Folks, do you remember that nail-biting finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2024? It was a race filled with heart-pounding action, featuring breathtaking three-wide battles into corners barely big enough to contain such chaos. And in the end, it all came down to a three-wide photo finish. Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suárez barely edged out Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch, winning by just 0.003 seconds. Notably, it was one of the closest finishes in NASCAR history. What made Suárez’s victory even more remarkable was the fact that he had wrecked on Lap 2, suffering damage to the hood of his No. 99 Chevrolet.
Yet, through the chaos, cautions, and late-race restarts, he clawed his way back to the front. As the checkered flag waved, he barely nosed ahead of Blaney in a finish so close it had fans and analysts stunned. But while Suárez made the headlines, his pit crew played a massive role in his victory. Every fraction of a second mattered, and their precision, speed, and hard work not only helped him recover from that early race crash but also kept him in the hunt.
One of those pit crew members was former Super Bowl champion Josh Bush. While working in such a high-pressure situation can trouble a normal crew member, the former athlete successfully handled the situation. But here’s something that many fans don’t realize—some of the best pit crew members didn’t grow up in NASCAR garages. Many of them are former athletes, especially from college football. But why does someone transition from a successful career to a completely different sport?
RFK racing owner Brad Keselowski has the answer. In a recent social media post, Keselowski explained why so many former NCAA athletes are making the switch. “This always blows people away when we do before-race meet and greets with the team. Simple why—we welcome top NCAA players with safer/longer careers and better pay while still filling the competitive needs of our athletes better than the NFL practice squad or the CFL. This attracts a lot of amazing talent,” Keselowski wrote on X.
In simpler terms, Brad Keselowski claims that being a NASCAR pit crew member offers better financial security and career longevity than chasing an uncertain NFL future. His comments took social media by storm as many found it shocking. Some fans saw it as a brilliant insight into why NASCAR crews are so well-trained, while others felt it was an unfair comparison. One fan summed up the excitement perfectly saying that NASCAR extends college football player’s careers.
This always blows people away when we do before race meet and greets with the team.
Simple why- we welcome top NCAA players with safer/longer careers and better pay while still filling the competitive needs of our athletes better than NFL Practice squad or CFL. This attracts a… https://t.co/ArcoT4wEPF
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) March 13, 2025
NASCAR’s ‘Drive for Diversity’ program is the biggest reason for the rise of former athletes in the sport. It has brought over 175 athletes into NASCAR, making up nearly 10% of all pit crew members. Many are former college football players who missed the NFL but still want to compete at a high level. Speaking about its NASCAR Pit Crew, coach Phil Horton once said, “The speed of the game in our world has picked up dramatically, so we look for athletes because it’s so specialized.”
Notably, top NASCAR teams like Hendrick Motorsports (HMS), Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), and Team Penske actively scout former football players. Just like the NFL Combine, HMS holds a Pit Crew Combine, where elite athletes showcase their speed, strength, and endurance. In 2023, the event was joined by 55 athletes who attended, but only a handful cut. While this sounds exciting that football players transition into pit crew, it’s not an easy task.
Hendrick Motorsports pit crew director once admitted how football players struggle before joining the fray. “You don’t grow up playing pit crew in your backyard. Most of these football guys had no idea that this was even an opportunity. But once they come on campus and see the place, they get pretty excited.” His comments reflect that, initially, it becomes hectic for anyone to work in such a situation before they start enjoying it.
Even Josh Busch acknowledged it when he said, “You got them in your ear, they say, ‘Do it till you forget it.’ You know, so when you jump off the wall, you’re not even thinking about anything, You’re just reacting and just doing what you’ve been coached to do—doing what you’ve been trained to do.”
While NASCAR teams continue to thrive on these ‘athlete pit crews’ Brad Keselowski’s latest comments have triggered a debate on social media.
Fans go wild over Brad Keselowski’s comments!
“HOLY W KESELOWSKI QUOTE—This was articulated perfectly. It’s one of the best possible careers for an NCAA athlete after college. Remain competitive in a team environment for an extended career and live in a preferable location with great travel opportunities and an ‘offseason,’” a user wrote. This perspective highlights the appeal of NASCAR pit crews. Unlike football, where careers can end abruptly due to injuries, pit crew members can work for decades. While financial benefits could be a part of the discussion, longevity surely covers it up.
Many found Brad Keselowski’s take refreshing, but some NCAA stars and football fans remained unconvinced. They pointed out that NFL practice squad players earn more than most NASCAR pit crew members. One fan challenged Keselowski’s claim, saying, “Rookie practice squad player makes $200K a season, 2 years’ experience practice squad player makes $275K a year plus insurance. You are paying that to your tire changer?”
While this comment didn’t sit well with many Keselowski and NASCAR fans, it has some valid arguments. NASCAR pit crew members don’t always make as much as NFL players—at least not upfront. According to a Motorsports report, tire changers can earn around $1,500 per race, while jackmen and fullers make approximately $3,000 per race. Over a 36-race season, this adds up to over $100,000, with additional bonuses and long-term stability. However, football careers often end early due to injuries, while pit crew members can work in NASCAR for years.
Meanwhile, some fans questioned the approach of hiring athletes for pit crew jobs. “I wonder how many dudes work real hard to try to make it as a crew member in a sport they loved just for NASCAR to start doing this. Like, I get why they do it. Just seems like those D1 athletes are the only ones getting opportunities these days,” a user wrote. This comment reflects a growing issue that NASCAR fans or enthusiasts might not get the desired change in the sport.
But the numbers don’t lie. NASCAR’s recruitment of former athletes has transformed pit crews into elite teams. In 2024, 14 races were won by a margin of less than 0.1 seconds—proof that a strong pit crew can make all the difference. Meanwhile, some fans failed to keep it serious and sarcastically demanded a TV show for crew members. “I always thought a reality show based on pit crews would be amazing,” a user wrote. While this might be a joke, it can open a source of income for NASCAR and the team. Sorry! Don’t give them ideas.
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