Stenhouse Jr. and Bayne to swap pit crews in playoffs

Ricky Stenhouse

The Nos. 17 and 6 teams of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Trevor Bayne, respectively, have swapped over-the-wall pit crews for the 2017 NASCAR Playoffs, a Roush Fenway Racing representative confirmed Friday to NASCAR.com.

The team said the swap is intended to give both teams a fresh perspective and the tentative plan is to keep the swap through the playoffs. However, they will continue to monitor each team’s performance throughout the final 10 races.

Stenhouse is one of the 16 drivers vying for a shot at the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship this season. Bayne did not make the playoffs and is currently ranked 21st in the driver standings.

Roush Fenway Racing isn’t the only Monster Energy Series team to switch up the crews this season; Joe Gibbs Racing recently announced that the Nos. 18 and 19 teams of Kyle Busch and Daniel Suarez would also swap over-the-wall crews beginning at Chicago. Busch is competing for his second Monster Energy Series title.