If you’re a NASCAR fan, then at some point, you’ve probably heard someone say that racing is simply about cars turning left all day long. Not only is this not true (road courses feature both left and right turns), but it also discounts all the athletes who are working hard behind the scenes.

Consider the pit crew member – a highly specialized athlete. They stick to a training schedule, eat a balanced diet, and deal with the same universal sports performance obstacles as everyone else – weather and travel.

If you read Part 1 of our two-part series on Team Penske’s pit crew members, then you can appreciate the athleticism required to successfully pit a car. Continue reading Part 2 to learn more about the pit crew lifestyle.

The day-to-day

A pit crew member’s week can look a little different depending on the race, where it is, and if they are recovering from injury, but here’s a general outline of a week in the life:

  • Monday: Optional extra practice on the car, strength and conditioning workout
  • Tuesday: Film review, practice, workout
  • Wednesday: Practice, strength and conditioning workout
  • Thursday: Practice, strength and conditioning workout
  • Friday: Off
  • Saturday: Off
  • Sunday: Fly out, arrive at track, prepare pit box, pre-race meal, warm-ups, race time

In Part 1, we talked about how pitting mirrors the sport of football – for example, pit crew members’ college sports backgrounds, the recruitment process, and some of the ideal body types for various positions. But the comparisons end when it comes to workouts.

Pitting is a bit of a “weird sport,” says Chris Conklin, Fueler for Team Penske’s No. 12 Car (Ryan Blaney). He says they do cross-training workouts to incorporate a little bit of everything – speed, agility, reaction, stability, and injury prevention protocols.

Team Penske Sports Performance Coach Nate Miller emphasizes mobility and strength in every area including hips, knees, and shoulders since that’s where a lot of injuries happen, says Pat Gray, Jackman for Team Penske’s No. 2 Car (Austin Cindric).

“Nate does a great job of this – it’s a very long season,” Gray says. “You want to be strong in every facet of health and wellness.”

And it all starts with the right fuel. Team Penske eats a well-balanced diet consisting of higher protein portions. Most pit crew members eat three to four meals per day plus a protein shake. Because as Miller says, you can’t out-train a bad diet.

“I have our guys train and eat like an athlete should,” says Miller. “They have a fast-paced, high-intensity job that is movement-based with a lot on the line. Every tenth of a second makes a huge difference!”

Life on the road

On top of all the work they put in during the week, the pit crew member, like any athlete, has to deal with variables they have no control over, such as weather and travel.

The worst-case scenario for a pit crew is rain. Most of the NASCAR schedule takes place on speedways where race cars aren’t equipped with the features that everyday cars have to help make driving in inclement weather safe such as wipers, lights, flaps, or tires with tread. Even just a little rain can cause dangerous conditions for drivers, who must deal with a lack of visibility and hydroplaning.

Several factors play into how NASCAR makes weather-related decisions, including the conditions leading up to the race and the type of track being raced on. If wet conditions are declared before the start, teams must change to wet weather tires. If rain starts part way into the race, officials wave the caution flag, slowing down drivers’ speeds.

“Being able to adapt and maintain a laid-back approach is going to be a plus with all the various curve balls thrown your way,” Miller says. “You never know what bumps in the road you are going to face.”

With this much uncertainty for pit crew members, they must stay engaged and ready for anything. The same goes for travel.

Since most races are in the southeast, Team Penske usually doesn’t have to travel too far from its headquarters in Mooresville, North Carolina. As such, the crew usually flies out the morning of race day, except for West Coast races.

But some races are far away, and between the shifts in time zones, foreign sleep environments, and the general stress of flying, frequent travel can take a toll on health. Pair that with about 12 hours working outside and the overall excitement of race day, and sleep becomes “a constant battle” for pit crew members.

“The night before a race, you’re either scared or you’re ready to go and can’t wait,” Conklin says. “You got to be very adaptable because there are days you show up and you’re not 100 percent, but you’ve got to find a way.”

“Thorne completes the circle for us”

Between the intense job and the unpredictable conditions that pit crew members face on a day-to-day basis, they must get the nutritional support they need for training and recovery. So, which health solutions do they rely on?

Miller listed Team Penske’s top 10 favorite Thorne supplements in Part 1, but each pit crew member takes different products.

Gray says his staples are Thorne’s Whey Protein Isolate, Creatine, Basic Nutrients 2/Day, Omega-3 with CoQ10, and either Memoractiv™ or Brain Factors. Conklin’s everyday essentials include Thorne’s Multi-Vitamin Elite, Whey Protein, and Brain Factors.

“If I’m going to miss one, I don’t miss those,” Conklin says.

But it’s not just the access to quality supplements that Team Penske members appreciate. They also value the education they get from Thorne experts who provide personalized recommendations for each pit crew member’s specific situation, a must in such a specialized sport.

Conklin, who was paying a lot for supplementation before the partnership, says the educational support has allowed him to find supplements he didn’t know he needed. For Gray, Thorne’s assistance makes him feel confident about changing his supplement routine throughout the year, depending on what his body is going through.

“They have everything to support us being our best,” says Gray. “Thorne completes the circle for us.”

Thorne is thrilled to partner with Team Penske. For more health and wellness content, stay tuned at Thorne’s Take 5 Daily blog and follow us on Instagram @thornehealth.