In apparent response to driver MartinTruex Jr.'s displeasure with his pit crew in the Sprint Cup Series, Michael Waltrip Racing on Tuesday changed four positions on his team - both the front and rear tire changers and carriers.
The new members will be in place in time for Saturday night's Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.
Truex was extremely angry with the crew on his No. 56 Toyota Saturday night when he had to come back in after a slow pit stop to fix a broken stud on his car. Before he came down pit road Truex yelled at his crew over his team radio: “You’re all (expletive) fired. Every (expletive) one of you.”
Truex has had problems with loose wheels on his car in previous races and suffered a bad wreck at Martinsville, Va., when the throttle hung on his car.
"As we know, the No. 56 has experienced several challenges on pit road and we feel the need to intervene. Pit crews are professional sportsmen and as such, they understand that sometimes changes need to be made," said Steve Hallam, director of competition at MWR.
"The team will have new tire carriers and changers beginning at Darlington this weekend. Two of those four athletes we’ve added come from our Nationwide program and the other two from our back-up squad."
Truex said if someone isn't doing their job, then changes need to be made, including himself.
"I want to win more than anything in this world and that’s why I got very upset," he said. "I understand changes are going to be made within our pit crew heading into Darlington. I appreciate the fact that MWR addressed the issue and we’re moving on.”
