Joe Nemechek (01) goes door-to-door with Kevin Harvick during the UAW-GM 500. Credit: Autostock

Sunoco Pit Move of the Week: Charlotte

Joe Nemechek is in his 11th season at NASCAR's top level, but until this weekend, he had never scored back-to-back top-five finishes.

But Nemechek has pieced together a win (Kansas) and a fifth-place run (Charlotte) thanks to an ode for track position on Saturday night.

Video Sunoco Pit Move Joe Nemechek takes two tires late in the race at LMS

Nemechek was running 13th in the UAW-GM 500 when crew chief Ryan Pemberton opted to take on just two tires when the caution flew on Lap 313.

"We were 13th, jammed in traffic and not going anywhere," Pemberton said. "If we took four tires we might have cracked the top 10, but we probably would have stayed 13th."

The move brought Nemechek to the front of the field, even though nearly every car behind him had four fresh tires. But the caution lasted five laps, and the race didn't restart until Lap 318.

ALSO Pit Move of the Week:  Archive

Holding on for 17 laps wasn't easy, but Nemechek was able to stay in the top-five. Kurt Busch got him in the closing laps for fourth.

"(Ryan) made a gutsy call," said Nemechek. I kind of second guessed him and said, 'Are you sure?' I then said, 'I don't know about that, but it's your call and I'll drive the wheels off of it.'

"The decision got us excellent track position and we were able to hold on and stay in the top five.

"I couldn't hold off the first three guys who took four tires (Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr.)."