Former Nebraska Husker Graham Stoddard has found a new passion in his post-graduate life. After finishing college and grabbing a degree in 2012, Stoddard originally went the 9 to 5 route and took a job in financing, but that didn’t quite suit him. Instead, he turned to the world of NASCAR. Stoddard grew up watching the sport in North Carolina before becoming a fullback and special-teamer for Nebraska.
It was from a suggestion from Husker football strength coach, James Dobson that Stoddard thought of joining the world of car-racing. He had mentioned before that Stoddard might fit in as a member of a pit crew, drawing similarities between special-teams and a NASCAR crew.
Stoddard tried out in May of 2014 and got a job with Michael Waltrip Racing. Then, eight months ago he was signed by Chip Ganassi Racing, which features the No. 1 car, driven by Jamie McMurray. Stoddard is the rear-tire carrier, a job based on speed and accuracy.
“There’s so much money in this sport that they really have to trust you in the job that you do. … Guys who have done it awhile definitely have an established position and it’s very hard to take their spot. You really have to be doing something a lot better to win over that kind of position,” Stoddard said
Fellow former Husker, Nick Covey (2005-2009) was also called to the pit crew world and now works for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA Today Sports
