Race Car

Crew Chief

By Susan Koehler
Illustrated By Thomas Zahler

Vero Beach, Florida 32964

© 2010 Rourke Publishing LLC

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without
permission in writing from the publisher.

www.rourkepublishing.com

Edited by Meg Greve

Illustrated by Thomas Zahler
Art Direction and Page Layout by Renee Brady

Photo Credits: © Brian Cantoni: page 26; © Random Photography: page 27; © Arlo Abrahamson: page 27; ©
National Guard: page 28

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Koehler, Susan, 1963-

Race car crew chief / Susan Koehler.
p. cm. -- (Jobs that rock graphic illustrated)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-60694-375-5 (alk. paper)
ISBN 978-1-60694-558-2 (soft cover)
1. Pit crews--Comic books, strips, etc. 2. Pit crews--Vocational guidance--Juvenile literature.
Title.
GV1029+
2009020485

Printed in the USA

CG/CG

www.rourkepublishing.com - [email protected]
Post Office Box 643328 Vero Beach, Florida 32964
 Table of C o ntents

Meet The Characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Chapter 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Chapter 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Chapter 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Chapter 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Chapter 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Discover More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Websites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

3
Meet the characters

Sally Nash

Sally Nash is a 10-year-

old girl who wants to
meet her favorite
NASCAR driver.

Mr. and Mrs. Nash

Mr. and Mrs. Nash are

Sally’s parents.

4
 Dirk Durham

Dirk Durham is a race car

driver who wants to win.

J.B. Clifton

J.B. Clifton is Dirk Durham’s

race car crew chief.

5
chapter 1

Today is an ordinary day for ten-year-old

Sally Nash, until she answers the telephone.

Hello? Are
you serious? I’ll meet
Dirk Durham? Yes, I’ll
go! Thank you!

6
 Sally is the winner of the NASCAR Young Star Contest. She will
meet her favorite NASCAR driver and become a junior crew chief.

We’re going to
Homestead, Florida for the
final race in the NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series! I’ll get to
meet Dirk Durham!

Who is that?

Dear,
we need to enroll
you in NASCAR
101!

7
 In mid-November, Sally and her parents arrive at
the Homestead-Miami Speedway for the big race.

Hold your horses,

Sally. I want to take a
picture of you.

There are
no horses here! At
this track, they race
on wheels!

8
 J.B. Clifton, Dirk’s crew chief,
greets the Nash family at the gate.
Welcome, Miss
Sally. Come with me
to meet a special
someone.

I’m so
excited!

9
 chapter 2

Sally poses for pictures with NASCAR driver Dirk Durham and J.B.

Are you
going to bring me
some luck today,
Super Sally?

Mr. Durham,
you don’t need
any luck. You’re
10 the best!
 Sally’s parents sit down in the This is my
VIP sky booth while J.B. escorts
Sally to the platform where she crew chief perch. With
will sit with him during the race. my laptop computer, I
watch indicators that tell
me how the car is
holding up.

Awesome!

11
 J.B. opens his laptop and surprises Sally by pulling out an extra set
of headphones as the pit crew makes the final pre race adjustments.

Wow!
You’re my
Are these
junior crew chief
headphones for
today, Sally. You’ll be
me to wear?
able to hear everything
we say. You just won’t
have a microphone
to talk.

Even with headphones on,

Sally hears the loud roar of
engines as the stock cars line
up to begin the final race.

Come on, Dirk.

Your points have put you
in second place. A win today
could move you right ahead
of Carter McKay.

12
 A green flag waves, and the race begins.
The platform vibrates, and J.B. goes into action.

We lowered
the differential ratio
for that nice smooth start.
Now don’t be afraid to
take it up to top
speed, buddy.

13
 J.B. adjusts the headphones and built-in microphone that
he is wearing to communicate with Dirk during the race.

Do you talk
to him while he’s driving to
let him know when a pit stop
is needed for refueling or
changing tires?

14
 Yes. We chat
about the car’s handling
and automotive conditions, as
well as our racing strategy.
Sometimes we work in an extra
pit stop during a caution,
when debris is on
the track.

What
would cause Dirk
to make an extra
pit stop?

Well, perhaps
a serious mechanical
problem or damage to the
car. Sometimes we might have
to change the tires so
he’s got fresh tread.

15
 chapter 3

After a few hours and 200 laps of racing,

Dirk’s #32 SOS car slides onto pit road for
its final scheduled pit stop. As the pit crew
works, Dirk speaks to his crew chief.

What’s with
these dark
clouds, J.B.?

Don’t know, Dirk.

Looks like rain any minute.
Maybe it'll hold off so we
can finish this race.

16
 Dirk’s car roars back onto the track as his pit crew jumps over the wall. He
is in fourth place so far, with only 67 laps to go, as bad weather closes in.

If any moisture
starts to build up on
the track we’ll wish we had
changed those tires one This isn’t
more time. good. Look!

17
 The cars struggle to hold their positions as
humidity surrounds them and storm clouds
threaten overhead. Car #62 begins to spin,
clipping car #40, which sends it into the wall just
below the platform where Sally and J.B. are sitting.

Mr. Clifton,
look out!

18
 Suddenly, a piece of tread from a blown-out tire
flies through the air and hits J.B. in the head.

Mr. Clifton.
Mr. Clifton.
Please wake up!

The caution flag goes up, and debris is cleared from

the track. The cars slow to 60 mph and remain in
formation, with Carter in first place and Dirk close behind.

J.B., how do you

think these tires are
holding up? They should
make it, right?

19
 chapter 4

Sally grabs the headphones

from the still unconscious
crew chief and speaks into
the microphone.

Stop and change

the tires, Mr. Durham!
J.B. already called it!

Who is this?
Where’s J.B.?

Mr. Clifton
got knocked out.
Change the tires!

20
 Dirk slides onto pit road, and the As Carter rounds a corner, his
pit crew quickly swaps out the tires. tires suddenly lose their grip
The caution flags are lifted, and and send him spinning. Dirk
Dirk rockets ahead, determined to zooms past, narrowly missing
take the lead over Carter. the out of control stock car.

You can do it,

Dirk! Win it for
Mr. Clifton!

That’s
my plan.

21
 Paramedics arrive at the platform, as J.B. regains consciousness.

You got hit

by flying tread from
Sally, you are
the crash. I told Dirk
an awesome junior
you wanted the tires
crew chief!
changed.

Dirk crosses the finish Way to

line in first place.
go, buddy!

He did it!

22
 Later, on Victory Lane, Sally and her parents join Dirk,
J.B., and the pit crew for the presentation of the Sprint Cup.

The SOS team

has made the right call
for an unbelievable finish!
The tread on those new tires
held onto the final corners.
Dirk Durham is the winner of
today’s race and the
Sprint Cup Series!

23
 chapter 5

Sally returns home with new

memories of her day at NASCAR.

I think that photo That Dirk is

is my favorite NASCAR some driver, but I
image. Even if there is a think Carter will give him
scrappy little crew chief a run for his money
in the middle of it! next February.

What
happens in
February? The new
NASCAR season begins!
Should we enroll you in
NASCAR 101, or perhaps enter
your name to be the next
24 junior crew chief?
 Sally learned that there is a quiet hero behind the smiling
face of every race car driver on Victory Lane. The race car
crew chief is an important member of the team who plans,
guides, encourages, and leads that driver to victory.

25
 Discover More

A Crew Chief’s Job is Never Done

While drivers
are the focus of
attention at
races, it’s the
crew chief who
manages the
overall
performance of
the racing
team. The crew
chief is like a
Chad Knaus, one of the top crew chiefs, is involved in
football head every aspect of a race.
coach or
baseball manager. He instructs both the driver and pit crew
during the race.
The list of a crew chief’s responsibilities is a long one. He
is involved in every aspect of the race car’s preparation, the
readiness and performance of the pit crew, and of course,
the strategy the driver uses during the race.

26
 In fact, some
crew chiefs say the
race car is theirs,
and the driver is
merely hired to
drive it. The crew
chief, driver, and pit
crew are in
frequent
communication
during the race,
but the crew chief
Tire changers use air guns to remove lug nuts from the
is in charge. tires in order to change them as quickly as possible.

Pit Crew Safety

flame resistant
fire suit
helmet

flame resistant gloves

flame resistant boots

Under all the other necessary clothing, crew members in charge of gas have to
wear flame resistant underwear on the top and bottom.
27
 Pit Stops

Seven crew members are allowed over the wall during a

routine pit stop. Each member has a specific job assignment.
The members fill the car with gas and change all four tires in
about 13 to 15 seconds!

The pit crew consists of the rear and front tire carriers, rear
and front tire changers, jack man, gas man, and gas catch
man. The gas man and gas catch man work to refuel the car.
The tire carriers carry tires over the walls, while the jack man
elevates the car. Once the car is elevated, the tire changers go
into action. Sometimes an eighth pit crew member is allowed
over the wall to clean the car’s windshield.

A successful pit stop is well-planned and fast.

28
States that Host NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

1
2
10
3
18
14 11 4

19 15 5

12 6
17
7
13 8
16
9

The first race of NASCAR’s season is the Daytona 500. The race is 500
miles (805 kilometers) long, or 200 laps around the track.

Number Location Number Location

1 Loudon, New Hampshire 11 Speedway, Indiana
2 Watkins Glen, New York 12 Bristol, Tennessee
3 Long Pond, Pennsylvania 13 Talladega, Alabama
4 Dover, Delaware 14 Joliet, Illinois
5 Martinsville, Virginia 15 Kansas City, Kansas
Richmond, Virginia 16 Fort Worth, Texas
6 Concord, North Carolina 17 Avondale, Arizona
7 Darlington, South Carolina 18 Las Vegas, Nevada
8 Hampton, Georgia 19 Fontana, California
9 Daytona Beach, Florida Sonoma, California
Homestead, Florida
10 Brooklyn, Michigan

29
 Glossary
caution flag (KAW-shun FLAG): A yellow flag that requires
drivers to slow down due to a hazard on the track.

debris (du-BREE): The remains of something broken

down or destroyed.

differential ratio (DIF-ur-en-chul RAY-shee-oh): The

differential ratio determines how fast the engine will rev
at different speeds.

jack man (JAK MAN): The crew member who raises the
car so the tires can be changed.

NASCAR (NAS-kar): An acronym which stands for the

National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is the
largest organization for car racing in the United States.

Sprint Cup Series (SPRINT KUP SI-rez): The top racing

competition in NASCAR. It consists of 36 races
throughout the United States.

stock car (STOK KAR): A race car that has the same
basic structure as a commercially made assembly-line car.

tread (TRED): The outside of a tire that helps prevent the

tires from slipping or sliding on the pavement.

Victory Lane (VIK-tu-ree LAN): The spot on each

racetrack’s infield where the race winner parks for
the celebration.

30
Websites
www.sae.org/exdomains/awim
www.stockcarscience.com
www.aptv.org/PIF/racecar.asp

Index
caution flag(s) 19, 21
headphones 12, 14, 20
NASCAR 7, 10, 24
pit crew 12, 16, 17, 21, 23, 26, 27, 28
pit stop(s) 14, 15, 16, 28
Sprint Cup Series 7, 23
stock car(s) 12, 21
Victory Lane 23, 25

31
 About the Author
Susan Koehler is a teacher and a writer
who lives in Tallahassee, Florida. As a
child, she loved reading mysteries. She
liked books so much that she gave up
her recess time in elementary school to
work in the school library. Beyond the
pages of books, she enjoyed listening to
stories about the colorful, real-life
experiences of her parents and older
siblings. Now she lives in a busy house
filled with books, animals, and very funny children.

About the Artist

After graduating from the Joe Kubert
School of Cartoon and Graphic Art,
Thom Zahler began his ten-year career
as a caricaturist at an amusement park.
Later, Zahler began drawing cartoons
and other silly pictures for clients such
as the Cleveland Indians, the Colorado
Rockies, and the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame. He has also worked for Marvel Comics, DC
Comics, and Warner Brothers International. Zahler
currently writes and draws Love and Capes, a romantic
comedy comic book. Zahler lives in Timberlake, Ohio. He
works from his house, frequently in his pajamas, and
always with a cup of coffee.

32