Reed's Team Get's It Done In Pit Crew Challenge

Team 43 Comes Home Second

The No. 43 Air Force Dodge pit crew started Sprint All-Star Week with an impressive runner-up finish at the fifth annual Sprint Pit Crew Challenge at the Time Warner Cable Arena in downtown Charlotte on Thursday Night.

The No. 43 team was a late addition to the competition when it was awarded the final entry to the event following the withdraw of the No. 09 team earlier in the week.

The No. 43 team overcame a three second penalty in the second round to defeat the No. 2 overall seed No. 18 team from Joe Gibbs Racing, which was assessed a five second penalty that proved to be the determining factor in the outcome of the head-to-head matchup.  The Air Force Dodge team recorded a final time of 26.536 while the No. 18 team scored a 27.228.

The Air Force team then defeated the No. 83 team, the defending event champion, in the quarterfinal round with a time of 28.111 seconds compared to the No. 83 team’s 32.948 seconds.

The No. 43 crew continued their march through the competition by defeating the No. 14 team from Stewart Haas Racing in the semifinal round with a time of 23.506 seconds. The No. 14 team finished with a time of 25.712 seconds.

The Air Force pit crew finally met their match in the final round. The No. 31 team from Richard Childress Racing performed a record-setting time of 22.115 seconds to defeat the No. 43 team’s time of 23.839 seconds. Neither team was penalized in the final round.

The members of the Air Force Dodge pit crew are as follows:

· Jackman: Ed Watkins

· Front Tire Changer: Bryan Jacobson

· Front Tire Carrier: Brett Morrell

· Rear Tire Changer: Tony Lunders

· Rear Tire Carrier: Joel Coronel

· Gas Man: Chris Moore

· Catch Can: Jeff Seaburg

· Pit Crew Coach: Brett Cummings

Lowe's Motor Speedway

ALL STAR WEEKEND

SPRINT SHOWDOWN

Date:  May 15

Practice:      12 p.m.     SPEED TV

Qualifying:   5 p.m.      SPEED TV

Date:  May 16

Race:  7 p.m.      SPEED TV

SPRINT ALL-STAR RACE

Date:  May 15

Practice:  1:30 p.m.  SPEED TV

Qualifying:  6 p.m.      SPEED TV

Date:  May 16

Race:  9 p.m.      SPEED TV

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Team 43 pushed their way to a second place finish in the pit crew challenge. (John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)