Married to their jobs, crew coaches love to compete

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- When Kevin Harvick took the checkered flag at this season's Daytona 500, the tone around the Mauldin household was tense.

"He didn't speak to me for a week," said Corinne Mauldin, married to Mark Mauldin for 27 years.

Corinne and Mark are tasked with whipping their respective NASCAR pit crews into shape. Both pit crew coaches in NASCAR -- he at Hendrick Motorsports and she at Richard Childress Racing-- theoretically the couple go head-to-head every weekend on the track and share a competitive spirit unique only to their marriage.

Pit Crew Challenge

Ryan Newman's team kicked off All-Star week by winning the Pit Crew Challenge on Wednesday.

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"I finally talked to her. I talked to her about the cows and our boys [Matt and Sam]," smiled Mark, 52.

The family feud was held at bay Wednesday evening in light of NASCAR's third annual Pit Crew Challenge where the sport's unsung heroes compete for pit box selection for Saturday's All-Star race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

In a rare occasion where stock cars enter the Charlotte Bobcats Arena, 24 pit crews battled for team and individual titles, but more than that, bragging rights for the fastest times in the pits.

Compared to grueling pit stop practices in the heat and strenuous workouts in the gym, the Pit Crew Challenge was more of a time to be supportive spectators, said Corinne and Mark.

And judging by the results from the competition wrapped up shortly before 10 p.m. ET, the couple was home before the cows.

"Yeah last year I was even home in time for Sanford and Son," said Mark, whose No. 25 crew for Casey Mears was beat out by the No. 26 crew of Jamie McMurray.

Before joining the NASCAR circuit, Mark coached college football for 17 years. He made a slow progression into the sport as a personal trainer for drivers such as Randy LaJoie, Ward Burton and Kyle Petty.

With the potential to grow and make a better living, Mark hired on with Petty Enterprises full time in 1996 as the team pit crew coach making sure the crew practiced, trained and conditioned appropriately. Now with Hendrick Motorsports, Mark's duties encompass training the crew and traveling with the No. 25 crew ensuring procedures to service the car are in place. (Continued)