After the fourth race of the 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, PitTalks.com ranks the 12 remaining Chase teams’ pit crews. For more pit crew news provided by PitTalks.com come back throughout the Chase.
No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota pit crew for Carl Edwards
Rank: 1
Wins: 2 — Charlotte and Darlington
Notes: This team was strong again in the pits, and we see no reason to move them from the top spot. They weren’t the fastest crew of the race, but they were good enough to help their team to a top-six finish.
No. 22 Team Penske Ford pit crew for Joey Logano
Rank: 2
Wins: 4 — Daytona, Watkins Glen, Bristol, Charlotte
Notes: This is the second week in a row where the No. 22 was very strong on pit road. On four separate pit sequences they kept the No. 22 out front and helped bring the Penske Ford to Victory Lane.
No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota pit crew for Denny Hamlin
Rank: 3
Wins: 2 — Martinsville, (Sprint All-Star Race), Chicago
Notes: This was the a great day on pit road for the No. 11 crew. They were fast all day and, from what we can tell, averaged stops in the low 11-second range for the race. Without a strong day by the Nos. 19 and 22 crews, this team would be back in first.
No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet pit crew for Kevin Harvick
Rank: 4
Wins: 2 — Las Vegas and Phoenix
Notes: Not a bad day at all by this group. They almost pulled off back-to-back wins. The team was solid all day on pit road, particularly giving a great effort on the last green-flag pit stop to close the gap on the No. 22. None of their stops were longer than the 11-second range.
No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet pit crew for Kurt Busch
Rank: 5
Wins: 2 — Richmond and Michigan
Notes: The No. 41 finished fifth Sunday, and that’s exactly where they end up on the power rankings. With consistently fast stops, we don’t see them dropping out of the top five.
No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota pit crew for Kyle Busch
Rank: 6
Wins: 4 — Sonoma, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Indianapolis
Notes: This team moves up another spot after a strong performance Sunday. New changer; same results. This group was really fast during stops and ended up 20th after contact with the No. 42 car entering pit road.
No. 2 Team Penske Ford pit crew for Brad Keselowski
Rank: 7
Wins: 1 — Fontana
Notes: This was one of the best races for this group so far this year. In their third week with a new rear changer, the team seems to be coming together fast. They left Charlotte as one of the fastest crews of the race and that’s why they jumped up one spot.
No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota pit crew for Matt Kenseth
Rank: 8
Wins: 5 — Bristol, Pocono, Michigan, Richmond, New Hampshire
Notes: The few stops they got to do were good! Finishing 42nd hurt their efforts in moving up the rankings, but we try not to hold that against the crew. This team pitted well; it just didn’t get the opportunity to finish the race strong.
No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet pit crew for Martin Truex Jr.
Rank: 9
Wins: 1 – Pocono
Notes: The car couldn’t have finished third without good stops, and that’s exactly what the crew provided. It was a solid day on pit road, but it will take another week of stops like this to move up any farther. Still, it’s a good jump from 11th to ninth for this crew.
No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet pit crew for Ryan Newman
Rank: 10
Wins: 0
Notes: This team is a mystery to us. The crew has tons of talent and has produced fast stops, but they haven’t put up the races we thought we would see … yet. We still think they’re a better crew than 10th, but so far nine other crews have been better.
No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet pit crew for Jeff Gordon
Rank: 11
Wins: 0
Notes: This team needs a few more weeks to get a real feel for how their changes are going to pay off. It’s unfair to say they’re an 11th-place crew, but right now that’s where they are. Expect them to move up quickly after these crew members get more reps together.
No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet pit crew for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Rank: 12
Wins: 2 — Talladega and Daytona
Notes: The No. 88 hit the wall and wrecked. Pit stops were OK up until that point, but not enough to move out of 12th. This group needs a good day with no mistakes and things can turn around quickly.
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