade Duel Party on Thursday, 02/17/11 at 2pm. Join us in our state-of-the-art movie theater to watch the Gatorade Duel at the famous Daytona International Speedway. Hot Dogs, Soda, Water and Chips will be served. Come and join us for good racing, food and games. Everyone is invited!!

2011 “Kiss Your Family Good-Bye” Season Kick-Off Dinner

Every year, prior to the start of race season, PIT holds their annual “Season Kickoff Dinner” in which all PCU Alumni, current students, and their families are invited.

PIT held a Pit Crew Challenge for the first time this year prior to the dinner. Teams were made up of no more than three PCU Alumni and at least two members that had never done a pit stop.

The winning team posted a time of just over 30 seconds. Maybe next year’s pit crew challenge will yield better times!

Severn Man Reaches Top on Race Crew

By Katie Balance
Maryland Gazette
July 11, 2009

Severn resident Cory Baldwin was part of victory last month that truly was the pits.

The Severna Park High graduate was a member of the winning pit crew as Cunningham Motorsports driver Parker Kligerman won an ARCA series race in North Carolina last month.

Baldwin, who served as the front-tire changer, said he was in shock after finding out his team won the race.

“Just seeing Parker cross the finish line, it was great to see all the hard work, week in, week out, all paid off right there. It was a huge accomplishment to be a part of something that big,” Baldwin said.

Baldwin only participated in two previous races before the win.

As an avid racing enthusiast, Baldwin graduated in September from the Performance Instruction and Training (PIT) eight-week program. Now, he is a member of the 5 Off 5 On Race Team Performance program, similar to a graduate program, according to Amanda Fowler, communications coordinator for the program.

Baldwin also attends NASCAR Technical Institute, which brought Baldwin to North Carolina.

“PIT has jump-started a lot of careers and this win will hopefully be one of many for these dedicated guys,” said Adam Merrell, director of Motorsports at PIT and Baldwin’s coach.  Click here to continue reading article…

Chiles Grad Enjoys Life on the Pit Crew

By Amy Sachs
Tallahassee Democrat
July 4, 2009

Chiles High graduate David Roberts enjoys the pressure of working on a pit crew.

“There’s certain people that can take pressure in general, and some people that can’t,” Roberts said. “I like the pressure because I know I can do it.”

In fact, Roberts just won his first race on June 21 while pitting the No. 77 Cunningham Motorsports ARCA car driven by Parker Kligerman.

“There was a wreck with two laps to go and we were in the lead, so we had to do a restart,” Roberts said. “It was really nerve-racking for those two laps.”

After graduating from Chiles in 2006, Roberts majored in mechanical engineering at the University of Central Florida. He departed college early to attend an eight-week pit crew course at PIT, the Performance Instruction & Training school in Mooresville, N.C.

“To get your foot in the door, you have to know somebody,” Roberts said. “I moved here not knowing anybody.”

Roberts quickly established himself and was offered a spot on the 5 Off 5 On team performance program, which gives the students hands-on experience pitting in different divisions of stock-car racing.

The first race Roberts worked was in racing mecca Daytona, which Roberts said was both an exciting and helpful experience.

“If you don’t crack then,” Roberts said, “you’re never going to crack.”

3 Minutes with Nicole Addison

By Sam Boykin
Charlotte Magazine

WHO: Twenty-five-year-old Davidson resident Addison is one of the only female members of a NASCAR pit crew. She’s the rear tire changer for Brendan Gaughan, who drives the No. 10 MaxxForce Diesel Ford F-150 in the Craftsman Truck Series.

HOW SHE LANDED THE GIG: A standout sprinter in high school, Addison attended PIT Instruction and Training in Mooresville, which helps prepare young hopefuls trying to secure an “over the wall” pit-crew position. But it was Addison’s skill-more than her gender-that landed her her first job as a tire changer with the No. 16 truck with Express MotorSports in 2005.

ON BEING COMPETITIVE: “I’ve always been competitive. You just don’t want to mess up in any way and let your team down. When you have a good stop, and gain positions, it’s a great feeling, too!”

STAYING FIT: “We work out at work two to three times a week. We have pit-stop practice usually two to three times a week, as well, and then we’ll go up to the weight room and lift. I try to go to the gym every day after work to get in my cardio. I usually run for thirty to forty-five minutes or take a spinning [cycle] class for an hour.”

BEING ONE OF THE ONLY WOMEN: “I really didn’t look at it as being the only girl doing it. I’ve always just wanted to be treated like one of the guys. I’m doing what I like to do, and I just happen to be a girl doing it.”

Graduate Helps Johnson Win Nascar Title

By Mitch Blomert
Gainsville Times

Eight years ago, Lowe’s Racing Team pit crew member and former Lanier Technical College student Kenneth Purcell wasn’t even a fan of NASCAR.

Now, in his first full season with the team, he’s celebrating alongside driver Jimmie Johnson and the rest of his crew after winning their third straight Sprint Cup championship with the conclusion of the 2008 season on Sunday.

“It still hasn’t set in yet,” Purcell said. “But that’s the goal (to win a championship) and it happened.”

On race day, Purcell is the team’s “jack,” where his responsibilities include lifting the car so new tires can be changed on pit road. What makes his job exciting is that he is the first crew member on the car when it stops, and all his teammates follow behind him.

“There’s a little bit of adrenaline when you’re the first guy out there,” he said. “Especially if there’s a lot of cars around you.”

Purcell, 26, is also active with the team during the week, serving as a mechanic. With such a demanding job that requires extensive knowledge of racing and automotive technology, one would think it would take a die-hard, life-long racing fan to handle the rigors of being on a racing team.

But that’s not how it happened for Purcell.

Before attending Lanier Tech, he was going to college in his hometown Savannah and was working at a veterinarian’s office. He had never been exposed to anything related to motorsports until he started working with his friends at a dirt track in town.  Click here to continue reading article…

Crews Pursues His Dream

By Marion Wilhoite
Columbia Daily Herald

Successful race car drivers, especially those who win championships, know it takes a team to prevail.

Justin Allgaier, the 2008 ARCA/REMAX Series champion, didn’t hesitate before thanking his pit crew following his title-clinching win at Toledo Speedway in October.

One of those pit crew members who took Allgaier’s appreciation to heart is Columbia native Scott Crews, who moved to Mooresville, N.C., just over two years ago to work toward a spot in NASCAR.

Crews is a front tire carrier for Allgaier’s car No. 16 in what appears to be the first step for the 2005 Columbia Central High School graduate in his pursuit of his dream.

“I’ve been very much a big NASCAR fan since a little, bitty boy,” said Crews. “My dad (Rick Crews) and friends would always watch racing on TV and talk about it.

“I became enthused,” said Crews. “I guess now I have taken the next step up.”

Crews said he was thinking about driving and that his dad said he could get him into go-carts if his grades were good enough.

“I didn’t always have the strongest grades,” Crews said. “But I wanted to do something - announcer, pit crew member, whatever.”

After arriving in Mooresville, Crews attended NASCAR Technical Institute and completed the course in August, 2007, to become a Ford FACT certified mechanic.

“I was advised then that being a pit crew member was the best way for me to go,” said Crews.

Crews then attended Pit Instruction & Training’s Pit Crew U to become a professional Over the Wall Pit Crew member.   Click here to continue reading article…

Milestone Race Win for Winder-Barrow Grad

Athens Banner-Herald
June 16, 2009

Aspiring NASCAR pit crew member Joshua Shipplett - a Winder-Barrow graduate - experienced his first win last Saturday as one of the tire carriers for the Parker Kligerman ARCA RE/MAX team at the Tim Richmond Memorial 200.

The team picked Shipplett from the Pit Instruction and Training facility as one of the top carriers.

“It was a great opportunity. I had worked with the Dodge Cunningham guys before in Winder and so when PIT chose me to go over the wall for the (Kligerman) t eam, needless to say I was excited,” Shipplett said in a press release. “Parker is a great driver and I was eager to be working with him and the guys. It’s a great feeling to know everyone around you has the drive to win, and the hardwork really paid off for us Saturday.”

Cunningham Motorsports originated in Winder in 1996, allowing Shipplett to gain valuable knowledge about race fabrication and the motorsports industry in his hometown. Shipplett went on to train at PIT in February 2008 while he was completing a motorsports degree at Lanier Technical College.

Shipplett has another opportunity lined up this weekend for the USARacing Pro Cup Series at Lanier Speedway in Braselton.

Urban Youth Racing School Career Week

NASCAR Series sponsor, Craftsman, kicks off their fifth annual Craftsman Career Development Apprenticeship Week in Mooresville, NC today, bringing six students from the Urban Youth Racing Schools (UYRS) in Philadelphia, PA and Washington, DC to the Mooresville area to work with four different teams in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

The students, who range in age from 16-18, report for duty at their respective race shops today and will work side-by-side with the teams through Wednesday as they prepare their race trucks for the Power Stroke Diesel 200 at O’Reilly Raceway

Park in Indiana. On Thursday, the students will fly to Indianapolis, IN where they will continue their learning experience as they work in the pits with their teams racing toward victory on Friday night. All students will round out the evening joining the race winner in the Craftsman Victory Lane celebration.

“Since implementing this apprenticeship program with the Urban Youth Racing School in 2002, we’ve seen past inters go on to work with teams and complete internships within various motorsports entities,” said Scott Howard, manager of Strategic Partnerships for Sears. “Through our relationships within the NASCAR garage, the Craftsman brand has been able to put tools in these kids hands and give them the opportunity to learn the trade first-hand and build relationships of their own, giving them a jumpstart on pursuing careers in the industry whether it be on or off the track.”

Philadelphia students include Kyle Baker who will intern with Red Horse Racing and driver David Starr; Brigette Depalma and Chris Lawrence who will be teamed up with TRG Motorsports and drivers T.J. Bell and Donny Lia, respectively; and Jeremy Ortiz who will work with Circle Bar Motorsports and driver Brendan Gaughan. Washington, DC-based students include Jarel Harris who will team up with Xpress Motorsports and driver Bryan Scott and Serfrederick Hill, II who will work with Circle Bar Racing and driver Rick Crawford.

In addition to their race shop duties, the students will also attend a pit crew demonstration at the P.I.T. Instruction and Training facility in Mooresville. Students will learn the intricate details of each position on the pit crew and will try their hand at tire changing, tire carrying and jacking the car.  Click here to continue reading article…