Meet the 2012 #22 Crew - The Shell-Raisers!

Pondering a nickname...

Todd Gordon – Crew Chief

1 year at Penske

Hometown: Camden, NY

Nickname: Todd claims he has no nickname...we have to work on this!

First job: Worked in a Pro Shop at a golf course.

Favorite Track:  Watkins Glen because he won there and its home.

Memorable Racing Experience:  His dominating win at Kansas last year in the Nationwide series.

If You Were a Car Part, What Would You Be?  ECU (Electronic Control Unit) because it is his job to gather data and tell people what to do.

Kristen’s Tidbit:  Todd holds a mechanical engineering degree from Clemson University and had a very cool senior project - building a limited super modified race car from scratch.  No word on what his grade was but he must have passed because he did race it for 3 years!

1000 is on it!

Jeffrey Thousand – Car Chief

32 (!) years at Penske

Hometown: St. Louis, MO

Nickname: “1000”

First job: Fabricator

Favorite Track:  Bristol

Memorable Racing Experience:  Winning the All Star Race and 600 at Charlotte with Kurt Busch in 2010.   

If You Were a Car Part, What Would You Be?  The engine because he is always running!

Kristen’s Tidbit:  Jeffrey has seen and done everything there is to do at Penske.  He was one of Rusty Wallace's favorites and has bucket loads of information and experience at his finger tips.  One of the most respected guys in the sport who plays it straight but every now and again will surprise you by doing something completely wacky.

Crazy...indeed

Chris Osborne – Spotter

4.5 years at Penske

Hometown: High Point, NC

Nickname: “Crazy”

First job: Collecting golf balls at age 8 at the local golf course/range (for free he adds...)

Favorite Track:  Bristol for the night race

Memorable Racing Experience:  His first Cup win in Phoenix working on Bobby Hamilton’s crew in 1996.

If You Were a Car Part, What Would You Be?  The throttle because he likes to back the corner’s up and ease it in…

Kristen’s Tidbit:  Chris is our smooth-talking “Voice of Victory” that fans associate most with because we listen to him every week guiding Sam Hornish, Jr  through traffic.   He is super laid-back, loved by all, and *always* sunburnt!

Fear the Beard!

Steve Reis – Race Engineer

4 years at Penske

Hometown: Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Nickname: “STEVEN” (in a voice like your mom would use)

First job:  The Green Giant factory sanitizing machinery after hours.

Favorite Track: Darlington for the Southern 500

Memorable Racing Experience: Winning the Bud Shootout and the Gatorade Duel with Kurt Busch in 2011.

If You Were a Car Part, What Would You Be? The tires because he is complicated and hard to understand!

Kristen’s Tidbit:   Like all race engineers he was easy to spot because he is always carrying a clipboard and records everything…or it could have been the beard.

Spring-y like Tigger?

Jonathan Hassler – Race Engineer

5 years at Penske

Hometown: Greencastle, IN

Nickname: “Go Back On That”

First job:  Go-Kart racer!

Favorite Track: Darlington

Memorable Racing Experience:  Winning at Bristol with “Lil Gator” in the Nationwide Series.

If You Were a Car Part, What Would You Be?  A spring because “I love springs!”

Kristen’s Tidbit:   Jonathan graduated from Purdue University with an automotive engineering degree following in the footsteps of Ryan Newman.  Proving there’s a lot of brain power behind that pretty baby-face!

Ray and those long arms!

Ray Gallahan – Jackman 

7 years at Penske

Hometown: Lake Helen, FL

Nickname: “Gorilla”  (because his arm span is huge!)

First job:  Ray worked at Auto Bell Car Wash during high school and the first year of college.  “I was like their MVP guy in that I knew how to do anything there.  Inside cleanup and vacuuming were my specialties.”

Favorite Track: Daytona

Memorable Racing Experience:  In 2007 sneaking into the Chase at Richmond and hearing over the radio “we are locked in.”

If You Were a Car Part, What Would You Be? The drive shaft because it’s not very complex!

Kristen’s Tidbit: I used to think of Ray as the “quiet intellectual” because he would always go on top the hauler and read.  Ray found this pretty amusing given his choice of car part…

Jay enjoying the spoils of Victory!

Jay Hackney - Front Tire Changer

10 years at Penske

Hometown: St. Louis, MO

Nickname: “Hack”

First job:  Jay worked with his father as a contractor but his dad fired him because he was being “lazy” and made him work in a saw mill.  “My dad knew how hard the work was and he wanted me to get off on the right foot while I was getting out of school and having to do things on my own.  I did everything from cutting and hauling the dropped trees to all the work at the mill.  Dad was right, that was the hardest work I can imagine doing…” and once he learned his lesson his dad hired him back.

Favorite Track:  Bristol

Memorable Racing Experience:  1^st Bristol win with Kurt Busch in 2006.

If You Were a Car Part, What Would You Be?  Jay couldn’t think of a part he was comfortable with but on crew consensus they suggested he be the splitter because he is always up front and diggin'!

Kristen’s Tidbit:  Jay is the most humble guy on the crew and is never comfortable with all the accolades he often gets and very much deserves. 

Fueled by Fruit Snacks

Travis Johnson - Rear Tire Changer

7 years at Penske

Hometown: Chetek, WI

Nickname: “T-rav”

First job: Hunt club "whipping boy"

Favorite Track: Indy

Memorable Racing Experience:  Winning the All Star race and the 600 with Kurt Busch in 2010.

If You Were a Car Part, What Would You Be? The drive shaft because he is always caught in the middle!

Kristen’s Tidbit: Travis returned to the pit crew this year after a mishap on his mountain bike resulting in a very messed up shoulder in 2011.   He is the star of the always popular "what is Travis eating in the pits" portion of my blog and gets bonus points for putting up with me!

"Ta Ta" the veteran...

Dave Littau - Front Tire Carrier

12 years at Penske

Hometown: El Paso, TX

Nickname: “TaTa” (started by Roy McCauley)

First job: Worked on Kenny Brightbill’s racing team.

Favorite Track:  Rockingham or Texas

Memorable Racing Experience:  Rusty Wallace’s last win at Martinsville in 2004

If You Were a Car Part, What Would You Be?   The frame rails because they last a loooong time and are an integral part of the car.

Kristen’s Tidbit:  Dave is the “senior” member on the #22 and has worked the longest on the pit crew despite the fact they are now wearing red and yellow, not blue and gold.   He is the go to guy for perspective and always gives you a straight answer.   He also has some mad carpentry skills! 

Trent's poker face

Trent Cherry - Rear Tire Carrier/Pit Crew Coach

15 years at Penske

Hometown: Charlotte, NC

Nickname: “Twitch”  

First job: Worked for his dad packaging t-shirts.

Favorite Track: Las Vegas - not for the track for the poker!

Memorable Racing Experience:  Winning the 2002 All Star Race with Ryan Newman because they had to race their way in, started dead last, and still won it.

If You Were a Car Part, What Would You Be?   A tire so he can roll out, do his work, and be done.

Kristen’s Tidbit: Trent came over to the #22 crew after a long stint on the #2 team and has been a familiar face in the Penske pits as the pit crew coach but his passion is poker - I know he'd prefer to be a Royal Flush but he is definitely One of a Kind.

 

Chris and his flowing locks

Chris Williams – Gasman

7.5 years at Penske

Hometown: Lebanon, OH

Nickname: “C-Dub”

First job: Chris worked at a putt putt golf and arcade.

Favorite Track:  Rockingham

Memorable Racing Experience:  The first time he went to the track as a fan in 1994 to watch the first NASCAR Brickyard practice at Indy. 

If You Were a Car Part, What Would You Be?  The motor oil because he keeps everyone “loose!”
Kristen's Tidbit:  Chris has been instrumental in helping design the newest fuel cans to maximize fuel flow during pit stops and give Penske another innovative edge.  He's also newly married - congrats!

Darin looking for the canooter valve

Darin Russell – Engine Tuner

6.5 years at Penske

Hometown: Sunderland, MA

Nickname: “Meteor” or “D-Money”

First job: Picking cucumbers…(not sure if I buy this…)

Favorite Track:  Texas for the “view”

Memorable Racing Experience:   Being in Victory Lane with his parents at New Hampshire.

If You Were a Car Part, What Would You Be?  The canooter valve because its the “g-spot” of the engine (*cough cough*)!

Kristen’s Tidbit:  Darin is tough to read sometimes, one minute he is deadly serious the next he is vogue-ing by the car!   He definitely likes to mess with you (can you tell by his answers?) and has friends on nearly every team in the garage.   You’ll never catch him without his old school converse and his puka shell necklace and soon he'll be piloting the friendly skies!

The infamous "Canooter Valve"...

Claims never been spit on by a llama...

Dave Nichols – Tire Specialist

5 years at Penske

Hometown: Macedon, NY

Nickname: “Mule”

First job: A farm hand at a llama ranch(!)

Favorite Track:  Richmond

Memorable Racing Experience: His 1^st Cup win at the Pepsi 400 working for the Roush #16 team.

If You Were a Car Part, What Would You Be? The track bar because he likes to move around…

Kristen’s Tidbit:  Mule is easy going and gets along with everyone in the garage and always has tons of personal jokes going with the crew and does some pretty darn funny impressions.  He also has a big orange "S" tattooed on his arm but it doesn't stand for Shell...

Come on Dave, what car part would you be?!

Dave Hansen – Shock Specialist

3 years at Penske

Hometown: York, ME

Nickname:  “Hansen”

First job: Mechanic

Favorite Track:  New Hampshire

Memorable Racing Experience: Winning Indy with JGR

If You Were a Car Part, What Would You Be?  Alas, Dave adamantly refuses to answer this question for some reason so his colleagues on the crew suggested he be a bump-stop because he deals with them all day and he always tries to keep things smooth.

Kristen’s Tidbit:  Dave is the shy one on the team and is like a rare bird that you hardly ever spot until race day.  You can always find him working in the hauler by the shock dyno machine or where ever there is shrimp being served.

Stevo waiting on more abuse...

Steve Williams - Underneath Mechanic

8 years at Penske

Hometown: Lebanon, OH

Nickname: “Stevo”

First job:  Machinist

Favorite Track: Eldora

Memorable Racing Experience:  When he was employed by PPI racing on Ricky Craven’s team and they beat Kurt Busch by a fraction of a second at Darlington in 2003.

If You Were a Car Part, What Would You Be?  The brake pads because he gets the most abuse!

Kristen’s Tidbit:  Stevo always takes the time to answer my questions and explain what they are doing to the car for which I am eternally grateful!  He is the one who got me hooked on the crew’s favorite Sweet and Sweaty Chicken wings and has a wood shop in his house that he wishes he could use more often.  

Such concentration!

Eric Bailey – Front End Suspension Mechanic/Windshield Tear Off  

7 years at Penske

Hometown: Olathe, KS

Nickname: “Stretch”

First job: Life Guard

Favorite Track: Kansas because its home

Memorable Racing Experience:  Back to back Charlotte wins with Kurt Busch in 2010.

If You Were a Car Part, What Would You Be?  The muffler bearing because only the coolest cars have them.  (Anyone else call BS on this?!)

Kristen’s Tidbit:  Stretch is also becoming quite the triathlete!  He's participated in several this year, often times right before or after a race, and still has energy to spare to pit the car.  

Wild Bill being "cool"...

Bill Spencer – Interior Mechanic/ Fuel Support

6 years at Penske

Hometown: Brenham, TX

Nickname: “Wild Bill”

First job: Maintenance at a greenhouse.

Favorite Track: Indy

Memorable Racing Experience:  Working as the car chief for AJ Foyt and winning the Indy 500 in 1999.

If You Were a Car Part, What Would You Be?  The air conditioner because he is so cool…!

Kristen’s Tidbit:  Billy indulges me and makes me feel somewhat useful and very much part of the team by letting me do his “job” of pulling the tool bag around as the car goes through inspection.   He is also excellent at cleaning windows and de-stinking helmets.

Gassy Greg!  =)

Greg Sorber – Transport Driver

4 years at Penske

Hometown: Shickshinny, PA

Nickname: “Roadblock”

First job: Cleaning cars in his family’s business.

Favorite Track:  Bristol

Memorable Racing Experience:  Getting a “real” job at Penske Racing.

If You Were a Car Part, What Would You Be? The carburetor because he is full of gas!

Kristen’s Tidbit: Greg came to the #22 crew in 2011 after starting on the #77 hauler and enjoys competing against his hauling buddies in the various Freightliner challenges.  Greg let me ride along with him in the hauler parade this year at Bristol and see first hand how he negotiates tight spaces!

Hey JR do we have any milk?

JR Weller – Transport Driver

1 year at Penske

Hometown: Pottstown, PA

Nickname: “JR”

First job: Dishwasher

Favorite Track: All of 'em!

Memorable Racing Experience: Winning Homestead with Brad Keslowski - his first time driving a NASCAR hauler.

If You Were a Car Part, What Would You Be? The engine because he is a big guy and has a lot of horsepower!

Kristen’s Tidbit:   JR is new to the #22 crew this year and he fits right with a great sense of humor (especially in giving me a hard time) and is always willing to lend a helpful hand.   The only time you'll catch JR standing still is when he is catching a mandated nap in the hauler.

Celebrating the radio's working!

David Perry – Trackside IT support

1.5 years at Penske

Hometown: Charlotte, NC

Nickname: “Brinks” (because he leaves a lot of cash at the casinos)

First job: Dishwasher

Favorite Track:  Bristol

Memorable Racing Experience: The 2011 Vegas race where he royally screwed up the radios and they didn’t work…and the fact he is still employed.   Look how far he’s come!

If You Were a Car Part, What Would You Be?  The antennae because he is always searching for a signal!

Kristen’s Tidbit:  With the technology involved in racing today and the complicated communication set ups on the new pit box, David’s skills are sorely needed, of course his crew-mates would rip him about what those skills actually are, but thankfully, we have yet another  teammate with no self esteem problems!

He definitely looks like a front bumper...

Chris Conklin – Behind the Wall Fuel Technician

3.5 years at Penske

Hometown: Burlington, NC

Nickname: “Big Chief Deuces” 

First job: Bailing hay on a farm in Snow Camp, NC.

Favorite Track:Charlotte

Memorable Racing Experience: Being the 2010 Nationwide Champions.

If You Were a Car Part, What Would You Be?  The front bumper because he is smooth and sexy (!)

Kristen’s Tidbit:  I only spent about 5 minutes with Chris on race day so I have to get to know him a bit better before I can give you any tidbits but based on his car part answer, I think we'll have some good stuff in no time!  

Has met Sarah Palin...

Colin Fambrough – Back Up Rear Tire Changer

1 year at Penske

Hometown: Tyler, Tx

Nickname: “Cold Start” 

First job: Working at a baseball card collectible store.

Favorite Track:  Dover

Memorable Racing Experience: His first Cup win at Talladega.

If You Were a Car Part, What Would You Be?  The exhaust because he is full of hot air.

Kristen’s Tidbit:  Colin is another new pit support crew member this year and as such, I have not gotten a lot of time with him yet since he only arrives on race day but I can tell you he is the rear tire changer for Sam Hornish, Jr's Nationwide car which sometimes makes for a crazy race weekend schedule for him.