Pat Musi Racing Engines Postpones November Open House 

Submitted by laurap on Mon, 11/09/2020 - 17:29
Pat Musi Racing Engines logo


Pat Musi Racing Engines, which celebrates its 50th year in business this year, has announced its originally scheduled Open House event has been postponed. 

Set for November 14, the now-postponed event will allow fans into its facility located at 379-B Timber Road in Mooresville, North Carolina. 

“It’s obviously frustrating to postpone this event. We had put a lot of time and effort into it, and we were really looking forward to interacting with all the fans and our partners,” Pat Musi said. “But the health and safety of our team, as well as everyone who had planned on coming, takes precedence. It’s been a challenging year, but we’ll keep pushing forward and we look forward to having a great event in the near future.”

When it is rescheduled, fans will have the opportunity to meet with Pat Musi and his team of professionals, including daughter and driver Lizzy Musi. The Open House will also feature Lizzy's Edelbrock-equipped "Aftershock" Camaro from the popular Street Outlaws television series and the Frank Brandao-owned Edelbrock/Lucas Oil "King Kong 7" 2018 Dodge Dart, and more.

The rescheduled date will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information, visit musiracing.com or facebook.com/patmusiracingengines/. 

November 2020

City Seeks Operator For Casper Speedway

Submitted by laurap on Fri, 11/06/2020 - 17:08
Casper Speedway


Casper Speedway, the 1/2-mile dirt oval in Casper, Wyoming, needs a new track operator.

The City of Casper is accepting proposals from individuals or groups who are interested in leasing and operating the facility located at 2117 East Road.

Proposals will be accepted through Friday, November 20, at 4:00 p.m. Officials will select the candidate most qualified to operate the track. 

Interested parties should note that the City of Casper intends for the facility to be solely self-sustaining with no direct or indirect city subsidy required to sustain operations, according to the city's news release. Each proposal will be evaluated and shortlisted for a formal interview.

The track's 2020 schedule featured Mini Stocks, Dwarfs, Hobby Stocks, WISSOTA B-Mods, WISSOTA MOD-4s, IMCA A-Mods, and more. 

The complete request for proposal can be found here.  

November 2020

NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Releases 2021 Schedule

Submitted by laurap on Fri, 11/06/2020 - 13:31
NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series logo


Officials have released the 2021 schedule for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, where NHRA's top Sportsman competitors battle for national, regional, and divisional championships.

Celebrating its 20th year, the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series begins 2021 at Orlando Speed World Dragway on February 4-6 and concludes at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on November 4-7. 

The series also announced several doubleheader events, including races at National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio; Texas Motorplex in Dallas; Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka; Yellowstone Dragstrip in Acton, Montana.; Sonoma Raceway in Northern California; and Mission Raceway, Mission, British Columbia, Canada.

The schedule features 44 total events with at least six races in each of the seven divisions. Additionally, there will be 25 regional events featuring the 260-mph Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car classes next season.

“We are thrilled to see the great competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series continue for 20th year in 2021, and we know it will be another action-packed season featuring so many great drivers competing across the country,” said NHRA President Glen Cromwell. “The support the Lucas family has shown to the NHRA and its Sportsman racers has been incredible, and it’s exciting to see that partnership continue.”

“Sportsman competitors are a huge part of the success of NHRA Drag Racing, and we are pleased to extend our support of the series for a 20th season,” said Morgan Lucas, president of Lucas Oil. “We are very much looking forward to what will be another terrific season.”

For the complete schedule, visit here. For more information, visit nhra.com.

November 2020

Bowman Gray Launches $9 Million In Renovations

Submitted by laurap on Thu, 11/05/2020 - 17:16
​​​​​​​North Carolina’s Bowman Gray Stadium rendering


North Carolina’s Bowman Gray Stadium, the unique, historic, quarter-mile paved oval that encircles Winston-Salem University’s football field, has kicked off what will be a multi-year, $9 million renovation. The first phase of the construction, already begun, will upgrade the stadium’s concession stands and restroom facilities. Among the final phases will be a fresh asphalt surface laid on the track in time for the 2022 NASCAR season of weekly Modified, Sportsman, Street Stock, and Stadium Stock races.

According to Bowman Gray’s Gray Garrison, the upgrades will not impede its 2021 racing season or the University’s football season. 

“It’s really a tightrope type construction project,” he admitted, “but it’s a good plan. There are things they can do for racing during the football season, and things they can do for football during the racing season.” And while the stadium hosts races between April and August, and football games are played September to December, that leaves “three to four months to get work done when nothing’s happening.”

City planners had scheduled the project to begin in October, but the COVID-related cancellations of the football and racing seasons enabled the construction companies “to get things started a little quicker and gives us a bigger window to do things,” Garrison said.

The stadium’s infrastructure was in need of repair, Garrison explained. “It’s a 75-year-old facility, so it needed the upgrades. Water and sewer are among the main things they’re doing, which will be a really big plus for us.”

Plans to replant the football field will include new irrigation and drainage systems, “which will help us in racing,” Garrison said. Racers will appreciate the new asphalt surface, he added, since the track hasn’t been redone since the 1980s.

Fan amenities, though, are the prime motivator for the renovations. “There’s so much more competition out there now, you have to have things nice,” Garrison explained. “Bowman Gray was probably above average among weekly race tracks with what we had, but we’re taking steps now to make those amenities even nicer, like clean restrooms with more facilities and bigger serving windows in the concession stands. It’s all about making things much more fan-friendly.

“You’ve heard of the 10-Step Rule?” he asked. “When you’re at home, it’s 10 steps to the restroom or 10 steps to the refrigerator. You gotta do something to get them out here.

For more information, visit bowmangrayracing.com or facebook.com/BowmanGrayStadium.

November 2020
By
Drew Hardin

F1 Adds Saudi Arabian Grand Prix To 2021 Schedule

Submitted by laurap on Thu, 11/05/2020 - 11:30
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix


The 2021 F1 calendar will feature a brand-new race in Saudi Arabia, with the news that the city of Jeddah will host the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in November 2021.

The event will see some of the world’s best drivers and constructors battle on city streets during a night race.

The 2021 race, the first in a long-term partnership between Formula 1 and the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF), will take place on Jeddah’s corniche, which runs along the banks of the Red Sea, providing a coastal backdrop for a full weekend of live motorsports, entertainment, and culture in the second biggest city in Saudi Arabia.

The remainder of the 2021 F1 schedule is set to be announced at a later date.

For more information, visit formula1.com.

Photo courtesy of Formula 1

November 2020

PerTronix Performance Brands Acquires Aeromotive, Waterman

Submitted by laurap on Wed, 11/04/2020 - 09:52
PerTronix Performance Brands, Aeromotive Inc. logos

PerTronix Performance Brands, with brands in the ignition and exhaust segments, has announced it has acquired Aeromotive Inc. and Waterman Racing Components.

Over the past 26 years, Aeromotive has designed and manufactured fuel systems and components for the automotive aftermarket and OEM manufacturers. Aeromotive will continue to operate out of its Lenexa, Kansas manufacturing and development facility, while Waterman Racing Components will continue to run out of its Concord, North Carolina, and Brownsburg, Indiana locations. Aeromotive’s leadership team will continue to manage the business.

According to the companies, the acquisition follows a record sales year for both Aeromotive and PerTronix Performance brands. 

“PerTronix looks to partner with only the best businesses in joint efforts to grow the parent brand and the companies under it. Aeromotive is the premier fuel delivery company in the industry and fits perfectly into the PerTronix family. We are excited to partner with Aeromotive’s talented management team to continue the innovation and growth that has made Aeromotive legendary,” PerTronix Performance Brands Chief Executive Officer Robyn Hetland said.

“The future of Aeromotive has never been brighter. To work side by side with a team of seasoned professionals with a common goal of continuing to produce the industry’s best product will pay dividends on day one,” said Aeromotive Founder and President Steve Matusek. “This is one of those unique instances where one plus one will equal three.”

PerTronix Performance Brands is an automotive aftermarket group of companies, including PerTronix Ignition, JBA Performance Exhaust, Doug’s Headers, Patriot Exhaust, Compu-Fire, and Spyke. 

For more information, visit pertronixbrands.com or aeromotiveinc.com.

November 2020

Formula E, Extreme E Announce Joint Effort

Submitted by laurap on Tue, 11/03/2020 - 18:37
Formula E, Extreme E announcement


Formula E has announced that it has become a minority shareholder in Extreme E, the new off-road series where electric SUVs will compete in remote ecosystems worldwide.

As part of the announcement, Formula E CEO Jamie Reigle will join the Extreme E Board of Directors. The two businesses will remain independent. 

“It has always been my intention to have Formula E and Extreme E working closely together, spreading the message of electrification, environment, and equality. The two series are very different but have a shared purpose as they fight alongside one another to counteract climate change,” said Alejandro Agag, the chief executive officer of Extreme E and the Formula E Founder and Chairman. “I’d like to welcome Jamie to the Board of Extreme E and look forward to continuing our work together, this time to capture the momentum and maximize the potential of Extreme E.”

The 2020-21 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship debuts January 16-17 in Santiago, Chile, while the inaugural season for Extreme E begins on March 21 in Saudi Arabia.

For more information, visit fiaformulae.com or extreme-e.com.
 

November 2020

Pat Musi Racing Engines Announces 50th Anniversary Open House

Submitted by laurap on Mon, 11/02/2020 - 17:48
Pat Musi Racing Engines logo


Pat Musi Racing Engines will celebrate another banner season and its 50th year in business with an open house at its facility, located at 379-B Timber Road in Mooresville, North Carolina, on November 14. The open house will take place from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and follow all COVID-19 guidelines from the state health department.

The event allows fans to talk with Musi and his team, including star driver Lizzy Musi who will also be on hand for autographs. 

Lizzy's Edelbrock-equipped "Aftershock" Camaro from the popular Street Outlaws television series and the Frank Brandao-owned Edelbrock/Lucas Oil "King Kong 7" 2018 Dodge Dart will both be on display as well during the celebratory open house.

"We've got a lot to show off, including a brand new race shop near Mooresville Dragway, and it's a chance to give people an idea of what we do," Musi said. "We wanted to do something like this to celebrate our 50th year, and it's going to be a good deal all the way around. Plus, Lizzy will be here, so it will give fans a chance to see her. It's going to be pretty cool, and we're looking forward to it."

Special guests will also be on hand, including executives from Lucas Oil, ACL Bearings, SRI Performance, the newly-formed Edelbrock Group, and more.

New Edelbrock/Musi cylinder heads produced at the Edelbrock Race Center within Musi's facility will be on display at the open house, along with posters and limited-edition 50th-anniversary apparel. Food and beverage will also be available for purchase from local vendors.

For more information, visit musiracing.com.

November 2020

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Joins iRacing As Executive Director

Submitted by laurap on Mon, 11/02/2020 - 17:39
Dale Earnhardt Jr., iRacing Announcement


iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations has announced that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will officially join iRacing as an executive director and part of its management committee. 

The NASCAR Hall of Famer, two-time Daytona 500 winner, and two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion will have a hand in numerous aspects of iRacing, from partner and community relations to user experience and development of the platform’s stock car offerings.

Additional responsibilities that Earnhardt Jr. will take on in his new role at iRacing include eSports, strategy, marketing, partnerships, and licensing.

“For more than 20 years, Dale has been a passionate advocate of sim racing whose efforts to improve the product have dramatically shaped our direction as a company and relationships throughout the sport for the better. Through all this time, he’s never been paid a penny for his contributions. After discussions earlier this year, we’ve pursued a mutual interest in having him come on board as an official member of the company, and we look forward to continuing our growth with Dale’s guidance from years to come,” iRacing Owner John Henry said.

Earnhardt Jr.’s interest in sim racing dates back to the 1990s as an avid player of NASCAR games produced by iRacing predecessor Papyrus. He brokered the first meeting between iRacing and NASCAR, held in the JR Motorsports offices in North Carolina, and has continuously supported sim racing through his leagues and teams. Earnhardt Jr. was also the inaugural race winner in iRacing’s premier eNASCAR division back in 2010, taking the checkered flag at Daytona International Speedway. 

2020 has been a record-setting year for iRacing, with tens of thousands of new users joining the platform.

For more information, iracing.com.

Image courtesy of iRacing

November 2020

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: RAY EVERNHAM

Submitted by ashtonr on Sat, 10/31/2020 - 23:43


From racer to crew chief to team owner, the NASCAR Hall of Famer looks back on five decades worth of motorsports experiences and offers a preview of the upcoming Superstar Racing Experience.

Ray Evernham has never stopped looking forward. A bright-eyed New Jersey boy who began driving race cars as a teenager, Evernham followed his passion for motorsports to the pinnacle, serving as a championship crew chief in NASCAR for nearly 20 years. He remains very much engaged in a variety of motorsports and media projects.

Evernham, who now resides in Cornelius, North Carolina, recently announced his involvement in the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX), a new motorsports series scheduled to launch in 2021 that will showcase past and present racers in specially designed race cars comparable to the IROC series of years ago.

As a highly successful crew chief with Hendrick Motorsports, Evernham won three NASCAR Cup series championships with driver Jeff Gordon. He later partnered with Dodge to launch Evernham Motorsports before transitioning to media work that included producing “AmeriCarna” on Velocity (now MotorTrend) as well as “Glory Road” on NBCSN. Evernham is also the majority owner and president of JRi Shocks.

And in 2018, he was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

PRI’s Industry Insights recently caught up with Evernham for a discussion on the state of American motorsports, as well as a look back at his lifetime of racing experiences.

PRI: Obviously, the recent announcement of the Superstar Racing Experience was big news. Give us an idea of how the concept and the new series came about.

Evernham: You know, I don’t think the concept of a series like this is new, and it seems strange that my first big break in motorsports came from working with the IROC series years ago. I got to work with a lot of great people there and I saw some of the things that made the series great, and some of the things that unfortunately caused the series to stop running. George Pyne is a former CEO of NASCAR, and George and I have remained friends and have talked about many things through the years. I’ve always wanted to do something like the old IROC series, with a twist for the 21st century. Everybody we talked with thought this was a great idea, so George and I talked to some TV people and CBS Television thought it was a great idea. Then we talked to Tony Stewart, and he thought it was a great idea, too. The next thing you know we’re rolling along, and things came together from there.

PRI: What’s the central principle behind the SRX series?

Evernham: I believe today’s race fan is looking for a form of motorsports entertainment that puts things back in the driver’s hands. Obviously, rules have gotten complicated, there are speeds and issues and whatnot, and we just want to do something that’s pretty simple, like grassroots racing. We want to get some of today’s superstar drivers involved, drivers who can still wheel a car and still want to do this; they just don’t want to do it at 200 miles an hour, 36 times a year. So we’re working on a program to put these racing superstars and legends on grassroots shorter tracks, in a car specifically built for our SRX series.

We really want to make it a good race car, a car that’s difficult to drive yet keeps guys together so they can bump and bang and do what race drivers like to do.

industry1
Ray Evernham’s long and successful career has included stints as championship-winning NASCAR crew chief, team owner, broadcaster, and online media personality. In 2001, Evernham and Dodge returned to the NASCAR Cup Series with his team Evernham Motorsports, further deepening his insight into the business side of the sport. Above, Evernham celebrates in Victory Lane at Texas Motor Speedway after driver Kasey Kahne’s win.

PRI: You’ve obviously put a lot of thought into what today’s racing fan is looking for in terms of entertainment. Is there a certain thing you believe will capture their imagination? How do you do this?

Evernham: Well, I think the first thing is shorter shows, right? I think they are looking for shorter windows, for sure. And I think it boils down to the drivers, that’s what it’s really about. People who have bought tickets to sporting events all these years, they didn’t buy a ticket to see the ball or the bat. They bought a ticket to see how fast somebody could run, how high they could jump, how far they could throw the ball. It’s about competition and watching someone do something you don’t think you can do.

With the legends we’ve signed up for our series and more to come, with TV coverage, we’re going to give fans a look behind the curtain, an up-close look. It’s not going to be all about who’s got a better car, or rules, or who was penalized for an infraction on the car. These will be equally prepared cars, but we’re going to allow the drivers to work on their car a little bit. We’re also going to have some legendary crew chiefs involved, and they’ll have a small realm to make adjustments to the car. That does a couple of things—it adds an entertainment value because of the personalities, and how they communicate to make those changes. You get a guy who comes from NASCAR and he’s working with a guy who comes from Formula One…different worlds.

We’re looking to show the fans the lifestyle side of this, the entertainment side, the personal side. How did we get there? How did we build the car? How did the driver and crew chief communicate? The race will be the main event, but we want to show how the competitors got to this point, and share the drama. We’ll have drivers and crew chiefs with some history, so there will be fireworks. But we’ll go back and show that history, and talk about it.

One of the exciting elements is rotating drivers in and out, because some drivers can’t run the whole series. Guys who are active in various series, guys still racing, who want to come and run one or two races with us. We’ve had some current Cup and IndyCar drivers ask if they can run a couple of races; we’ve had some very capable celebrities who want to run some races with us. It will be very interesting, and it will be about the people and not the cars.

PRI: You touched on something there, Ray. I’m talking about a wide spectrum of cars, at all levels. Do our cars today need to be harder to drive?

industry2
First earning fame as crew chief for driver Jeff Gordon, Ray Evernham, at left, still misses the intensity of the job. “It was a constant hustle. As an owner you have skin in the game, but it’s not the same.”

Evernham: I think the cars are hard to drive now. Let’s just say this: I think the cars are easy to drive, but they’re hard to drive fast. I watched the Indy 500, and those guys are driving their asses off. The Cup cars, those guys are driving hard. The problem is that the line for being able to adjust is too narrow. The speeds are so high; they are hard to drive perfectly. And that isn’t creating a lot of opportunities to pass. Once you get some great drivers and they’re all about the same, the passing is only on an aerodynamic issue or on a restart, right? I think we need to create some cars that make that lane wider. It’s not about making the cars harder to drive, because I can tell you that those cars today are so stuck, so much downforce, going so fast, that it’s just not creating much excitement for anybody but the driver.

PRI: On a more global scale, the COVID-19 crisis has obviously impacted the industry this year. How does our industry move on from this?

Evernham: I wish I knew that answer. We need to be sure and keep fans engaged, and we need to make sure that if fans can’t be at the race track, we use whatever technology possible to engage with fans. The one thing we can do is make sure we vote for the people who can straighten this out. We’ve got to get the fans back in the grandstand at some point. Motorsports is always going to have a following; to attract new fans, we’ve got to make sure we keep it exciting and make sure we’re giving them what they want to see. Right now it’s a difficult time—I’ve seen some of the smartest people I know in racing trying to figure things out. I’m going to watch Roger Penske and Jay Frye in IndyCar, I’m going to watch Jim France at NASCAR. We’ve got to remember it’s a big, big ship, and you can’t turn it around in a hurry.

But I think things like SRX will be good for all motorsports, because if you could start any sport from a clean sheet of paper, you’d do things differently. Well, we’ve got that clean sheet, and I think we’re going to be able to generate interest from all fans. And if they watch our races maybe they’ll watch other races, too.

PRI: Aside from the pandemic, what’s your assessment of the state of motorsports today? I’m talking a broad look here.

Evernham: I haven’t been able to be at a short track in a while, but I watch some of the streamed races. Sprint [car] racing and midget racing, it is as healthy as they’ve ever been. A large reason for that is there aren’t many rules. The racing is exciting. One of the great things this year is what Kyle Larson is doing across all forms of dirt racing. But they’ve got that formula: The cars are familiar to the people, the racing is good, and they have heroes. It’s still about these guys becoming heroes, whether it’s Donny Schatz or Kyle Larson. Short track racing on the dirt open wheel side is healthy. Some of the other short track areas, pavement and other things, we need to take a look at how to get more people involved. Maybe doing some different things.

Some of the series I go to, such as the Mazda Miata series, they have a gazillion of those cars, and most of the drivers are young kids. Maybe we need to partner with series like that to get the kids involved in oval racing. Every time I see a drifting event with hundreds of cars and thousands of kids watching, I keep thinking we need to get them to swing over to the oval side and get them involved.

industry3
Ray Evernham was profoundly moved by his induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2018. “When they announce your name, it’s a firehose of emotion,” he said. “You can’t explain it. It changes your life.” Pictured above, left to right, are Evernham, his son Ray J., and Jeff Gordon.

PRI: Let’s talk about you a little bit. When you made the decision to step away from your role as a NASCAR crew chief, that was a major life change. What was the biggest adjustment in the months after leaving that career?

Evernham: You know, that was actually 21 years ago. I haven’t sat on a pit box in 21 years—September 1999. But thinking back to that time, the toughest adjustment was just not being in the fight on Sunday. I did okay at the shop, I liked the shop. But when I was at the race track—Friday, Saturday, Sunday—it was a constant hustle. Talking to the driver, making changes. Then on Sunday you’re in the battle. I miss that the most. As an owner you have skin in the game, but it’s not the same. And I loved my TV career with ESPN and NBC. I worked with great people and it was enjoyable. But there was nothing that motivated me like being in the middle of the fight on Sunday.

PRI: A lot of people have difficulty stepping away. You know what I mean, Ray? We both know lots of guys who have struggled to get away from racing. Why was that tough for you, not being in the fight?

Evernham: I don’t know…everybody has a turn at something, right? Deep down inside, you know yourself when it’s time to step down and do something else. I don’t think you lose talent, but you do lose a little commitment. You get burned out, you get numb. Timing was right for me to step down as a crew chief. And the timing was right for me, as an owner, to sell my team. Because when you start to lose that desire and other things start to enter your mind, you lose that edge. I was pretty lucky because at the time I wondered, “Oh, I quit being a crew chief too early,” or “I quit being a car owner too early.” But in reality, the timing was perfect for both those things to happen.

I’ve seen a lot of really talented guys who either burn out or they lose that edge and they ride too long. People see them at the end of their career and they think, “Man, that guy is an also-ran.” But you say, “No, that dude was the man on pit road 10 years ago.” I’ve always tried not to let my ego override my intelligence. (Laughing.)

industry4
With a deep well of experience and an easygoing, upbeat personality, Ray Evernham is a welcome presence throughout motorsports. Even so, he remains humble and open-minded. Evernham is pictured here, alongside his wife Erin, during PRI’s 2014 VIP Luncheon at the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum in Knoxville, Iowa.

PRI: You’ve been involved in a lot of different programs since then. “AmeriCarna” and your other projects seem to be an extension of your personality, your passion for automobiles and performance. I realize it’s a lot of work, but I suspect that’s a rewarding feeling to be involved with things you love.

Evernham: I love doing the “AmeriCarna” show, I really do. Automobiles have been a huge part of the timeline of America. I’m a big hot rod, old rock ’n roll guy. I fell in love with the 1950s and 1960s, and I can see how the automobile had a huge influence on America. From the times guys got back from World War II on up to recent times, there are so many interesting car stories out there. Doing “AmeriCarna,” I enjoy that. And doing “Glory Road” on NBC, getting the older guys together to talk about what really happened there, it’s fun.

I don’t have to tell you, Dave…TV is hard work. It’s like anything else, there aren’t a lot of people who make a lot of money in TV, right? (Laughing.) I looked at TV as a reward, and the ability to document some of our history was important to me.

PRI: You’ve got some experience now with how the business side of television works. From the perspective of producing some of these projects and bringing some of these projects to life, what’s the key to navigating the business elements of television?

Evernham: You’ve got to make it interesting. How you tell the story is important. The SRX is going to be a great series with great drivers and crew chiefs, but we’ve still got to do a good job telling the story. Because if we don’t entertain the fans, they aren’t going to watch.

I always had my little formula I called the three E’s. When you’re producing a television show, you’ve got to have entertainment, emotion, and education. You have to have those things.

PRI: I’ve always felt like a crew chief at any level is in the people business more than the race car business. What have you learned about leadership, and dealing with people?

Evernham: The key thing is being really clear on communication and expectations. It used to be easier than it is now, because people, their expectations and the things they are willing to do are different than they used to be. Old racers are used to a different level of commitment, and the sacrifices people would make to get to the race track. There are still people like that out there, but not as many. So understanding what motivates each person is important. You have to communicate with them on what you want done. And you have to understand their expectations.

I was really fortunate to be part of Hendrick Motorsports and the Rainbow Warriors, because everybody there was like me. We’d work 24 hours a day if that’s what it took to win. That’s not what motivates everybody anymore. You have to deal with expectations, and that’s a big challenge for every crew chief today.

PRI: Going into the Hall of Fame is a validation for anybody in motorsports. When you look back to 2018 and your induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, what does it mean to you today?

Evernham: That was the greatest honor I’ve ever received. To think back to where I came from, and to ever imagine meeting or knowing some of the people I’ve known, to have your name even mentioned in the same sentence as some of the people in the Hall of Fame is still something I honestly can’t put into words. It’s a stunning moment. No matter how good you thought you were, you’re still in disbelief that you were good enough to be inducted into that Hall of Fame.

It is honestly…when they announce your name, it’s a firehose of emotion. You can’t explain it. It changes your life. Many people told me, “When they call your name, it’s going to change your life.” I didn’t get that, not until it actually happened. Because that’s true…when they called my name at my induction, it changed my life. It’s a much different feeling of accomplishment than anything you will ever feel in your life. For those of us who are racers, that was everything. All of a sudden, all those people you’ve admired and raced against, and this sport you’re so in love with, they are all standing in front of you, clapping. They are recognizing that you were one of the best in that arena…it’s a very humbling experience.

PRI: Very interesting. Let’s close with this…. You’ve been involved in motorsports and performance for more than four decades now. Man, that’s a lot of life lessons along the way! I realize this is a hypothetical question, but if you had the chance to sit down with 20-year-old Ray Evernham, what do you tell him? How do you prepare him for what’s coming?

Evernham: Actually, I’ve got five decades, because I started in the 1970s! (Laughing.) Oh, man. What would I tell that kid? I don’t know, because that 20-year-old Ray was a partier. He wouldn’t have listened. But I’d tell him to quit partying, pay attention, and make a commitment. I think I could have been a much better driver than I was if I’d had somebody to teach me about commitment and help me with my confidence.

I don’t know that I would change anything about my life. We all regret some things that hurt other people, so I think we’d all do those things differently. But if you gave me a pen back then and told me to write out the script for my life, I couldn’t have written the script any better than the way it actually played out. I’ve been pretty blessed. So I might just tell that 20-year-old Ray this: Take care of your health, try to be a better person every day, quit your partying, and don’t hurt people.

PRI: Those are all good things. Ray, we appreciate your sharing some time with us. We wish you the best with the new series and all of your projects in the coming months.

Evernham: Thank you, Dave.

November 2020
By
DAVE ARGABRIGHT