by Bob Ellis

NASCAR Ranting And Raving

When I went to the race a few weeks ago I walked up and down Pit Road and checked out the various pit boxes sometimes called ‘war wagons’ and I just shook my head at the way technology has changed the way teams build and design their pit boxes.

I have heard that a ‘top of the line’ pit box like what the major teams have can run well over $100K - tools included.

Other teams have to suffer with not so state of the art pit boxes.

After the jump you will find pictures of what I’m talking about along with what Michael Waltrip had to say about the cost of putting a team together for even just one Nationwide race.

Michael Waltrip answered somebody’s Tweet about the cost of putting a entry into a Nationwide race and over several Tweets Michael Twittered back;

“you need a license, bout $5k.entry bout $2k so is a set of tires. rent an engine for prolly $50k. buy used car about $25k. then…all you need is a crew a driver a tractor trailer some hotel rooms and pit equipment. oh a gear and tranny. course sorings an … shocks. to enter a race you will need about $150k. but if you make the race it pays $20k to finish youll need more stuff to race … thats why us racers love our sponsors. NAPA, Aarons,Toyota,Best Western, ect. ect.”

And that is just to enter a Nationwide race. You have to spend $150K just to earn a guaranteed $20K no wonder you need sponsors to go racing with the big boys.

This picture that Waltrip paints makes it clear that start-up teams or those that are running on a shoe-string budget show up with less than the cutting edge pit boxes. The disparity of pit boxes on pit road is significant and I noticed it more this year at Michigan than in previous years.

In the past it has only been one or two teams at most that had disadvantaged pit boxes, but the number this year at Michigan had increased significantly.

I also noticed that not every team had a brand new pit box either, some teams were using pit boxes that were several years old, while others had new ones built for this racing year.

Some of the newer pit boxes come complete with up to 4 different flat screen T.V.’s all hooked up to DVD players, Satellite feeds, kick-ass stereo systems and a bank of lap-top computers located at the top of the box.

Each of the newer boxes come complete with weather overhangs with detachable side walls to keep the sun, rain, or wind off of the computers and team members sitting atop of the box.

Speaking of the top of the box some of the boxes also had stadium seating so that those in the back row have a better view of what is going on. Each box comes complete with new cordless tools, compressors, generators, etc. all stored in specifically designed compartments for easy access and storage.

Of course this is but a sample of what these boxes have - some boxes even had their own refrigerators!

Below are some photos of the ‘Haves’ and the ‘Have-Nots’:

Mike Skinner’s team box (note there is only 1 set of extra tires).

Back Side of Dale Jr.s Pit Box.

Front Side of Dale Jr.’s Pit Box.

Front side centre portion of Jeff Burton’s Pit Box.

Tony Stewart’s Pit Box (note the bank of monitors across the top).

Older Pit Box (note the lack of over hang on one of the hottest days of the year too).

The UPS crew takes a break in the shade of their trendy pit box.