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Why yes, yes we do.

Once the race is over, crew guys and race fans have one thing in common: we both want to get the hell out of the track as fast as possible.  Horrid parking, bad traffic direction, and not enough escape routes are all obstacles we face on the way out.  And since we don’t get helicopter rides to the airport like the drivers, sometimes we have to get creative.

At some tracks we go to, crew guys will actually park away from the track and walk in like the fans.  In doing so, it allows us to walk past all the traffic around the track and get out more quickly so we can catch our flights or get on the road.  Besides the obvious benefit of getting out faster, this parking situation also offers some unforeseen entertainment.

Parking away from the track means we have two long walks to make; one into the track and one out of the track.  And in many situations, these walks are done through the same areas the fans inhabit.  Here is where the fun ensues.

First, when walking through a crowded area at a race track, why is it that some race fans look at us like we are aliens?  If there is one place you’d think we’d fit in wearing apparel that is emblazoned with company logos it would be at a race track.  That’s not necessarily the case though.  Maybe they are just shocked that we show up wearing long black work pants on days when it’s a bazillion degrees outside.  Either way, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched people notice a group of us, completely stop what they are doing, and stare at us with puzzled looks on their faces as we walk by.  Psst, you over there, yeah the one staring, we are supposed to be here…

One of the cooler experiences that happens during these strolls, is all the fans that want to meet us.  There is never a shortage of folks who want to shake our hands, get a picture, or have us autograph their t-shirt.  Even though we are all just normal Joes like the fans, it’s still fun to feel like a celebrity for a little bit.

And then there are the hecklers.  These folks love to talk a little trash as we walk by, if we don’t happen to be wearing the uniform of their favorite driver.  It’s alright though, we can take it.  If we are getting heckled, that means we probably kicked their favorite driver’s butt.  It’s definitely worse for some more then others though.  Think about who the most hated drivers in NASCAR are, and you can imagine how bad those guys get it.

To all of you who choose to enjoy a few (or many) cold, adult beverages while at the race, do me a favor please?  Either stay in your motorhome, or get somebody else to drive you home.  I’m all for having a good time, and would probably be doing the same if I were at the race to watch, but watching you stumble out of the stands while yelling “Jimmie Sucks!” makes me a little nervous.  Especially because you were wearing a Jimmie Johnson hat…

So the next time you are at the track doing a little tailgating, and a stream of crew guys comes walking by, don’t be skerred.  We’re just here to do a little work.  Oh, and to all of you who have offered me a beer, I’d love one, but let me get a rain check.  I don’t think the boss would think too highly of me drinking on the job.

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I’m going to go on a rant here, so I apologize in advance, but this is something that has bothered me since I started as a tire changer.  When young guys finally get their first opportunities to jack, carry, and change they usually end up on Truck Series and some of the smaller Nationwide Series teams.  But many are over-matched and under-experienced for the situations they are put into.  And often times they will make mistakes that will cost their teams positions on pit road.  But instead of letting them make a mistake and learn from it, often times crew chiefs and managers are quick on the trigger and will fire a guy for one mistake.  That sucks.

The biggest element to success for a young crew guy is confidence.  He has to not only have the skills to do his job, but he has to KNOW he has the skills to do his job when he steps off the wall.  If he is hesitant or worries about making mistakes, odds are that is exactly what will happen.  Firing kids for making one mistake isn’t exactly confidence inspiring.

What I don’t think some of these crew chiefs and boss people understand, is that no pit crew guy is ever going to be perfect.  No changer is going to hit exactly 20 lugs on every pit stop.  No carrier is going to stud every wheel.  And no jackman is going to hit every post.  It’s just not possible.  But what sets the really good guys apart from everyone else is the ability to not only minimize those mistakes, but also recover from them. 

A tire changer who hangs a lug nut on the right side needs to realize that the mistake cost him time, but that he can’t make it back up.  Finish the stop the right way, and then forget it ever happened.  If the changer dwells on the mistake and beats himself up over it, he’s not going to be prepared for the next stop.  When he goes to start hitting lug nuts again, he’s going to be worrying about hanging a lug.  And often times, he’ll end up hanging another one, or worse.

The turnover that some of these teams experience with their pit crews is because of this exact reason.  They end up going through a ton of guys over the course of the season and they can never figure out why their pit stops are slow.  They are slow because your guys never work together long enough to build that chemistry that is necessary to be really good.

On top of that, I wonder how many guys have given up because of these experiences.  They maybe screw up a couple of times, get fired off deals, and then decide this isn’t for them.  When in reality, if somebody would have just given them a chance to get a little experience and learn how to deal with adversity, maybe they could have had a solid career.

Before I end this, keep in mind that in many cases, guys do deserve to get fired.  Multiple mistakes, especially if it’s the same mistake, warrant a change.  And having a crappy attitude and lame excuses won’t get guys anywhere.  I just wish that in those cases where it’s not necessarily warranted, teams would give these kids a chance.  You never know, they just might surprise the hell out of you.