As most everyone knows, finding a full service gas station in these days of self service is pretty much impossible.
That is, of course, if you are not a NASCAR driver ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” who can pull into the pits and have a group of trained professionals take care of all of their needs, from new tires, a clean windshield and a full tank of gas.
Tyler Rader, a native of Cross Lanes, a graduate of Nitro High School and West Virginia University, is a member of the pit crew for the number 3 NASCAR Cup Series car driven by Austin Dillon. Making sure the race carÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s gas tank is full is his responsibility.
It seems it was one of those unexpected opportunities that came out of left field for Rader after graduating from WVU in 2012. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œMy dad, who is a huge NASCAR fan, gave me and a friend the heads-up that Richard Childress Racing was conducting a pit crew combine. We tried out and they offered us a spot on the team. My friend wasnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t interested, but I jumped on it, so that was the beginning for me in racing,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Rader said.
If you check the pit crew rosters of all of the NASCAR teams, you will find a number of former college football players, as the teams are looking for those types of athletes to be pit crew members.
On a side note, when I started covering NASCAR in 1975, the pit crew teams were mostly made up of friends and relatives who would show up on the day of the race. Now, it is a full time job.
But like any new person on a job, RaderÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s first job for RCR wasnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t putting fuel into one of the teamÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s race cars and trucks. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI started off gluing lug nuts (on wheels) for practice as one of the young development guys, and worked my way up from there. After a couple of years, I moved into the show and worked on the race cars, then worked as the teamÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s strength coach up until I left for the Army.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
From 2019 to when he rejoined RCR in 2024, Rader served in the ArmyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s 75th Ranger Regiment.
The decision to join the military was an easy one for the former Wildcat and Mountaineer. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThat was something I always wanted to do when I got out of WVU. Things didnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t quite work out, so along came racing. After a few years and getting in better shape, I made the decision give the Army a try.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Rader, who had one overseas deployment, was told by RCR officials that he would still have a spot on the team after his discharge.
Knowing that he still had a spot on the race team was important, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œAustin (Dillon) and I grew up together in our early 20s when I first joined the team, we were really close and when I told him of my Army plans, he made it clear if I wanted to come back there will always be spot for me.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
When Rader left the Army, an opening came up for a fuel man on the pit crew and he jumped right on the opportunity. In 2018 Rader was on the pit crew that helped Dillon win the Daytona 500, NASCARÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s biggest race of the season.
It was just the second career win for Dillon and the second career win for Rader, who was part of A.J. AllmendingerÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s winning crew at Wakins Clen in 2014. Dillon won the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte in 2017 while Rader worked as part of Paul MenardÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s crew.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWinning the Daytona 500 with one of your best friends will be tough to beat in memorable moments,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ said Rader. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œUnless of course we can win the Cup championship, and that would be sweet.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Joe Stevens lives in Scott Depot with his wife, Angie, their son, Christian, and their two cats, Oriole and Mustache.
