Johnson's pit crew wins 'Drive-Thru Challenge'.

The pit crew for newly-crowned Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson has claimed the season-long Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge competition.

Though Johnson's No. 48 Lowe's crew was tied with Tony Stewart's crew with five wins each, the tiebreaker went to Johnson's crew for having the highest finish in the driver point standings.

For winning the season pit crew championship, Johnson's team will collect a $105,000 bonus from Checkers/Rally's. The presentation will be made Nov. 30 in New York City at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon.

By winning the Checkers/Rally's weekly competition five times and earning $10,500 for each victory, the total prize money earned in 2006 by Johnson's pit crew was $157,500.

Johnson's over-the-wall crew consists of: Chris Anderson (jackman), Art Simmons (front-tire carrier), Mike Trower (front-tire changer), Ron Malec (rear-tire carrier), Tim Ladyga (rear-tire changer), Rich Gutierrez (gasman), Mike Knauer (catch can) and Sean Kerlin (eighth-man). The team's pit crew coach is Matt Clark and the crew chief is Chad Knaus.

"I'd like to congratulate Jimmie Johnson's crew for winning the Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge championship as well as the NASCAR Nextel Cup championship," said Rich Turer, vice president of marketing, Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. "It was a competitive season among the pit crews with 15 different teams winning the weekly competition. Checkers/Rally's is excited to bring the spotlight to the crew members, who play an integral role in the success of each team."