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With the Nationwide Series and Truck Series moving to some non-companion events over the summer, it seems that I hear everyday about teams looking for quality crew members for upcoming races.  It really makes me wonder if we aren’t almost facing a bit of a shortage of pit crew guys.

There are a good number of guys that have crew gigs all weekend.  A crew guy may pit a Nationwide car on Saturday and a Cup car on Sunday.  Some are even finding ways to not only double dip, but even add some Truck races!  By freelancing themselves out, they can make some very good extra money, get more experience, and gain exposure.  Some teams also use guys across the various series.  Teams like Gibbs and Penske have guys that are on both their NNS and Cup teams.

When the series separate however, it creates holes for many teams.  They are then left trying to put crews together last minute.  With travel and license issues arising from these last minute hires, plus the uncertainty about a guy’s experience and abilities, it can make the whole situation very difficult.

With NASCAR imposing hard card limits on teams in the NNS and CWTS, I wonder if they have created an unintended effect.  The rules were put in place to help the teams save money on salaries and travel, but they have limited the opportunities for younger guys trying to work their way up the ranks.  Many of these kids that come through the various pit crew schools don’t often have the know-how to also be mechanics, so they miss out on opportunities.  Teams are forced to find guys that not only work on the cars, but pit them too, so as to be compliant with the credential limits.

What then ends up happening, is that on weekends when holes are created by non-companion races, there just aren’t enough experienced guys available. There are plenty of kids available who “know” how to change tires, jack, and carry, but very few have a ton of experience.  And crew chiefs don’t like bringing in some new guy who doesn’t have a ton of races under his belt.  It takes time for a crew guy to understand what he needs to do to be successful at the track, and to be able to transfer his skills from practice to the race.

While the causes may be different, the problem is similar to that of many young drivers and the need for fresh talent.  For example, the Nationwide Series has become Cup lite, and development drivers just don’t get the chances they used to.  Crew guys are no different.

My advice to the young crew guys out there is this: network as much as you can and do as many races as you are able.  That way, when a hole does open up somewhere, people will know who you are, and have faith that you can get the job done.

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You may not realize it, but while the 2009 season still isn’t officially over yet, preparations for 2010 have already begun.  One area that teams will spend the last few races working on, is changes to their pit crews.

To the untrained eye, it may appear to be business as usual for your favorite driver on pit road.  The car comes in, four tires go on, the car leaves.  But many teams take the opportunity to use these last couple of races to plug some new crew guys into their teams and see how they fare.  Do they gel with the existing crew guys?  Are they rattled by the pressure?  Could they make it next year?  These are all questions teams are trying to answer.

You won’t usually see this from the Chasers, but many teams outside the Chase will tinker.  It is inevitable that some guys will stay with their current teams, while others are looking to move on.  And some will be looking for a new spot involuntarily.  Either way, the teams need to find new guys to fill those holes.  These races can give them that chance to see what a guy, or guys, has.

Besides lateral movement within a series, these races also give teams a chance to see some younger guys in action.  Maybe a guy is brought up from the Truck Series to the Nationwide Series, or from the Nationwide Series to the Cup Series.  Crew chiefs and pit crew coaches can see first hand if a younger, inexperienced guy might be ready to move up the ranks.  Some will thrive, while others will need more time to mature.

When you watch any of the races this weekend, the Cup race in particular, be on the lookout for helmets on pit crew guys that don’t match the rest of the crew.  Often times, a gray helmet on a team means a new guy is involved.  And if you really know your favorite driver’s team well, take a look at each crew member.  Do you recognize every face?  In many cases, I’ll bet you will be able to spot some fresh faces.  It’s just another example of how teams are always working to be better for the future.