Since 1991, we have worked closely with NASCAR teams developing working hand protection and personal protective equipment to significantly improve their safety and performance in the garages and on pit road. Through this close interaction, we've learned how much work and training goes into every aspect of a successful race team and proficient pit crew. It has allowed us to create the most advanced hand protection to allow pit crews to change four tires and refuel a race car with the weight of the race on their backs in under 14 seconds. It was with the evolution of the NASCAR pit crew when the Most Valuable Pit Crew award was born.
At the beginning of the 2002 NASCAR season, we created and introduced our Most Valuable Pit Crew award to honor the hardest working hands in racing. Today, the Mechanix Wear MVPC award is the longest running and most coveted pit crew award in the sport. The prestigious MVPC trophy serves as a testament to consistent hard work and proficiency on pit road. The MVPC award is the pinnacle of countless hours of pit stop practice and muscle memory development to propel their drivers to the checkered flag.
On a quarterly basis and at the end of the season we ask NASCAR Crew Chiefs to vote for the pit crew who contributes the most to the success of their team on race day. The winning pit crew voted on by NASCAR Sprint Cup Crew Chiefs is awarded a check for $5,000 and an opportunity to be recognized as the Most Vaulable Pit Crew at the end of the The Chase for the Sprint Cup. Sure the $100,000 prize is nice, but bragging rights carry heavy weight amongst these tool-men on pit road. The end of the year MVPC award is voted on at the season-end race at Homestead and serves as a testament to consistent performance on pit road.