Justice gives up pigskin for chance on pit crew

You don't hear about guys turning down an opportunity to play professional football for a job in the pits of a Craftsman Truck Series team ... but that's exactly what Chris Justice did.

Justice went from the gridiron to the asphalt, and knows he made the right decision.

"In a sense it was a tough [decision], but at the same time I knew I wanted to continue in racing and the opportunity of working with Brendan Gaughan out-gains the football aspect," Justice said.

Justice was born and raised in Greensboro, N.C. Athletic his entire life, he was a standout track star his senior year at Dudley High School in Greensboro, winning the state title in the 100-meter dash, setting the state record in that race.

That earned Justice a track scholarship at East Carolina University in 1997, where he was a walk-on with the Pirates football team.

A year later, he transferred to Wake Forest, where, after sitting out the 1998 season due to NCAA regulations, he played defensive back in 16 games over two seasons for the Demon Deacons, recording 14 tackles and one interception.

Justice also ran track for the Deacons, and was part of Wake Forest's ACC championship 4x100 relay squad in 1999.

But Justice didn't follow the football path after graduating from Wake Forest in 2003. Instead, Justice got into motorsports and it was his connections at Wake Forest that pushed him in that direction.

"A couple former teammates from Wake Forest -- Dion Williams and Mike Washington -- got into racing before I did and they contacted me, telling me about the diversity program and how NASCAR was trying to get more athletic individuals for over-the-wall pit crews, so from that point I contacted Drive for Diversity and was accepted for the 2004 class," he said.

After working for a couple different teams, Justice found himself on the outside looking in at the track, and it was then his old passion of football was creeping back into his life and Justice had to make a difficult decision.

"I had the opportunity to go try out with the Carolina Speed over in Concord, N.C., and made the cut and signed a letter of intent, but then I got the call from South Point Racing so I kind of had to let go of the Arena [Fooball] deal to continue racing," Justice said.

Justice handles the catch can on race day for Gaughan's No. 77 Chevy and fills in as jackman when needed. Gaughan couldn't be happier Justice decided to stay with auto racing, especially with him joining the No. 77 crew. (Continued)