By Megan Sprague

Teachers from all over North Carolina got revved up for learning about NASCAR at the PIT Instruction and Training Center in Mooresville.

Breon Klopp gives instructions last week during a pit crew demonstration.

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The N.C. Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) sponsored the event, which allowed the crew of 24 to experience a side of the sport that most fans never see while giving them a few lessons to take back to their students.

“This has been a great hands-on experience,” said Tammy Gathings, an elementary school physical education teacher. “I think I’ll be taking back important things like strength and agility, which you can use in any field.”

“This week is all about making the teachers aware of motorsports opportunities for the kids and bringing racing into the classroom, whether it is in a math word problem or bringing up the history of NASCAR,” said Breon Klopp, senior director of development for PIT. “Most aren’t aware that racing isn’t just about the drivers.”

After visiting some of NASCAR’s legendary landmarks, such as Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Sam Bass Galleries and Penske Racing, the teachers headed over to the PIT to slip on fire suits and learn what a real pit crew does during a fast-paced race.

The pit crew instructors were members of PIT’s 5off5on team, the coaching division of the PIT. After a morning of videos and instruction, the teachers were ready for the real thing and formed four teams to learn how to perform an actual pit stop.

“We’ll demonstrate what to do, so watch each position and determine which one you want to pick,” Klopp said to the group. “Then we’ll give you special training of that technical skill and explain how it fits in with everyone else’s.”

“That’s where the citizenship comes in,” said Doug Burns, senior director of sales. “If you’re just paying attention to yourself, you could step in someone’s way. If you’re a tire changer and you’re still standing in the spot the jackman needs to go to after 2.6 seconds, you’re getting a big black and blue mark on your back by a 250-pound man as he barrels through.”

The crew did a slow-motion demonstration for the trainees with a running commentary from Klopp, so they could visualize what each person was supposed to contribute and see the overall teamwork. Then, they were treated to a real-time demonstration, as Klopp assured them they wouldn’t have to perform their tasks quite so fast.

The teachers chose one of seven different pit positions and practiced until it was time for the real deal.

“This has definitely been my favorite part of the trip,” said Gathings, who operated the jack for her team. “It really makes you appreciate someone else’s job.”

“I can’t wait to incorporate this into the classroom and share my passion for racing,” said Dennis Brittain, a high school algebra teacher from Morganton and the front tire changer for his team. “I’ve always loved NASCAR and I can definitely apply some of this to my math lessons.“

Klopp hoped the teachers would indeed introduce racing into their schools.

“As much fun as this is, one of our fears is how much of this information actually gets back to the kids,” he said. “At the end of the day, their job is worrying about test scores and not creating jobs in our field.”

Judging by the enthusiasm from Gathings and Brittain, Klopp shouldn’t worry too much.

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