Kyle Larson’s No. 5 pit crew at Hendrick Motorsports has become one of the most pivotal forces in the garage, playing a direct role in his dramatic journey to a second NASCAR Cup Series championship at Phoenix in 2025. This article delves into the members, methods, and unstoppable energy behind the Kyle Larson No. 5 pit crew that has reshaped expectations across the sport.
The Decision That Changed Everything for Larson’s Team
Heading into the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, Hendrick Motorsports made a bold move by bringing in an elite pit crew formerly with Spire Motorsports. Far from being a reaction to weakness, this shift was the result of intense analytical review, revealing the Spire squad’s consistently razor-sharp pit stops under immense pressure. Crew chief Cliff Daniels described the transition as a calculated maneuver, reflecting the organization’s drive for excellence and total commitment to giving Kyle Larson every possible advantage on race day.
Rather than filling gaps, Hendrick was seeking to transform an already strong team into a championship-caliber unit. Their ambitions were realized as Larson secured his second Cup title, joining legendary drivers like Kyle Busch as a two-time champion in the series. The pit crew’s speed, discipline, and unflinching precision became celebrated hallmarks of their campaign.
The Core of the No. 5 Crew: Roles and Personalities
At the heart of this powerhouse is a meticulously constructed team, each member specializing in key roles that allow the group to function as a single, cohesive force. Tyler Monn, the team’s spotter since prior to Larson’s arrival in 2021, acts as both eyes-in-the-sky and a constant contributor during high-level meetings involving Larson, Daniels, and the engineering staff. Monn’s insights and situational awareness have repeatedly proven invaluable during critical moments on track.
The rest of the lineup comes together from diverse backgrounds and specialties: Jafar Hall serves as the front tire changer, renowned for swift hands and sharp instincts; Mike Moss is responsible for the rear tires, executing quick swaps that leave no margin for error. Tire carrying duties fall to Allen Stallings, whose ability to manage used rubber keeps the pit area uncluttered and efficient. Eric Ludwig’s strength is on display as the jackman, elevating the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in a flash, while Brandon Harder operates as the fueler, ensuring every drop of Sunoco is delivered rapidly and safely.
Each team member brings a differentiating skill set, from Hall’s lightning-fast reflexes to Ludwig’s power and Stallings’ coordination. Under Daniels’ direction, the crew’s combined experience and mental toughness made them a benchmark for pit road teams throughout the season.
“2025 NASCAR Champions! 🏆🍾 pic.twitter.com/lrC5uNkFEg” — Kyle Larson (@KyleLarsonRacin)
Executing Perfection: The No. 5 Crew’s Race-Day Preparation
The story of success for Kyle Larson’s No. 5 pit crew starts well before any race begins. Hours ahead of the green flag, the team is immersed in a sequence of meticulous technical checks and high-intensity simulation drills. These repetitions allow the crew to perfect split-second timing, choreographing every movement down to a science in the garage area.
On race day, the world for these crew members shrinks to a flurry of motion lasting roughly 12 seconds at a time. It starts with Ludwig, the jackman, launching out to lift the car, immediately followed by Hall and Moss leaping in to replace all four tires. Stallings whisks away spent wheels, while Harder powers in the fuel, each step monitored by Daniels’ unwavering focus and time management. Their cohesion is such that a mere slip—one missed lug nut or too slow a jack drop—could spell disaster in the ultra-competitive environment of the NASCAR Cup Series. Yet, it is precisely this group’s ability to sustain flawless performance that has anchored the No. 5 team’s success and kept them at the sharp edge of the field.
The Strategic Impact: How the Crew Defined a Championship Run
The ripple effect of assembling and training a team like Kyle Larson’s pit crew stretches beyond any single pit stop—it has provided Hendrick Motorsports with a blueprint for future dominance. The 2025 title-clinching event at Phoenix was a testament to this philosophy, where Larson’s on-track performance dovetailed with the crew’s timed precision during every crucial restart and race strategy adjustment.
This culture of decisive execution first paid off in 2021, when a high-pressure, late-race stop in Phoenix proved catalytic. Entering fourth among the title contenders, Larson relied on an 11.8-second four-tire stop from his team during a late debris caution. Their flawless performance moved him from fourth to first off pit road, setting up a dash to the checkered flag and claiming his first Cup championship.
In the 2025 finale, even though Ryan Blaney crossed the line first, it was Larson’s strong P3 finish—bolstered by his crew’s consistent stops and tactical prowess—that clinched the Cup for a second time, as he finished ahead of his key championship rivals.
Legacy at Hendrick Motorsports and the Road Ahead
The achievements of Kyle Larson’s No. 5 pit crew represent more than just quick stops—they signal a new era of performance standards at Hendrick Motorsports and across the NASCAR landscape. Their influence is expected to guide how other teams are assembled and trained, with an emphasis on calculated risk, data-driven decisions, and relentless pursuit of improvement.
As fans, industry insiders, and rivals look to future seasons, the story of this crew will remain a template for teamwork and competitive grit. Their journey underscores the power of preparation, unity, and precise execution under pressure, setting high expectations not just for the No. 5 team, but for every aspiring champion in the pit lane. With names like Cliff Daniels, Tyler Monn, Jafar Hall, Mike Moss, Allen Stallings, Eric Ludwig, and Brandon Harder now intertwined with this chapter of NASCAR history, all eyes will be on how they continue to shape the sport’s highest levels in seasons to come.
2025 NASCAR Champions! 🏆🍾 pic.twitter.com/lrC5uNkFEg
— Kyle Larson (@KyleLarsonRacin) November 3, 2025
