RELATED: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
MORE: Meet the 16 Chase crew chiefs
This is the fourth in a series of four pit crew analysis pieces NASCAR.com will roll out this week as we preview the 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. For more pit crew news provided by PitTalks.com come back throughout the Chase.
Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet for Jeff Gordon
Pit Coach: Chris Burkey
Front Changer: Scott Brzozowski
Front Carrier: Dion Williams
Jackman: John Gianatto
Rear Changer: Chad Avritt
Rear Carrier: Jared Erspamer
Gas Man: Travis Gordon
Strength: They pit for one of the greatest drivers of all time, and this crew would love to send Jeff Gordon off on a solid note at the end of his final full-time Sprint Cup season. They have two changers who are as fast as any two out there and a support team that is solid.
Weakness: Early in the year this team was moving some crewmen around. They took a few weeks to look at some young talent at the front carrier, rear carrier and jack man positions. During this time, jackman Bailey Walker and HMS parted ways and John Gianatto took over full time. So the in-experience of this team might play a factor. Also, they took a lot of heat a few weeks back at Bristol over two loose wheels on the rear and getting over that will be key.
Richard Childress Racing No. 31 Chevrolet for Ryan Newman
Pit Crew: 31
Pit Coach: Eric Wilson
Front Changer: Tim Sheets
Front Carrier: J.D. Holcum
Jackman: Adam Lewis
Rear Changer: Jake Lind
Rear Carrier: Brad Robinson
Gas Man: Cruz Gonzalez
Strength: This team has some very high-end speed. They have been a top 15 crew for most of the year and come Chase time, they must find that top-end speed in order to compete. This is the same group that helped Newman finish second in last year's Chase
Weakness: Last year they were a team that was running fast times all year at every track. This year they've fallen off a little bit on the consistency side. Make no mistake ... this team is fast, but being fast sometimes and being fast all the time are two different things.
Richard Childress Racing No. 27 for Paul Menard
Pit Coach: Eric Wilson
Front Changer: Jeff Cordero
Front Carrier: Matt Donley
Jackman: Sam Abney
Rear Changer: Aaron Smith
Rear Carrier: Ray Wright
Gas Man: Matt Krueter
Strength: This is the same group that has pitted the No. 27 all year. They understand their driver and have veteran leadership within the back of their car with Smith, Wright and Krueter.
Weakness: It's been a while since they were in contention for a win, and it's hard to get up for each race when your not used to pitting up front.
Michael Waltrip Racing No. 15 Toyota for Clint Bowyer
Pit Coach: Walt Smith
Front Changer: Terry Spalding
Front Carrier: Allen Steel
Jackman: Brian Chase
Rear Changer: Lee Cunningham
Rear Carrier: PJ Brody
Gas Man: Evan Marchall
Strength: They have a ton of leadership with Spalding and Chase and have plenty of talent in the rear with Brody and Cunningham. They have the ability to go low on any stop.
Weakness: They haven't been running up front all year, and pitting under the pressure that the Chase provides will test this group. They have had races where they've been a top team all day and they've had races where you didn't know they were there. This would be a scary crew to handicap one way or the other.