Eyewear recommended, but not a must for crews

For several years, NASCAR has mandated gloves, firesuits and helmets for all over-the-wall crewmen in its national touring series -- but eye protection is a matter of choice.

The situation took note at California Speedway earlier this season when Joe Piette Jr., rear-tire changer for Penske Racing driver Ryan Newman, was hit in the eye with a lug nut during a pit stop, which knocked out his contact lens.

Pit Crew Spotlight

Joe Piette Jr. left a well-paying job at UPS to become a tire changer. After nearly 20 years in the business, he can clearly see why he switched careers.

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Almost miraculously, Piette suffered no eye damage and not only completed the pit stop, but after a NASCAR inspector found the lens, he rinsed and replaced it and changed tires for the rest of the 500-mile race as Newman finished 12th.

Piette said his accident hasn't caused any change on his own team, and an impromptu garage poll found similar responses.

"I do not require my guys to wear eye protection, but I do highly recommend for them to wear eye protection," said Andrew Carter, coach for Roush Fenway Racing's five Nextel Cup pit crews. "The majority of our pit crewmembers wear some sort of eye protection, whether it be sunglasses or safety glasses.

"The fear is not just lug nuts hitting them in the eye, but also fuel splashing them in the face or other debris that may come off of the cars. It is hard to require guys to wear them, because some of the pit crew athletes feel that they hinder their line of sight or they feel that it distracts them."

Dale Earnhardt Inc.'s pit crew coach, Walt Smith, is a former over-the-wall crewman who's experienced the difficulties associated with matching equipment comfort with the necessity to perform.

"We don't mandate eye protection, though we recommend it," Smith said, echoing the expressed sentiment of Hendrick Motorsports and a number of other teams. "Guys feel their vision is distorted, the goggles fog up, or they slip off -- so while we feel wearing eye protection is a good idea, until someone finds a workable solution for all the problems, it'll remain a personal choice."