Racing Insights: Top 10 pit crews ahead of 2026 Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge

When it comes to racing, your pit crew is just as important as your driver, and the NASCAR Cup Series is no exception. Whether it be loading fuel, changing tires or repairing damage, these jack-of-all-trades individuals must be at the ready at all times during competition.

These athletic, versatile crews will be put to the test at Dover Motor Speedway in Saturday's Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge as part of the 2026 All-Star Weekend (Noon ET, FS1, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Following one green-flag lap around the 1-mile circuit, drivers will send their machines to the pits, where their respective pit crew will perform a single four-tire stop with no gas. Following a mad dash to the start/finish line, the collective time will determine the 2026 Pit Crew Challenge winner and additionally determine pit selection order for Sunday's All-Star Race (1 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

So, which crews have stood out 12 races into the regular season and ahead of the much-anticipated event? Racing Insights ranks the top 10 teams so far this year. 

RELATED: Weekend schedule | How 2026 All-Star Race works | Every Pit Crew Challenge winner

1. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Front-tire changer: Blake Houston
Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina 

Rear-tire changer: Michael Hicks
Hometown: Providence, Rhode Island 

Tire carrier: William Cooper
Hometown: Huntsville, Alabama 

Jackman: Derrell Edwards
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland 

Fueler: Peyton Moore
Hometown: Buford, Georgia 

Racing Insights stats: 
Best four-tire stop: 8.92 seconds 
Clean Stop%: 100%

MORE: Full info on No. 20 team

2. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Front-tire changer: Nick O'Dell
Hometown: Springfield, Illinois 

Rear-tire changer: Calvin Teague 
Hometown: Taylorsville, North Carolina 

Tire carrier: Jared Erspamer
Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska 

Jackman: Tyler Semke
Hometown: Lee's Summit, Missouri 

Fueler: John Gianninoto
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona 

Racing Insights stats: 
Best four-tire stop: 8.90 seconds 
Clean Stop%: 96%

MORE: Full info on No. 9 team

3. Chris Buescher, No. 17 RFK Racing Ford

Front-tire changer: Jakob Prall 
Hometown: Tipp City, Ohio 

Rear-tire changer: Travis Juedes 
Hometown: Wausau, Wisconsin 

Tire carrier: Jaquan Bailey
Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida 

Jackman: Nicholas Patterson
Hometown: Clemmons, North Carolina 

Fueler: Bailey Walker 
Hometown: Murrells Inlet, South Carolina 

Racing Insights stats: 
Best four-tire stop: 8.92 seconds 
Clean Stop%: 98%

MORE: Full info on No. 17 team

4. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford

Front-tire changer: Joe Dilly
Hometown: Huntersville, North Carolina 

Rear-tire changer: Jake Seminara 
Hometown: Steubenville, Ohio 

Tire carrier: Jeremy Ogles
Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama 

Jackman: Ty Snelson 
Hometown: Hot Springs, North Carolina 

Fueler: Nick Hensley 
Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina

Racing Insights stats: 
Best four-tire stop: 9.18 seconds 
Clean Stop%: 100%

5. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Front-tire changer: Austin Maloney
Hometown: Miami, Florida

Rear-tire changer: Deven Youker
Hometown: Salisbury, New York 

Tire carrier: Dylan Dowell 
Hometown: Fowler, Kansas 

Jackman: Joel-Alexandre Bouagnon 
Hometown: Modesto, California 

Fueler: Kenneth Purcell
Hometown: Savannah, Georgia 

Racing Insights stats: 
Best four-tire stop: 9.12 seconds 
Clean Stop%: 96%

MORE: Full info on No. 11 team

6. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Front-tire changer: Mike Moss 
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois 

Rear-tire changer: Jafar Hall 
Hometown: Chinquapin, North Carolina 

Tire carrier: Allen Stallings  
Hometown: Manteo, North Carolina 

Jackman: Eric Ludwig 
Hometown: Burlington, North Carolina 

Fueler: Brandon Harder 
Hometown: Oak Harbor, Ohio 

Racing Insights stats: 
Best four-tire stop: 9.16 seconds 
Clean Stop%: 98%

MORE: Full info on No. 5 team

7. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Front-tire changer: Jackson Gibbs  
Hometown: Davidson, North Carolina 

Rear-tire changer: Daniel Smith  
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina 

Tire carrier: Nick McBeath 
Hometown: Miami, Florida 

Jackman: Braxton Brannon
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina 

Fueler: Ian Anderson 
Hometown: Pfafftown, North Carolina 

Racing Insights stats: 
Best four-tire stop: 9.02 seconds 
Clean Stop%: 96%

MORE: Full info on No. 54 team

8. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota

Front-tire changer: Austin Dickey 
Hometown: Shelby, Ohio 

Rear-tire changer: Adam Hartman  
Hometown: Oxford, North Carolina 

Tire carrier: Joe Crossen  
Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina 

Jackman: Nathan Ricketts
Hometown: Holland, Michigan 

Fueler: Joshua Pech 
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina 

Racing Insights stats: 
Best four-tire stop: 8.62 seconds 
Clean Stop%: 98% 

9. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford 

Front-tire changer: Justin Armwood
Hometown: Holly Springs, North Carolina 

Rear-tire changer: Geoffrey Wall 
Hometown: High Point, North Carolina 

Tire carrier: Jesse Mills 
Hometown: Frederick, Maryland

Jackman: Jourdan Osinskie 
Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina 

Fueler: Andrew Lackey 
Hometown: Casar, North Carolina

Racing Insights stats: 
Best four-tire stop: 9.18 seconds 
Clean Stop%: 98%

10. Daniel Suárez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Front-tire changer: Josh Dale 
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Rear-tire changer: Andrew Bridgeforth
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland

Tire carrier: *Donovan Williams 
Hometown: Dumfries, Virginia

Jackman: Allen Holman 
Hometown: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Fueler: Matthew Lehman
Hometown: Newport, Pennsylvania 

Racing Insights stats: 
Best four-tire stop: 8.98 seconds
Clean Stop%: 98%

*Note: Williams was injured at Dover Motor Speedway on Friday and won't pit the No. 7 Chevrolet this weekend, according to a report from The CW. Per NASCAR's Roster Portal, Andrew Egnarski is listed as the team's tire carrier. Egnarski pitted the Live Fast Motorsports No. 78 Chevrolet last weekend at Watkins Glen International. 

MORE: Full info on No. 7 team