No. 97 Pit Crew wins Dover II

Busch's Pit Crew Takes Top Honors in Dover

Kurt Busch's pit crew captured the McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by POWERade in Sunday's MBNA America 400 at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.

It was the fourth victory of the season that Busch's team has won the $20,000 weekly prize. The other three victories were in Las Vegas, Martinsville and the July race in New Hampshire.

With eight Nextel Cup races remaining, Elliott Sadler's pit crew continues to cling to the McDonald's/POWERade points lead and the chase for the $200,000 champion's bonus. Sadler's crew has a 19-point lead - 1007 to 988 -- over the pit crew for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Busch's crew is third with 978 points.

Busch's No. 97 Sharpie Ford spent the least amount of time on Dover's pit road - 197.353 seconds. Michael Waltrip's No. 15 NAPA Chevrolet came in second with a time of 198.824. Ricky Rudd's No. 21 "Keep It Genuine" Ford was third at 199.386.

"These Sharpie guys did a great job on Sunday," said crew chief Jimmy Fennig. "We had a lot of changes going on to keep up with the car during the stops, and the over-the-wall guys really hit their marks. Pit stops are just as important as anything else in this "Chase" deal, so to win the McDonald's/POWERade competition shows that we're doing that part right."

Busch's over-the-wall crew consists of: Scott Ward (front tire changer), Mark Full (front tire carrier), Kevin Gilman (rear tire changer), Jason Binger (rear tire carrier), Doug Newell (gasman), Scott Radel (jackman) and Jim Gaudette (catch can).

<pre> Top 10 Pit Crews in Sunday's (Sept. 26) MBNA America 400 at Dover International Speedway

                                Time                    Car#    Points
1. Kurt Busch Team              197.353  seconds        97      43
2. Michael Waltrip Team         198.824 "               15      42
3. Ricky Rudd Team              199.386 "               21      41
4. Jamie McMurray Team          205.554 "               42      40
5. Greg Biffle Team             229.463 "               16      39
6. Kevin Harvick Team           232.480 "               29      38
7. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Team      237.051 "                8      37
8. Dale Jarrett Team            237.291 "               88      36
9. Tony Stewart Team            240.156 "               20      35
10. Ken Schrader Team           248.907 "               49      34

2004 Winners of The McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by POWERade:

Daytona (2/15)          Tony Stewart Team
Rockingham (2/22)       Dale Earnhardt Jr. Team
Las Vegas (3/7)         Kurt Busch Team
Atlanta (3/14)          Robby Gordon Team
Darlington (3/21)       Greg Biffle Team
Bristol (3/28)          Sterling Marlin Team
Texas (4/4)             Michael Waltrip Team
Martinsville (4/18)     Kurt Busch Team
Talladega (4/25)        Robby Gordon Team
California (5/2)        Robby Gordon Team
Richmond (5/15)         Dale Earnhardt Jr. Team
Charlotte (5/30)        Jamie McMurray Team
Dover (6/6)             Tony Stewart Team
Pocono (6/13)           Casey Mears Team
Michigan (6/20)         Elliott Sadler Team
Sonoma (6/27)           Elliott Sadler Team
Daytona (7/3)           Michael Waltrip Team
Chicago (7/11)          Elliott Sadler Team
N. Hampshire (7/25)     Kurt Busch Team
Pocono (8/1)            Greg Biffle Team
Indianapolis (8/8)      Elliott Sadler Team
Watkins Glen (8/15)     Tony Stewart Team
Michigan (8/22)         Greg Biffle Team
Bristol (8/28)          Robby Gordon Team
California (9/5)        Elliott Sadler Team
Richmond (9/11)         Michael Waltrip Team
N. Hampshire (9/19)     Sterling Marlin Team
Dover (9/26)            Kurt Busch Team

Point Standings for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Teams Competing in The McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by POWERADE: Following Dover (9/26); pit crew wins in parentheses

Pos.    Car# Pit Crew of                        Points  Prize Money
 1      38   Elliott Sadler Team (5)            1007    100,000
 2      8    Dale Earnhardt Jr. Team (2)         988    40,000
 3      97   Kurt Busch Team (4)                 978    80,000
 4      29   Kevin Harvick Team                  975
 5      20   Tony Stewart Team (3)               963    60,000
 6      15   Michael Waltrip Team (3)            939    60,000
 7      42   Jamie McMurray Team (1)             922    20,000
 8      30   Jeff Burton Team                    914
 9      88   Dale Jarrett Team                   911
10      18   Bobby Labonte Team                  909
11      31   Robby Gordon Team (4)               903    80,000
12      40   Sterling Marlin Team (2)            901    40,000
13      01   Joe Nemechek Team                   893
14      99   Carl Edwards Team                   885
15      41   Casey Mears Team (1)                874  20,000
16      16   Greg Biffle Team (3)                855  60,000
17      21   Ricky Rudd Team                     853
18      49   Ken Schrader Team                   816
19      43   Jeff Green Team                     809
20      45   Kyle Petty Team                     762
21       0   Ward Burton Team                    760
22      50   Arnold Motorsports                  657
23      09   James Finch Team (owner)            479
24     198   William Edwards (owner)             409
25      89   Morgan Shepherd Team                328
26      02   Hermie Sadler Team                  300
27      72   Kirk Shelmerdine Team               175
T-28     1   DEI Team                            168
T-28   280   Andy Hillenburg Team                168
30     251   Kevin Lepage Team                   105
31      91   Bill Elliott Team                    88
32     194   Stanton Barrett Team                 80
33     100   Kenny Wallace Team                   77
34      36   Boris Said Team                      73
35      14   Larry Foyt Team                      72
36     c180  Mike Bliss Team                      59
37     133   Kerry Earnhardt Team                 54
38       7   Jim Smith Team (owner)               48

-mcdonalds-