Crews Clash for $100,000 Prize in Pit Crew Challenge

NASCAR’s 2025 Pit Crew Challenge returns to North Wilkesboro Speedway on Friday, May 16, spotlighting pit road crews during All-Star Race week. This timed, high-stakes contest allows crew members to showcase their skills for cash prizes and the opportunity to influence starting positions for upcoming races.

The atmosphere is electric as fans watch each team race against the clock and each other under the Friday night lights. The Pit Crew Challenge directly impacts the NASCAR All-Star Race and the All-Star Open, with crews competing for a $100,000 prize and pole positions in critical heats and races.

A fast, penalty-free pit stop can change the weekend’s outcome by determining the pit selection order for the main event. This adds new layers of strategy to race weekend, making every second on pit road crucial.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 crew, led by jackman Derrell Edwards, front tire changer Blake Houston, tire carrier Jacob Holmes, and fueler Peyton Moore, has dominated recently. They powered Ty Gibbs to a 2023 win and helped Christopher Bell claim the 2024 All-Star Race pole with a blazing 13.223-second stop.

In 2025, the team hopes to secure a third straight victory. Edwards says the crew takes great pride in defending their title, knowing every second counts, as their consistency and teamwork continue to set the standard.

The event has a rich history, originally launched at Rockingham Speedway in 1967. It later moved to Charlotte and changed formats before pausing in 2012. For more details on NASCAR’s historical milestones, visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

The 2023 return to North Wilkesboro revived fan excitement for old-school NASCAR competition, where pit crews take center stage. Crew coaches appreciate seeing their team members—who normally work under intense pressure—finally receive the recognition they deserve.

For 2025, all teams entered in the weekend’s races are eligible to compete. Open teams compete first to set their race lineup, followed by All-Star cars to establish heats.

During the challenge, cars run one lap at speed, pit for a four-tire change (no fuel added), then race back to the flag. Total time from green to checkered, measured by timing lines before and after pit stops, decides both the winner and heat race order.

The quickest crew earns a unique trophy and the six-figure payout. NASCAR Insights tracks top-performing pit crews based on season-long average four-tire stop times. For deeper analytics on pit crew performance, check out Racing-Reference.

Entering the challenge, the No. 23 Toyota crew for Bubba Wallace, No. 54 Toyota for Ty Gibbs, No. 11 Toyota for Denny Hamlin, No. 17 Ford for Chris Buescher, and No. 5 Chevrolet for Kyle Larson rank among the fastest. These teams have demonstrated precision and speed throughout months of competition.

The Pit Crew Challenge combines action, history, and strategy in one event. With big money and track position on the line, every mistake or moment of brilliance is amplified. To learn more about the science behind pit crew efficiency, explore SAE International.

All eyes will be on North Wilkesboro on May 16 to see if Joe Gibbs Racing can keep its win streak alive or if a new crew will rise to the top. Fans following recent race news might also find interesting updates such as the randy meyer runner-up performances adding context to current racing dynamics.