No. 71 Spire Motorsports Crew Dominates Pit Crew Challenge

Michael McDowell’s No. 71 Spire Motorsports crew celebrated a major achievement by taking the top spot in the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Pit Crew Challenge on May 16, 2025, at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The group earned a $100,000 prize after clocking a fast pit stop time of 12.587 seconds.

Crew members Brandon Chapman, Dax Hollifield III, Luke Bussel, Max Marsh, and Ty Boeck made the successful stop that led to this big win on Friday night.

The No. 71 team narrowly edged out Trackhouse Racing’s No. 99 crew, which posted a time of 12.600 seconds. Front Row Motorsports’ No. 4 crew finished in third with a time of 12.669 seconds, completing a close race among some of the best teams in the garage.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Nos. 19 and 20 crews also showed strong performances, rounding out the top five fastest pit stops with times of 12.695 seconds for the No. 19 and 12.709 seconds for the No. 20. Christopher Bell’s No. 20 crew came in as two-time defending champions but was unable to secure a third straight victory.

Dax Hollifield III, the jackman for the No. 71, shared his feelings after the win, “Honestly, I’m still trying to pinch myself. I think this is a dream.”

“We’re all rookies, and half the team has only run twelve races. We’ve been working hard for the past year, focusing on each small detail. If you do the little things right, good things happen. We just try to get better every day, and it showed today.” This event was a key moment for this very young crew, most of whom had never competed together at this level for long.

Crew chief Travis Peterson praised the group’s commitment and progress, saying, “These guys are one of the youngest crews at Hendrick this year. At the start of the year, we knew we had to keep working hard and improving. Everyone is getting better each week, and now we are starting to see the results on the track too.”

He added that the team’s practice stop was even faster, at 8.3 seconds, and matching their practice level under race pressure was a big accomplishment.

The pressure of the Pit Crew Challenge puts the spotlight on team members who don’t always get the recognition drivers receive on race day. Fast, error-free pit stops are critical in modern NASCAR racing, and this event is a chance for pit crews to compete for glory and for real prizes. For more on the history and significance of pit stops in motorsports, check out this NASCAR official guide.

The All-Star Pit Crew Challenge has become a popular feature of NASCAR’s All-Star festivities, giving fans a closer look at the teamwork and athleticism that go into fast stops. Similar to how teams in other motorsports are recognized, such as the Route 66 win by Ron Capps, these events highlight the skill and precision needed to succeed.

As the All-Star weekend at North Wilkesboro continued, the Cup Series moved on to the All-Star Heat Races on Saturday evening, scheduled for 5:10 p.m. ET. Those races set the stage for Sunday’s main All-Star event, where teams and drivers would continue to battle for the spotlight and the chance to add to their records. For a deeper dive into the All-Star Race format, visit Racing-Reference.

The success of the No. 71 Spire Motorsports crew in the Pit Crew Challenge was a highlight at the start of a busy weekend. The team’s performance proved that hard work, focus, and steady improvement can lead to unexpected victories, even among some of the sport’s most established names, much like the recent comeback seen with Alexander in funny car racing.

Additionally, the dedication and resilience of the crew echo the determination shown by Brittany Force on her redemption route at Route 66. For more insights into the athleticism of pit crews, explore this study by the University of North Carolina.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.