Sunoco Pit Move of the Week: Daytona

Johnny Benson tried it in 2000 and failed. Scott Wimmer tried it in 2004 and made it work.

	Scott Wimmer

Wimmer's crew chief, Frank Stoddard, made a brave decision to take on just two tires on the final pit stop of the Daytona 500. Instead of finishing somewhere in the top 15, Wimmer finished third.

Wimmer had nearly lost the draft before the final pit stop, but a quick two-tire stop gave him the lead.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart caught him on lap 170, but Wimmer used the lap car of Kurt Busch to stay with the lead pack the rest of the way.

Benson had tried the same strategy in 2000, but a gang of Fords – led by Dale Jarrett – hung him out to dry with five laps to go. He finished 12th.

VIDEO CLIPS Scott Wimmer's post-race interview Play video

Without history on his side, Stoddard was immediately second-guessed for the call. The new tire had been an issue at Daytona all week, and many of the Goodyears were worn out after a mere 30 laps.

"It was pretty easy call," Stoddard said. "We were in the back of the line."

The call worked because Stoddard knew the second pack of cars – which were running over five seconds behind -- would never catch the first pack.

Stoddard also knew that Busch's lapped car would assist in Wimmer's fight to stay with the lead pack.

"Everybody else was kind of stuck in the pits or got tangled up a little bit," Wimmer said. "We were able to get away."

"It was a great call Frankie made to take two tires."