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| 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!
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| 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.
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| 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!
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| 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.
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| 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!
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| 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…
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| 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: 1st 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.
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| 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!
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| "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!
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| 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.
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| 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!
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!
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| Darin looking for the canooter valve |
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!
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| The infamous "Canooter Valve"... |
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| 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 1st 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...
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
JR Weller – Transport Driver
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| 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!
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| Hey JR do we have any milk? |
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.
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| 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!
Chris Conklin – Behind the Wall Fuel Technician
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| He definitely looks like a front bumper... |
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!
Colin Fambrough – Back Up Rear Tire Changer
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| Has met Sarah Palin... |
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. 
