As the price of oil soared above $126 a barrel for the first time on Friday, gas prices rose to an average of $3.67 a gallon for unleaded gasoline.  The spike in gas prices has had a rippling effect across all sectors of the economy and the high price consumers face when filling up their tank has reached NASCAR.  Team owners are expressing concerns over the ultimate effect on their bottom lines, placing a premium on the value of the often overlooked and underappreciated catch can man.  The catch can man is responsible for catching any fuel overflow in a can as gas is added to a race car during a pit stop.  While the job does not hold the excitement of a tire changer or jack man, the profile of the Catch Can Man has risen right along with the price of gasoline, making him an integral part of any successful race team.

“The cost of operating a race team at the highest level of NASCAR competition is significant,” said Harvey Tattenberg, a noted NASCAR economist. “In today’s world, each and every drop of gasoline translates into real money.”  NASCAR teams feel a disproportionate amount of the pain of high gas prices in their bottom lines as they consume more gas than the average American when transporting cars and employees to race tracks all across the country.   Some team owners have even gone to the lengths of obtaining the services of catch can men to accompany their vehicle haulers as they drive from track to track.  “Sure it costs me a little more in overhead,” said Gaylon Davis, Director of Logistics for Wood Brothers Racing. “But it all comes out in the wash with what we save in wasted gas.”

Given the increased importance of the catch can man, NASCAR teams have began training programs in order to develop the best catch can man prospects.  The intense training regimens that comprise these training programs include an exercise where a trainee stands in a rain storm with a bucket.  Should a drop of rain reach the ground, the candidate is eliminated from the program.  Additionally, trainees are required to become connoisseurs of gasoline by completing a course in gasoline tasting where they learn to identify the blend, octane rating and additives.   “One cannot truly appreciate gasoline until gasoline is truly appreciated,” said Pierre Montague, gasoline sommelier.

Catch Can Man Dickie Bottlecap welcomes the attention to his role on the pit crew of the #88 UPS Toyota and feels that the appreciation of catch canning has been a long time coming.  “My momma always used to say ‘How much can can a catch man catch if a catch man could catch can?’ Think about that for a minute.”

Facing the harsh reality of gas prices, teams have resorted to unconventional means of obtaining fuel.  “I ain’t gonna say who, but I’ve heard of a couple of fellas headin’ out to the parking lots during a race and siphoning gas out of fan’s cars,” said a crew member speaking on the condition of anonymity. “I ain’t sayin’ that’s right to do but that’s the reality.  Desperate times call for desperate measures.  Unfortunately, God didn’t bless 43 men with catch can abilities.  I reckon theres 5 maybe 6 guys out there that ain’t ever let a drop of gas touch pavement. “