LOS ANGELES – The hard work, flawless performance and strong motivation of the pit crew for the No. 99 AFLAC Ford Fusion of Carl Edwards earned them the Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award for 2011 and a $100,000 bonus. The pit crew earned this recognition for their role in delivering the best average finish of 4.9 for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Edwards’ second place finish in the final standings. 
The Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award, which is determined by a vote of each team’s crew chief, is given quarterly to the top-performing pit crew in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The four quarterly winners are eligible for the year-end Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award presented during Champion’s Week in Las Vegas – and the $100,000 grand prize.
This year marks the 10th annual Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Championship – the only authentic competition voted on by crew chiefs, according to Mechanix Wear. It is also the company’s 20th year in the sport. Mechanix Wear, the No. 1 glove in racing, is the Official Glove of NASCAR used by nearly all pit crew members in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the company says.
The No. 99 AFLAC pit crew was selected for its fast pit stops, flawless performance and incredible effort over the 38-race season. The team also won the Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award for the fourth quarter.
The No. 99 AFLAC pit crew joined Edwards in Las Vegas as part of their award to be honored at the annual NASCAR Sprint Cup celebration, where they took home the Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew trophy and the $100,000 grand prize.
Members of the No. 99 pit crew include:
· Gas man – Joe Karasinski, Spotswood, N.J.
· Rear tire carrier – Jody Fortson, China Grove, N.C.
· Rear tire changer - Dwayne Ogles, Hoover, Ala.
· Jack man – Dennis Killian, Wentzville, Mo.
· Front tire carrier – Alan Troutman, China Grove, N.C.
· Front tire changer – Kale Uphoff, McFarland, Wis.
· Pit crew coach – Andy Ward, Kannapolis, N.C.
· Trainer – Les Ebert
