Texas II: Pit Crew Challenge winner

Newman's Team Takes Pit Crew Honors in Texas

Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge season championship still up for grabs.

Ryan Newman's over-the-wall crew took top honors in Sunday's Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway.

The No. 12 Penske Racing crew visited pit road for a total of 306.591 seconds during Sunday's Nextel Cup event.

"The guys did a great job in the pits today, as they've done for the entire season," said Newman. "We took a few risks by taking two tires only in order to gain track position and (crew chief) Mike Nelson did a great job making those calls. It helped us lead a few laps and get a fifth-place finish at Texas. Our last stop helped us gain five spots and we were able to hold on against teams that took four tires."

Checkers/Rally's will present Newman's team with an $11,000 check for winning the weekly competition. An additional $111,150 prize will be awarded to the over-the-wall crew with the most wins at the completion of the 36-race Nextel Cup schedule.

Newman's team consists of: Bryan White (jackman), Scott Reiniger (front-tire carrier), Ben Brown (front-tire changer), Trent Cherry (rear-tire carrier), Joe Piette Jr. (rear-tire changer), George Whitley (gasman), Britt Goodrich (catch can) and Michael Warren (eighth-man). Cherry and Bob Pressley are the pit crew coaches.

With two races remaining, the Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge season championship is still up for grabs. Mark Martin's No. 01 crew and Jeff Gordon's No. 24 crew are currently tied for the lead with four wins each; however, six other teams are still mathematically in contention.

If there's a tie after the final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway (Nov. 18), the team which finishes highest in the driver point standings will be awarded the Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru season championship.

2007 Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge Winners -- Nextel Cup Series

Daytona (2/18) Martin Team
California (2/25) Martin Team
Las Vegas (3/11) Martin Team
Atlanta (3/18) Johnson Team
Bristol (3/25) Hamlin Team
Martinsville (4/1) Earnhardt Team
Texas (4/15) Martin Team
Phoenix (4/22) Hamlin Team
Talladega (4/29) Kurt Busch Team
Richmond (5/6) J. Gordon Team
Darlington (5/13) J. Gordon Team
Charlotte (5/27) Hamlin Team
Dover (6/4) Newman Team
Pocono (6/10) J. Gordon Team
Michigan (6/17) Kyle Busch Team
Infineon (6/24) Harvick Team
New Hamp. (7/1) Johnson Team
Daytona (7/7) Mears Team
Chicago (7/15) Harvick Team
Indianapolis (7/30) Sorenson Team
Pocono (8/5) Newman Team
Watkins Glen (8/12) Truex Team
Michigan (8/21) Kurt Busch Team
Bristol (8/25) Bowyer Team
California (9/3) Earnhardt Team
Richmond (9/8) J. Gordon Team
New Hamp. (9/16) Kyle Busch Team
Dover (9/23) Mears Team
Kansas (9/30) Earnhardt Team
Talladega (10/7) Sauter Team
Charlotte (10/13) Bowyer Team
Martinsville (10/21) Kyle Busch Team
Atlanta (10/28) Sorenson Team
Texas (11/4) Newman Team

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Busch Series Results--Texas Motor Speedway

The No. 90 over-the-wall crew for Stephen Leicht collected the Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge win in Saturday's Busch Series event at Texas Motor Speedway. The crew spent just 119.289 seconds on pit road on its way to a 10th-place finish.

Scott Wimmer's No. 29 crew leads the Busch Series pit crew challenge standings with five wins. Stephen Leicht's, Marcos Ambrose's, and Paul Menard's crews are tied for second with four wins.

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Truck Series Result--Texas Motor Speedway

Ted Musgrave's No. 9 over-the-wall crew grabbed its first Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge of the season on its way to a victory in Friday's Craftsman Truck Series event. The team spent 83.917 seconds on pit road.

With two races remaining in the season, Mike Skinner's No. 5 team leads the truck series pit crew challenge standings with five wins. Johnny Benson's No. 23 crew, which has three wins, is the only team that can catch the leader. If Benson's crew doesn't win the competition next week, Skinner's team will clinch the season title.

-credit: Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc.