Hendrick Motorsports continues to innovate its pit crew operations, aiming to advance pit stop performance for the upcoming NASCAR season. Despite fielding award-winning crews, the organization is relentlessly refining its approach behind the scenes, believing that ongoing Hendrick Motorsports pit crew improvements are crucial to stay ahead in the sport.
Pushing the Limits in the Offseason
Throughout the offseason, pit crew members at Hendrick Motorsports have dedicated themselves to both individual skill development and cohesive group choreography. This rigorous approach comes after a season marked by major changes following the introduction of the Next Gen car and its single-lug wheel system, which transformed the dynamics of pit stops across NASCAR.
The shift to the single-lug setup prompted a wave of innovation from other prominent teams, such as Joe Gibbs Racing and 23XI Racing, who experimented with high-risk, high-reward pit stop routines. Now, Hendrick is meeting the challenge by reviewing and reinventing its own strategies, aiming for improved efficiency without sacrificing reliability.
Innovations in Choreography and Equipment Handling
This season, a fresh technique emerged for jackmen, who have started swinging the jack around the back as they moved between sides of the car. The added momentum from this maneuver has yielded slight but valuable time gains—a testament to how marginal improvements can decide outcomes at the sport’s highest level.
The role of pit crew athletes has become increasingly specialized, with more emphasis placed on finding the optimal combination of team members and techniques. Maintaining the edge that led the No. 9 crew to clinch the Most Valuable Pit Crew Award for 2025 is a constant motivation for Hendrick Motorsports.
“We know we have the right athletes here, so, now it’s finding the right combination to make it work. So, we’ve been doing that,”
said Jacob Claborn, Hendrick pit crew coach.
“That’s been our focus the first couple of weeks this December, focusing on mixing and matching some groupings and trying to find the right combination and bringing along our development guys. They’ve probably been practicing the most of anybody since Phoenix.”
– Jacob Claborn, Hendrick pit crew coach
Searching for Faster Solutions
With every NASCAR team seeking marginal gains, Hendrick Motorsports remains proactive in revising its pit stop choreography. Claborn shared that the team encourages innovation and is unafraid to question existing routines to find even the smallest advantages.
“We’re always trying to keep an open mind to choreography – is there a better way?”
Claborn said.
“I think you saw this year whereas some of our jackmen went to different takeaways on the right side, trying to find speed there, we have some additional practice going into this offseason realizing that while they’re currently fast in the way they’re doing it, there may be a faster way. So, we’ve been practicing some of that choreography with some of the individual positions.”
– Jacob Claborn, Hendrick pit crew coach
Impact of Small Changes on Performance
The dedication is evident when considering the elite level at which these pit crews operate. Completing an 8.5-second pit stop demands relentless practice and creative thinking, as shaving even a tenth of a second can make a difference in late-race situations. With championship aspirations and tight competition in the Next Gen era, every upgrade matters for Hendrick Motorsports, their athletes, and their fans.
Looking towards the 2026 season and beyond, ongoing innovation in pit stop techniques could have a lasting impact across NASCAR. Whether other teams, such as Joe Gibbs Racing and 23XI Racing, adapt or counter with their own improvements, one thing is clear—pit crew advancements at Hendrick Motorsports set a new standard. As the search for faster, more reliable stops continues, the passion and intensity behind each improvement remain at the heart of the team’s pursuit for excellence.
