What is the biggest issue NASCAR pit crew athletes face? Joe Gibbs Racing physician discusses the impact of one-sided movements
NASCAR team Joe Gibbs Racing's physician recently shed light on one of the biggest issues that stock car racing athletes and their pit crew members face during their racing careers. Currently, JGR partners with Novant Health for sports medicine services, benefiting both the team's pit crews and the Joe Gibbs Human Performance Institute.
Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), founded by Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs in 1992, is one of NASCAR's most successful teams. Known for its strong presence in both the Cup and Xfinity Series, JGR has achieved 428 race wins and earned 10 championships—five in the Cup Series, four in Xfinity, and one in the ARCA Menards Series—cementing its reputation as a powerhouse in the sport.
A healthy and efficient pit crew can make or break a driver's ability to win. Pit stop strategies are designed differently for different tracks, and play a key role in the final result of a driver. Performing the same movements as a driver or a pit crew member in such high-pressure moments can lead to physical injury.
Recently, Joe Gibbs Racing team physician Kendall Helke discussed how to address physical issues caused by repetitive one-sided movements in a post shared on the team's Instagram.
"Most of our pit crew members have one-sided movements. The Changers are usually always pulling on one side. Jackman and carriers, they're always putting the tire onto one side, so they're constantly bending in the same direction. It's very repetitive," Helke said
The JGR physician then spoke about a physical training routine to help avoid injuries.
"We usually do some rehab with a little bit of cross-training, to kind of work the other side, while we also try to work using like dry needling and stuff to loosen up the tighter side. We'll work on doing some neutral core activities and strengthening and some glute exercises. One hip might be looser and tighter in one direction, and then the other hip is typically the opposite. So we also work on that, doing some joint mobilizations to help even that out a bit better. And then that will help relieve stress on their lower back," she added
Meanwhile, Joe Gibbs Racing currently has two drivers in the Round of 8, Denny Hamlin piloting the #11 Toyota, and Christopher Bell, piloting the #20, and are in contention for a seat in the Championship 4. As far as the coveted Xfinity title is concerned, JGR driver Chandler Smith is fighting for a shot at the coveted title.
Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin makes feelings known on pit crew 'slump' ahead of Homestead playoff race
JGR driver Denny Hamlin has experienced multiple setbacks due to pit road issues throughout the season. Leading into the playoff race at Homestead-Miami, the experienced campaigner addressed the challenges infront of his #11 pit crew, acknowledging their recent difficulties and hoping for improvement.
During a media session at Homestead, Denny Hamlin said (via Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass on X, formerly Twitter):
"They're in a slump for sure, but we got to ride it out and feel like that's the best group that we can put on pit road. They were the best to crew for the first quarter this year. But certainly it's just been a lot of different issues on pit road[...]So you can't really pinpoint one, you know, kind of consistent problem that we've had. So you just got to see where it goes."
As Hamlin battles for his first Cup Series title, catch him live in the Straight Talk Wireless 400 on NBC Sports, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel at 2:30 PM ET.