I Took Tony Stewart's Advice and Here's What I Found at Pocono

Yesterday in the Pocono Raceway Media Center, Tony Stewart said that if he could have one wish for Pocono, it would be that "the media be banned." He then retracted that and said instead that the media should "get off their butts, out of the media center, and work the garage area." So, I took Tony's advice to heart and here's what I found in the garage area at Pocono.

The First Challenge in the Pocono Garage is Getting Out

One of the most challenging parts of the Pocono Garage is just getting through the pit area, past Autograph Alley, and out onto the "Tricky Triangle" track.

Once Out, Back In Pocono Garage

Once drivers have negotiated a few hot laps on the track, their next challenge is to get back into the garage area at Pocono Raceway. There was a bit of a log jam as David Reutimann and Juan Pablo Montoya got a bit dicey on the way back in.

Pocono Garage Calculations

One of the most prominent things going on in the Pocono Garage area is lots of calculating. Crew chiefs like this roamed the pit stalls with their notepads, trying to get their cars dialed in to their best advantage.

Plenty of Pocono Adjustments

In the Pocono garage, one thing you can count on is plenty of adjustments. Juan Pablo Montoya's Target team is most certainly busy, pulling and pushing at lots of different car parts.

Always About the Tires

In any NASCAR garage, but particularly at Pocono this weekend, it's all about the tires. This pit crew member certainly has his hands, arms and entire body full of race tires.

Pushing and Shoving

There's a great deal of pushing and shoving in the NASCAR garage. Mark Martin's crew takes their turn, pushing the No. 5 car into their pit stall in the Pocono garage.

A Squinting Junior Sighting

In my foray into the Pocono garage, I was fortunate to get a sighting of NASCAR's most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Sure he was squinting with the sun, but the horde of fans seeking autographs finally blocked out the glare.

Garage Buddies

The garage makes for strange bed fellows but also for bosom buddies. David Reutimann grabs A.J. Allmendinger for a brief chat after practice is concluded.

Driver to the Hauler

When all was said in done, the drivers head back to their haulers to debrief. As I said goodbye to Marcos Ambrose, my time too in the garage came to an end. Thank you Tony Stewart for such good advice as I enjoyed the time off my butt in the media center and in the Pocono garage immensely!