Edwards’ No. 99 crew wins Tissot award in Homestead
The closely contested Tissot pit road competition, which saw four teams tied for the lead, came down to a tiebreaker to determine the season pit crew champion.
Matt Kenseth’s No. 17 crew was awarded the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award championship as a result of winning the tiebreaker that called for the team whose driver finished the highest in the final NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings.
Kenseth’s team shared the lead with the crews for Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch and Jamie McMurray, each scoring four pit road victories during the 2010 campaign. The No. 17 crew won the tiebreaker with Kenseth leading the way among the four drivers with a fifth-place finish in the driver point standings.
For winning the season-long Tissot Pit Road Precision Award title the No. 17 team will receive a $105,000 bonus from Tissot plus Tissot watches for the pit crew members and driver.
The No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing crew will also receive an all-expense paid trip to Las Vegas to accept the prize money and Tissot watches at the Champion’s Week NASCAR/NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon, Thursday, Dec. 2 in the Bellagio Ballroom.
Kenseth’s over-the-wall crew consists of: Justin Nottestad (front-tire changer), Joe Crossen (front-tire carrier), Dave Smith (rear-tire changer), Garrett Reding (rear-tire carrier), Cameron Cobb (jackman), Brad Robison (gasman) and Dave McDonald (catch can). The crew chief is Jimmy Fennig and the pit crew coach is Andy Ward.
“The entire No. 17 Crown Royal pit crew did a tremendous job this season in the pits,” said pit crew coach Ward. “We worked very hard on pit stops throughout the year, so it’s an honor to know that for the second year in a row, our Roush Fenway organization has won the Tissot award.”
Last year’s Tissot Pit Road Precision Award winner also came from the Roush Fenway Racing stable with Greg Biffle’s No. 16 crew taking top honors.
A total of 19 different teams won the Tissot award in 2010. Each weekly-winning crew received $5,000 plus a Tissot watch.
The weekly Tissot Pit Road Precision Award winner went to the team whose car spent the least amount of time on pit road and finished on the lead lap. The competition was designed to recognize and reward the extraordinary talents of Sprint Cup pit crews.
Edwards’ No. 99 Team Scores Twice in Season Finale
It was a double win for the No. 99 team with Carl Edwards winning Sunday’s (Nov. 21) Ford 400 Sprint Cup race and his crew capturing the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award win in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Edwards’ No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion spent the least amount of time on pit road during the 400-lap race – 278.260 seconds. The quick work on pit road helped Edwards win his second consecutive Cup race.
The No. 99 pit crew consists of: Kale Uphoff (front-tire changer), Jeremy Dyer (front-tire carrier), Dwayne Ogles (rear-tire changer), Jody Fortson (rear-tire carrier), Dennis Killian (jackman), Joe Karasinski (gasman) and Norm Lowe (catch can). The team’s crew chief is Bob Osborne and the pit crew coach is Andy Ward.
2010 Tissot Pit Road Precision Award Standings
Pos Team No. Pit Crew For Wins Prize Money
T1 17 Matt Kenseth 4 $125,000*
T1 24 Jeff Gordon 4 20,000
T1 18 Kyle Busch 4 20,000
T1 1 Jamie McMurray 4 20,000
T5 33 Clint Bowyer 3 15,000
T6 56 Martin Truex Jr. 2 10,000
T6 00 David Reutimann 2 10,000
T6 14 Tony Stewart 2 10,000
T9 42 Juan Pablo Montoya 1 5,000
T9 12 Brad Keselowski 1 5,000
T9 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1 5,000
T9 39 Ryan Newman 1 5,000
T9 2 Kurt Busch 1 5,000
T9 26 Boris Said 1 5,000
T9 16 Greg Biffle 1 5,000
T9 29 Kevin Harvick 1 5,000
T9 5 Mark Martin 1 5,000
T9 48 Jimmie Johnson 1 5,000
T9 99 Carl Edwards 1 5,000
*won tiebreaker; money includes champion bonus ($105,000)
2010 Tissot Pit Road Precision Award Winners
Daytona, 2/14 Juan Pablo Montoya Team
Fontana, 2/21 Jeff Gordon Team
Las Vegas, 2/28 Martin Truex Jr. Team
Atlanta, 3/7 Martin Truex Jr. Team
Bristol, 3/21 Brad Keselowski Team
Martinsville, 3/29 Clint Bowyer Team
Phoenix, 4/10 Matt Kenseth Team
Texas, 4/19 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Team
Talladega 4/25 David Reutimann Team
Richmond, 5/1 Ryan Newman Team
Darlington, 5/8 Jamie McMurray Team
Dover, 5/16 Matt Kenseth Team
Charlotte, 5/30 Jeff Gordon Team
Pocono, 6/6 Kyle Busch Team
Michigan, 6/13 Kurt Busch Team
Sonoma, 6/20 Boris Said Team
Loudon, 6/27 Jeff Gordon Team
Daytona, 7/3 Jeff Gordon Team
Chicago, 7/10 Jamie McMurray Team
Indianapolis, 7/25 Jamie McMurray Team
Pocono, 8/1 Greg Biffle Team
Watkins Glen, 8/8 Kyle Busch Team
Michigan, 8/15 Tony Stewart Team
Bristol, 8/21 David Reutimann Team
Atlanta, 9/5 Tony Stewart Team
Richmond, 9/11 Matt Kenseth Team
Loudon, 9/19 Clint Bowyer Team
Dover, 9/26 Kyle Busch Team
Kansas, 10/3 Kevin Harvick Team
Fontana, 10/10 Clint Bowyer Team
Charlotte, 10/16 Jamie McMurray Team
Martinsville, 10/24 Kyle Busch Team
Talladega, 10/31 Matt Kenseth Team
Texas, 11/7 Mark Martin Team
Phoenix, 11/14 Jimmie Johnson Team
Homestead, 11/21 Carl Edwards Team
About Tissot
For Tissot, “In touch with your time” is far more than an advertising claim. This phrase expresses the brand’s DNA; its proven dedication to being perfectly in tune with the technology and tastes of each era. Tissot has been growing and developing its tradition of innovation since 1853. From the early days to the present, in its home in Le Locle in the Swiss Jura mountains, Tissot has translated craftsmanship and precision into stylish timepieces now sold in over 150 countries around the world. Special materials, advanced functionality and meticulous design detail join forces to create the luxury of accessibility. Today Tissot is a member of the Swatch Group, the world’s largest watch producer and distributor of Swiss watches, as well as official timekeeper and partner of NASCAR®, International Basketball Federation (FIBA), Australian Football League (AFL), Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), MotoGP and the World Championships of Cycling, Fencing and Ice hockey. The tradition of innovation lives on, keeping closely in touch with the times.
