Pit Crew (Drag Race)

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Pit Crew members with RuPaul (second from left), including Shawn Morales (second from right), at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2019

The Pit Crew is the ensemble of scantily clad male models who appear on camera for various segments of the American television series RuPaul's Drag Race and its derivatives, utilizing the motif of car drag racing.[1] During season 6 of Drag Race,[2] and on Drag Race Thailand, the group are known as the Scruff Pit Crew. The group are called the Brit Crew on RuPaul's Drag Race UK.[3] A behind-the-scenes weekly web series Oh Pit Crew launched in 2014 with season six and airs on WOW Presents Plus, and its related YouTube channel.[4][5]

Function[edit]

Crew members often appear dressed only in designer underwear, and features as human props, and in sketches, mini-, and maxi-challenges to aid the drag queen contestants.[1][4] In one mini-challenge called "Pants Down Bottoms Up", the competing drag queens picked Pit Crew men by two to drop their pants until they found matching underwear.[6]

Members[edit]

RuPaul's Drag Race (2009–present)[edit]

Shawn Morales in 2018
Laith Ashley in the music video for "Girl Baby" by Ezra Michel

Pit Crew members of the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race included Kenyon Glover, Keon Hunt, and Preston Taylor.[1] Max "The Body" Philisaire participated during the second season.[1]

Television host and men's lifestyle expert Jason J. Carter joined for seasons 3–10.[1][7] Shawn Morales was a member for seasons 3–6.[1][8] According to Morales, he and Carter got the job through their being go-go dancers in gay clubs; a friend "knew someone in the casting department" and secured an audition.[9]

Ronnie Kroell was a Pit Crew member for the fifth season.[10][11] Miles Davis Moody, an actor and model, was a member for seasons 6–8.[1][12][13] Simon Sherry-Wood was a member for the sixth season, and previously starred on The Real World: Paris (2003).[1][14] Bryce Eilenberg, a straight ally, was a member since season 7.[1][7][15] Jared North and Yadier Despaigne joined the crew for season 9.[1] Laith Ashley appeared as the Pit Crew's first openly trans man during the series' tenth season.[6][16][17]

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2012–present)[edit]

Wilson Lai was a member during the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.[18][19]

Drag Race Thailand (2018–present)[edit]

Drag Race Thailand started in 2018 with an eight-member crew branded as the Scruff Pit Crew, after the queer men's dating mobile app.[20] Up to three members appeared in each episode.[20] Members include Nikkai, cosplay enthusiast Nut, and Pae.[20]

RuPaul's Drag Race UK (2019–present)[edit]

The Brit Crew members were announced a few weeks prior to RuPaul's Drag Race UK premiering in October 2019.[3][21] The casting requirements included that they were at least six feet tall, attractive, “athletic and toned physique”, no tattoos, aged 18-35, and comfortable in just underwear.[21] The series debuted with five members, and two more were added after the first episode.[22] Season 1 members include:

RuPaul's Drag Race Live! (2020)[edit]

RuPaul's Drag Race Live! shows in Las Vegas features a rotating cast of RuPaul's Drag Race contestants in a live show akin to the Werq the World tour.[36] The shows Pit Crew all double as dancers in the queens' numbers.[36] Crew members include: AJ Watkins, Dallas Eli, Filip Lacina, Michael Silas, Nick Lemer, and Sebastian Gonzalez.[36] In 2024, the season 16 episode "Drag Race Vegas Live! Makeovers" featured RuPaul's Drag Race contestants giving makeovers to members of the variety show's Pit Crew.

Canada's Drag Race (2020–present)[edit]

The Pit Crew on Canada's Drag Race attracted media attention for including Mina Gerges, who was the first plus-size man to be featured in the Pit Crew on any edition of the series,[37] and Travis L'Henaff, an HIV-positive model and activist who has been featured in HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns in Canada.[38] Other members included Ming Yao, Seth Falk, and Evan Boutsov.[39]

RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under (2021–present)[edit]

Regular members of the Pit Crew of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under included Max Currie, Sean Walters, and Rod Tian.[40][41]

Drag Race España (2021–present)[edit]

The twelve members of Pit Crew on the Spanish adaptation were presented a few weeks prior to Drag Race España premiering in May 2021.[42] New members were introduced during season 2, among them a trans man and a bear.[43]

Drag Race Philippines (2022–present)[edit]

Pit Crew members of Drag Race Philippines have included JP Ocat, Ricardo De Jesus, Dheyle Dizon, and Jaycee Sahagun.[44]

Drag Race Brasil (2023–present)[edit]

Pit Crew members of Drag Race Brasil have included Alex Burán and Richard Kuellar.[45]

Reference[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Shea, Ryan (October 18, 2018). "Yum! Let's Take a Closer Look at the 'Drag Race' Pit Crew". Instinct. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  2. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 6 Episode 9 Recap: the Queens of Talk". 15 April 2014. Archived from the original on 2016-08-23. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Towle, Andy (September 19, 2019). "RuPaul's Drag Race UK Introduces its Pit Crew, er, 'Brit Crew'". Towleroad Gay News. Archived from the original on November 13, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Tharrett, Matthew (February 28, 2014). "The Underwear Models Of The "Drag Race" Pit Crew Now Have Their Own Miniseries". Queerty. Archived from the original on August 2, 2017. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  5. ^ Reid, Joe (May 24, 2017). "If You're Into 'RuPaul's Drag Race,' You MUST Check Out the World of Wonder YouTube Channel". Decider. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Hirst, Jordan (May 22, 2018). "Transgender Laith Ashley Welcomed in RuPaul's Drag Race's Pit Crew". QNews. Archived from the original on January 24, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Shea, Ryan (February 15, 2018). "'RPDR' Pit Crew Legend Jason J. Carter on His Amazing Rise in Entertainment!". Instinct. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  8. ^ Lambe, Stacy (February 19, 2014). "Meet RuPaul's Drag Race's New, Bulgier Pit Crew". Out. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  9. ^ Spargo, Chris (February 22, 2012). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Interview: Pit Crew Shawn Morales". LOGO News. Archived from the original on January 26, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  10. ^ Leighton-Dore, Samuel (February 18, 2019). "This former 'Drag Race' pit crew member has announced he's running for President". Special Broadcasting Service. Archived from the original on January 29, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  11. ^ "Meet Ronnie Kroell—The Other Openly Gay Candidate—Who Thinks He's The Man To Beat Trump In 2020". Towleroad Gay News. 2019-02-15. Archived from the original on 2019-07-02. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  12. ^ Allen, Timothy (March 8, 2016). "PHOTOS: These Pit Crew Boys Can Do More Than Lube Your Engine". Queerty. Archived from the original on July 27, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  13. ^ "Miles Davis Moody desnudo: el nuevo modelo de 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". CromosomaX (in Spanish). Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  14. ^ Avery, Dan (February 22, 2014). ""Real World" Star Simon Sherry-Wood Is New Pit Crew Hunk On "RuPaul's Drag Race"". LOGO News. Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  15. ^ Tharrett, Matthew (February 19, 2015). "The "RuPaul's Drag Race" Pit Crew Is Getting A Red-Hot Ginger Hunk". LOGO News. Archived from the original on June 22, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  16. ^ Reynolds, Daniel (May 19, 2018). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Introduces First Trans Pit Crew Member". The Advocate. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  17. ^ Rodriguez, Mathew (May 19, 2016). "Dominican, Trans Model Laith Ashley Covers Gay UK Mag Targeted by #GayMediaSoWhite". Mic. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  18. ^ Gremore, Graham (January 28, 2019). "Everyone's gagging over Wilson Lai, the Pit Crew's hunkiest new member". Queerty. Archived from the original on February 1, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  19. ^ Henderson, Taylor (January 22, 2019). "Everyone's Thirsting Over 'Drag Race' Pit Crew Recruit Wilson Lai". Pride.com. Archived from the original on January 24, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  20. ^ a b c Ferber, Lawrence (February 14, 2018). "Meet The Hunky Pit Crew of "Drag Race Thailand"". LOGO News. Archived from the original on September 19, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  21. ^ a b Hudson, David (September 19, 2019). "Forget the 'Pit Crew', meet RuPaul's 'Brit Crew' for Drag Race UK". Queerty. Archived from the original on January 6, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  22. ^ a b Street, Mikelle (September 18, 2019). "Meet the Men of 'RuPaul's Drag Race UK's Sexy Brit Crew". Out. Archived from the original on October 14, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  23. ^ a b c d e Shea, Ryan (October 13, 2019). "Take a Look At The Sexy Pit Crew From 'RuPaul's Drag Race UK'". Instinct. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  24. ^ Yates, Jonathan (January 17, 2020). "Who's on the RuPaul's DragCon UK lineup at Olympia London?". MyLondon. Archived from the original on January 29, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  25. ^ "Thomas Archie Ahern - The Law Society". solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2020-01-29. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  26. ^ Sonoma, Serena (October 11, 2019). "The Hunky Otter From 'RuPaul's Drag Race U.K's Brit Crew Is Engaged". www.out.com. Archived from the original on December 26, 2019. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  27. ^ Ashenden, Amy (September 23, 2016). "'People brand me as a gay athlete' says canoeist Matt Lister". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on February 13, 2017. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  28. ^ Tharrett, Matthew (October 5, 2019). "Nyle DiMarco's day off, Justin Bieber's skivvies, & Odell Beckham Jr.'s thick thighs / Queerty". Queerty. Archived from the original on December 24, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  29. ^ Morgan, Joe (April 29, 2016). "Here are all the incredible panelists who will debate and discuss at Digital Pride: The Festival in London". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on July 30, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  30. ^ Koff, Derek de (August 3, 2017). "Let's all take a break from our busy modern lives to drool over the Mr. Gay Europe candidates". Queerty. Archived from the original on January 29, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  31. ^ Scheib, Julia (December 3, 2015). "Greater York Dance's 'The Hip Nut' mixes cultures and genres". York Dispatch. Archived from the original on January 13, 2016. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  32. ^ Zelko, Abbey (November 16, 2015). "See traditional, hip-hop 'Nutcracker' in York". FlipSidePA. Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  33. ^ "I am Niko Wirachman…Living his 'Best Gay Life'". Best Gay Life. 2019-01-08. Archived from the original on 2020-01-29. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  34. ^ "Niko Wirachman By Alex Botic – Part 2". DNA Magazine Australia. December 17, 2017. Archived from the original on June 17, 2018. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  35. ^ "Cast Announced For BARE: A POP OPERA At The Vaults". Broadway World News. May 23, 2019. Archived from the original on January 29, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  36. ^ a b c "Here's the Pit Crew from 'RuPaul's Drag Race: Live' in Vegas". Out. January 31, 2020. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  37. ^ Michael Cook, "‘Canada’s Drag Race’ Brings Beefiness To the Pit Crew With Mina Gerges" Archived 2021-10-23 at the Wayback Machine. Instinct, July 28, 2020.
  38. ^ Mikelle Street, "'Drag Race' Pit Crew's Travis Says You Can Slide In His DMs" Archived 2021-10-27 at the Wayback Machine. Out, September 2, 2020.
  39. ^ "Introducing Canada’s Drag Race Pit Crew" Archived 2021-10-27 at the Wayback Machine. DNA, July 17, 2020.
  40. ^ Street, Mikelle (May 4, 2021). "Meet 'Drag Race Down Under's Hunky (and Talented) Pit Crew". Out. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  41. ^ Hirst, Jordan (June 7, 2021). "Some Aussies have joined the Pit Crew on Drag Race Down Under". QNews. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  42. ^ Street, Mikelle (May 15, 2021). "'Drag Race Espana's 12 Member Pit Crew Has Us Sweating Already". Out. Archived from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  43. ^ "La segunda temporada de 'Drag Race España' se estrena con más diversidad y un espectacular ángel caído". 20 minutos. March 28, 2022. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  44. ^ "Meet the Pit Crew Hotties of 'Drag Race Philippines'". www.out.com. Archived from the original on 2023-09-28. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  45. ^ "20 Steamy Pics of 'Drag Race Brasil' Pit Crew Members Richard & Alex". www.pride.com. Archived from the original on 2023-09-28. Retrieved 2023-10-17.

External links[edit]

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