No. 42 team wins award for most valuable pit crew

Excellent pit stops can make or break a race and a season for a team. For Juan Montoya and his No. 42 Chevrolet, his pit crew helped him gain a spot in the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup, challenge the front of the field throughout the season and finish eighth in the Cup Series standings.

Mechanix Wear has announced that the No. 42 pit crew from Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates is the winner of the Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award for the 2009 season.

This award is the only authentic competition voted on by crew chiefs. The No. 42 pit crew was selected for its fast pit stops, flawless performance and incredible effort during the 36-race season. The team also won the Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award for the third quarter.

The No. 42 pit crew will travel to Las Vegas to be honored at the annual Cup Series celebration, and also will take home the Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew trophy and the $100,000 grand prize.

Crew chief, Brian Pattie of the No. 42 pit crew is proud of the impressive job his team did during the 2009 season.

"Most of these guys on Team Target have been together for some time now," Pattie said, "and it's really nice to see them recognized for the great job that they do week in and week out. They played a huge role in us making it into the Chase for the Sprint Cup and I am really proud of them."