Allmendinger finishes sixth, with an assist from Ragan’s crew

Allmendinger finishes sixth, with an assist from Ragan’s crew

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(November 13, 2011)

AVONDALE, Ariz.—Changing pit crews in the middle of a race isn’t something that’s the special province of Chase contenders.

AJ Allmendinger used the services of David Ragan’s crew for his final two pit stops and finished sixth in Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Ragan’s car had been battered by a wreck on Lap 2. With Ragan out of the running for a strong finish, his crew was pressed into service after Allmendinger’s regular crew lost spots on successive pit stops. Ragan and Allmendinger drive Fords, but they’re not teammates—technically.

Ragan drives for Roush Fenway Racing, Allmendinger for Richard Petty Motorsports, which gets engines and chassis from Roush.

“We have to work on our pit stops,” Allmendinger said after the race. “Thanks to the 6 (Ragan’s) guys, our Ford teammates coming over and pitting the last two stops. That was a big difference. We were bad. We were losing four or five spots on a stop. You can’t do that and win a race, and those guys (Ragan’s) are pretty good. They did a good job.”

Last year, Jimmie Johnson conscripted Jeff Gordon’s crew during the Chase race at Texas—and went on to win the championship.