NASCAR University – Part One, Intro & PIT Instruction and Training Center w/ 5 OFF 5 ON

Sarah Pizzo, The Inside Groove.com
Jun 24, 2005

Okay, so there isn’t really a place called NASCAR University. Instead there are various schools in the Charlotte area that make up the campus. Each school has, in its own right, created a little niche for itself. When someone comes to this area for the first time, or even graduates high school in this area, and wants to get into NASCAR, it can be quite confusing figuring out who offers what and more importantly what the teams want. So, I decided to go to the source and ask the schools and the teams what programs are offered and what teams are looking for.

Choosing which school to go to can be an easy decision, it all depends on what your goals are and what your background is. Much like any higher educational institution, these schools offer programs geared towards specific individuals with specific career paths. If you have a background, basic knowledge, or experience working with race cars or automotive mechanics and are interested in pursuing a career as an over-the-wall pit crew member, the school for you may just be PIT Instruction and Training Center and 5 OFF 5 ON.

PIT Instruction and Training Center, located in Mooresville, specializes in training pit crew members from start to finish in a very practiced and methodical manner. Created because of the demand for qualified pit crew members, PIT offers people the chance to gain hands-on experience in a non-competitive environment. It has one of the most amazing programs that I have seen. I walked around, watched and talked to some of the guys and girls who were either graduates or coaches of the school. When I left, I felt that my knowledge of the precision of a pit stop doubled. Programs are eight weeks long and classes are offered at night, which is very helpful for those of us who still need to earn a living. When students come here, they are taken step-by-step through the choreography of a pit stop, learning and practicing each part of the puzzle before they move on to the next.

For the first several classes, students mime their movements, running around an invisible moving car (there is a car, but it is stopped). Students have practice being the front and rear tire changer and carrier, as well as jackman, mimicking the movements of each job. This allows them to see what each job entails, and what they might best be suited for.

As the program moves along, students will be able to use the tools of the trade, although without power. This gives students the feel of the equipment and enables them to get accustomed to the weight and bulk that it might have, as well as how to hold it and use it properly. Eventually, students will have power, and a moving vehicle, to practice and contend with. Students work in groups with a coach, just like they would if they were working for a team. Class members are often seen helping each other get better by giving suggestions, explanations, and tutoring. The atmosphere at the school is one of mutual respect, as all parties involved know and understand that this is a sport that requires team work. That teamwork begins while students are still learning their trade.

Once graduation takes place, students may move on to the ‘graduate program,’ otherwise known as 5 OFF 5 ON. This program gives continued practice to graduates in order to enhance their speed and confidence during a pit stop. Coaches work with groups of students, but give one-on-one attention when needed. One thing that is abundantly clear is that this is serious business. Students come prepared to work and learn. Although companies can come here for team building and are able to get a pit crew experience, for students, this is an education. This is work. This program is for people who truly have the desire and will to work in this sport. According to Nicole Addison, the only female over-the-wall pit crew member in NASCAR and who is the rear tire changer for the No. 16 Craftsman Truck Series team driven by Jack Sprague, the hardest part of this program is setting aside distractions and staying focused. This coincides with what Andrew Harris, a coach at PIT, who is a graduate himself, says. Besides not getting hit on race day, the toughest challenge of a pit crew member’s job is the mental preparation required. Having that dedication, drive, and focus is not all that is needed when it comes to being an over-the-wall pit crew member, however.

One of the top priorities of teams these days is the physical conditioning of their pit crew members. PIT has taken this into consideration and students have access to the school’s gym facility, which has weight machines, free-weights, as well as other exercise equipment. There are also trainers who assist students in working out properly in order to maximize their gym time. According to James Houk, a recent graduate of PIT, who is a tire carrier, and has had the opportunity to fill in as an over-the-wall crew member in the Busch series, teams seem to be looking more often to the world of sports to find crew members. One reason for this is the dedication, as well as the natural athleticism, that these men and women have.

Employment upon graduation is always a concern of students no matter what kind of educational program that they are involved in. The purpose of getting an education is to ultimately get a job in your chosen field of study. Just like in other highly competitive occupations, especially in the sports industry, there are no guarantees. One thing that this school does offer its graduates is to try to help them get their foot in the door through relationships that the school has with various teams. Graduates from this program include several of Kyle Petty’s pit crew. Andy Shahan from Mascot, TN is a graduate of PIT and is currently the rear tire carrier for Petty’s No. 45 team. He made sure to shed the light of reality when it comes to getting a job on a pit crew. Shahan was one of only two people chosen out of an audition of between 60-80 people vying for a position in Petty’s organization. Teams do use this program to find new talent. Greg Miller was a part of the 5 OFF 5 ON program before it was called PIT and is now the pit crew coordinator at Evernham Motorsports. “I know the potential that came through there. I would say that I, more than anyone else in the business, utilize them to find talent,” Miller says.

According to Doug Burns, Senior Director of Recruiting and Admission at PIT, teams at various levels, Busch, Truck, ARCA, Hooters Pro Cup, and even Nextel Cup, will call the school if they are in search of pit crew members. They tell the school what they are looking for, and the school will give them a list of candidates that they feel are qualified. In some cases, teams are looking for permanent members of a crew, and in others they are looking for someone to fill in. It is then the responsibility of the student to show the teams what they are capable of. The school acts as an agent for the students when teams call. This service is great for students, since most have no idea how much they should get paid for working on a team.

The facility at PIT is amazing, the coaches are excellent, and the training that you get here is some of the best in the business. If joining a pit crew is something that you have a desire and the dedication to do, PIT is definitely a place worth checking out.

Photo Gallery:
A new class learns the ropes
Kyle Petty's 45 team uses the PIT facility to practice their pit stops

Next:
NASCAR University –Part Two, NASCAR Technical Institute
NASCAR University-Part Three, What Do Teams Want?

Contact Sarah Pizzo at taagent@alltel.net.