To honor the dedicated road warriors and pit crew members, TUMS will designate all crew members as the Grand Marshals for the 2010 TUMS Fast Relief 500 on Oct. 24. For the first time in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history, 43 crew members, one from each team, will represent all crew members and collectively give the command ‘Gentlemen, Start Your Engines.’Â Each team pre-selected the crew member that best represents and embodies the team spirit to give the command. Prior to the TUMS Fast Relief 500, a complete line up of the 43 team-designated grand marshals will be announced often before the race weekend. The grand marshals already announced:
‘¢ STEVE CHANNING ‘ #00 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
Channing drove Mini Modifieds in his teenage years on tracks around his Seekonk, Mass., home, but like so many racers, struggled to keep his fledgling race team afloat. A move to North Carolina in the mid-1990s and a recommendation from a friend helped land him jobs with drivers Rick Mast and Bill Elliott at the controls. Today, Channings role as car chief for driver David Reutimann keeps him busy with every detail pertaining to the teams racing machines. ‘I make changes to the car that crew chief Rodney Childers may want during the race weekend,’Â Channing says. ‘I go with the car during inspection to make sure everything is good there. Id say the most nerve-wracking time is between practice and qualifying.’Â
‘¢ LEE DODSON ‘ #09 Phoenix Racing Chevy
Dodson began going to short-track races around his Courtland, Va. home when he was only three years old. His dad and uncles raced, and a decade later, Dodson helped turn wrenches on Mini-stocks, Late Models and Hooters Pro Cup cars. After completing high school, he graduated from the Bobby Isaac Motorsports program at Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, N.C., and began his Sprint Cup career as a general mechanic with Wood Brothers Racing in 2005. He joined his present team, Phoenix Racing, in March of 2010. “It’s very cool to be working in Sprint Cup,” Dodson says. “With our team, we don’t have a designated driver, so I get to work with several and I enjoy that. Since we are so short staffed, I get to learn more which is a good thing. I love setting up cars and working with suspensions. That’s what I like the most.”
‘¢ BENJY GRUBBS – #1 Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing Chevy
After a trip with his parents to the old Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway to see a Sprint Cup (then Winston Cup) race in 1983, Grubbs fell in love with NASCAR. When his own plans to drive race cars fell through due to lack of finances, he used his skills as a welder taught to him by his dad to build race cars for his hero, Darrell Waltrip, when the three-time champion drove for Tyler Jet Motorsports in 1998. From there, he moved to Roush-Fenway Racing and driver Matt Kenseth from 1999 to 2005 and on to his present role as chassis fabricator and gas man for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing. ‘Its really something to see raw tubing on a shop floor and the next thing you know, theres a race car sitting there,’Â Grubbs says. ‘I really love the competition on Sundays, especially when you win the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 like we have this season.’Â
‘¢ CINDY LEWIS – #2 Penske Racing Dodge
A native of Secretary, Md., Lewis is a co-driver of the #2 Penske racing transporter along with husband Bill ‘Stump’Â Lewis. While at the track, she helps maintain whats known as the teams rolling shop while preparing meals for the crew. Having had grandparents in the restaurant business and a mom who cooked for the school system, its easy to see why she enjoys making special dishes for the crew. ‘Cooking basically runs in my blood,’Â Lewis says. ‘To me, its like family working with the guys. We are all really close and close to their wives and children. Its great to be able to enjoy your job and work with such a great group of people.’Â
‘¢ KYLE TURNER – #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy
As a gift for his 18th birthday, Turner and some friends attended a NASCAR event at Richmond International Raceway in 2002. The next year, he attended a vocational school provided through his high school which led to graduation from the NASCAR Institute in Mooresville, N.C., in 2004. Today, the 26-year old from Yorktown, Va., works as an assembly mechanic for Hendrick Motorsports and driver Mark Martin during the week and front tire changer during pit stops on race day. ‘I sat up in the Dogwood section of the grandstands that day and wondered how to get down there, and here I am,’Â Turner says. ‘Its very exciting. Its cool to be able to see something you dreamed of doing when you were younger and to accomplish it is really special. Most people get cold chills at the start of the Daytona 500, but I have that happen to me when I go to Richmond.’Â
‘¢ RYAN McCRAY – #6 Roush Racing Ford
Having grown up around race cars owned and driven by father, NASCAR Winston West Champion Rick McCray, Ryan completed an award-winning high school baseball career as a catcher before moving east from San Bernardino, Calif. To follow his own racing career. The former catcher now works as a fabricator for the #6 team and driver David Ragan in the shop during the week and carries 85-pound tires during pit stops on race day. ‘Im competitive and love being part of a team,’Â McCray says. ‘I love being able to help make the team better through what I do.’Â
‘¢ KEVIN DUNCAN – #9 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford
A native of New Zealand, Duncan raced dirt bikes and built suspensions and shocks for his two-wheel machines before moving to race cars in the early 1990s. His work with an Indy Car team in California led to a chance to move to North Carolina in 2000 to work with the former PPI Motorsports team owned by Cal Wells. Duncan was familiar with NASCAR, having followed heroes Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison through TV broadcasts of races shown in his native country. Over the past decade, he has worked with both the #9 and #19 teams with former team owner Ray Evernham and now with Richard Petty Motorsports. He also carries rear tires during pit stops for the #9 team on race day. ‘I really didnt come to the states to work with a NASCAR team. It just kind of worked out that way,’Â Duncan says. ‘Im pretty thankful to be doing this. Im lucky to have this opportunity. I just love racing, the pit stops and competing.
‘¢ TIM SPARKMAN – #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
When Sparkmans grandparents owned and operated St. Marys Speedway in St. Genevieve. Mo., the teenager had plenty of access to race cars and the tools needed to make them go fast. While there, he had access to Late Model and ASA machines that offered a perfect place to learn. A move to North Carolina in 1998 paid off when he met NASCAR driver Ken Schrader and went to work. More opportunities followed over the years, and today, he serves as a shock specialist at Joe Gibbs Racing. ‘I love the competition, thats for sure,’Â Sparkman says. ‘This will be my last year on the road so I can be a little more of a dad at home. But Ill be doing something at the shop for team owners Joe and J.D. Gibbs.’Â
‘¢ DAVID DOYLE – #12 Penske Racing Dodge
Decades past his childhood, Doyle remembers sitting behind the wheel of his dads race car playing with the steering wheel, pedals and shifter. He would often pretend he was on the track fighting for position just like the champion driver, mentor and hero he admired. Doyle eventually followed in his fathers footsteps as a racer, but the high costs of fielding a team sent his career in a different direction. Today, Doyle helps prepare each of the #12 machines Penske Racing brings to the track to make sure they are race ready. ‘Being competitive is what its all about for me,’Â Doyle says. ‘You have to have competition in your blood to be able to do this seven days a week.’Â
‘¢ GREG OSBORNE – #13 Germain Racing Toyota
Stock car racing came into Osbornes life as a result of his parents spending their Saturday nights at short tracks around his hometown of Hampton, N.H. Osborne started helping friends on race cars at age 12 and raced go-karts at age 17. Realizing it was too expensive to race, the next best thing was to return to working on peoples cars. After working in the Camping World Touring Series 1992, 1993 and 1994, he moved to North Carolina to work in Sprint Cup racing. Osborne, an avid golfer and mountain biker when time permits, works as the teams car chief during the week and handles catch can duties on race day. ‘Going over the wall is a lot of fun and a good adrenalin rush,’Â Osborne says. ‘I changed tires for 14 years and just started catching gas this year. Its a blast to step up on that wall and do a stop to help your driver win the race. Thats one of the biggest rushes Ive ever had. When you pull off that stop that helps you win the race, you feel like youre a big part of that.’Â
‘¢ ADAM GRAVITT – #14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevy
Instead of being involved in neighborhood football games as a child, Gravitt spent his time working at nearby South Boston Speedway and Orange County Speedway just to be around the cars. He kept watching and learning the tricks of the trade before completing a degree in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech. Today, Gravitti works as a shock specialist for the team. ‘I love what I do,’Â Gravitt says. ‘Theres a lot of travel, but as far as the competition goes, thats what makes it all worth while.’Â
‘¢ TODD ZEIGLER – #16 Roush-Fenway Racing Ford
While living in northern Indiana, Zeigler began his racing career after his mother-in-law, a beautician, got word through a client that a local race team needed help. He volunteered his time for American Speed Association (ASA) driver and team owner Bob Senneker, of Grand Rapids, Mich., with duties as a water boy, catch can man, tire carrier and tire changer. After obtaining a degree in Automotive Service Management in 1992 from Lincoln Technical College in Indianapolis, Zeigler began a career in NASCAR. ‘Ive never driven race cars other than just being involved in some go-kart leagues,’Â Zeigler says. ‘Ive always had a knack for mechanics and tinkering with chassis and engines and things. Now I do it full time and love it.”
‘¢ JUSTIN NOTTESTAD – #17 Roush-Fenway Racing Ford
With his dad and uncle heavily involved in short track racing around the state of Wisconsin, Nottestad began racing his own cars in the four-cylinder class at Jefferson Speedway, Columbus Speedway and Madison International in Wisconsin at the age of 16. When Sprint Cup driver Matt Kenseth moved south to pursue a career in NASCAR, Nottestad followed suit and began his career as well. Presently, Nottestad works as shop foreman for the #17 Roush-Fenway operation during the week and is a front tire changer during Sprint Cup events. ‘This is something everyone dreams about if youre a racer and its a dream come true for me,’Â Nottestad says. ‘Theyve usually not seen anything like Sprint Cup racing and this is where they want to be.’Â
‘¢ KIRK BUTTERFIELD – #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
One could say Butterfields path to Sprint Cup first began as a straight line. The Carrolton, Ohio native began his career as an engine tuner for Funny Car drag racing champion John Force in 1987. Sprint Cup team owner Joe Gibbs formed a drag racing team in 1994, but when he closed it to concentrate solely on NASCAR racing in 2000, Butterfield moved to the oval-track team based in Huntersville, N.C. Today, he works as an engine tuner for Kyle Busch and the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. ‘The biggest challenge you have as an engine tuner is finding fuel mileage while trying to get the car to go as fast as possible,’Â said Butterfield. ‘But when Im not doing that, I spend time working on a Rat Rod and also enjoy hunting.’Â
‘¢ RAMON ZAMBRANO – #19 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford
A shock specialist for the #19 Richard Petty Motorsports team and driver Elliott Sadler, Zambrano, an El Salvador-born crewman, grew up in Arlington, Texas. Upon completing high school, he graduated from Universal Technical Institute in 2001 in Houston. On race day, he serves on the over-the-wall crew when NASCAR allows an eighth man. ‘I like the fact everyone works as a team and contributes to the results of the weekend,’Â Zambrano says. ‘I like to give it 100 percent every week and I know everyone on the team does, too. I just like that feeling. Were a team in the good times as well as the bad.’Â
‘¢ ERIC GROEN ‘ #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
A native of Sioux Center, Iowa, Groen raced go-karts as a child while following NASCAR through newspapers, radio and TV. After high school, he chose a college that would allow him to be closer to NASCAR in hopes of working for a team. Groen graduated from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., with a degree in business and in 2004 found an opportunity to work as a general mechanic and tire carrier with the former Petty Enterprises. Groen did the same for Red Bull Racing before his present role as sponsor manager with Joey Logano and the Joe Gibbs Racing’s #20 Home Depot team. He is a liaison between team and sponsor during the week and works as a rear tire carrier for Kyle Busch during Nationwide races and does the same for Logano on Sprint Cup race day. “My background is on the mechanical side of things, so that’s a little more natural for me, but when I went to Gibbs, they had a position open on the office side,” Groen says. “My roles with the team are diverse. I enjoy doing both very much. Joe and J.D. Gibbs are upstanding guys and the leadership at Joe Gibbs Racing is the best I’ve seen in my career.”
‘¢ JASON BURDETT – #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy
With a father and cousins deep into dirt track racing around his Arkport, N.Y. home, Jason Burdett grew up with a dream of someday making a career for himself at the NASCAR Sprint Cup level. When his parents began scoring NASCAR events in the mid 1990s, he immediately sought to make his own mark in the sport upon graduation in 1995. Burdett spent several seasons changing tires and handling catch-can duties for Dale Jarrett and the former Robert Yates Racing and Jeff Gordon and the #24 Hendrick Motorsports operation before becoming car chief for the team. Today, he assists crew chief Steve Letarte with making sure the car is race ready. ‘I just really enjoy the competition,’Â Burdett says. ‘Were all friends in the garage area so its fun to go out and compete and outrun each other.’Â
‘¢ MARK WILLIAMS – #29 Richard Childress Racing Chevy
After working on dirt Late Models and spending a decade operating his own trucking business, Williams began driving transporters for Richard Childress Racing when an extra driver was needed for trips to the West Coast for Sprint Cup events. The assignments increased for the native of Martinsville, Va., to the point that he is now a full-time driver for the team. While at the track, his duties include unloading tool boxes, getting the car unloaded and ready for initial service by the crew, setting up the garage stalls and taking care of all the mechanical components on the transporter. ‘Driving the truck is a very small part of it,’Â Williams says. ‘But I drive all over the country and meet a lot of people who would love to do what I do.’Â
‘¢ JONATHAN WALLACE – #31 Richard Childress Racing Chevy
A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Wallace grew up in a family of racers that included himself, his dad, cousins and uncles. They competed on the dirt tracks around Elizabeth City, N.C., and Asheboro, N.C. In 1998, Wallace graduated from Forsyth (County) Technical Colleges automotive program that included one year of motorsports and building late-model race cars before joining the former Petty Enterprises in 2000. In 2003, he joined Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and currently builds front clips for all of the RCR teams. On Sundays, he works as front tire carrier for Jeff Burton and the #31 team. ‘The most exciting part of being a tire carrier is the adrenalin you feel while trying to perform accurately and quickly in the midst of a chaotic situation,’Â said Wallace. ‘I want to be the very best crewman I can be, whether at the shop or going over the wall each week.’Â
‘¢ SCOTT BREWER – #33 Richard Childress Racing Chevy
The son of well-known former crew chief and present-day television broadcaster Tim Brewer, Brewer grew up in the sport and spent several years driving Legend cars and Late Models before turning his attention to obtaining a degree in mechanical engineering. Brewer grew up going to races almost every weekend and decided to build a career in the sport like his famous father. He now maintains cars for the teams, handles water duties and windshield tear-offs during pit stops. ‘Racing was always a part of my life,’Â Brewer says. ‘My dad realized I was going to get into racing. Ive been with RCR since 2005, and Im very happy to be a part of this team.’Â
‘¢ JONATHAN SALMONS – #34 Front Row Racing Ford
A native of Bassett, Va., Salmons moved from working as a mechanic at a local car dealership in 2004 to turning wrenches on Late Model stock cars with some hometown friends. A year later, he joined Craftsman Truck Series driver and team owner Bobby Dotter and moved on to Roush-Yates Engines in 2006. His first Sprint Cup opportunity came in 2010 with Front Row Racing and driver David Gilliland. The graduate of Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville, Va., presently tunes engines for the team and loves every minute of it. “In Sprint Cup, you’re at the top level as far as NASCAR goes,” Salmons says. “You’re the best of the best and that means a lot. I started at the very bottom you might say, working on race cars and engines and have been able to work my way to the top. It’s an honor to be a part of NASCAR and a crew member in Sprint Cup.”
‘¢ JIM BYRNE – #37 Front Row Motorsports Ford
An avid racer of Late Models on the famed, local short tracks around his Long Island, N.Y., home, Byrne moved to North Carolina 20 years ago and got his break in NASCAR in 1995 when former team owner Butch Mock needed help with his Sprint Cup team. Byrne has been working on a variety of chassis components ever since. In addition to working on fuel cells during the week at Front Row Racings shop, he also works with shocks, springs and rear-end gears at the track. When it comes time to get the car through inspection, Byrne is right there watching the process to help answer any questions NASCAR officials may have. ‘This is a good bunch of guys and we have David Gilliland behind the wheel and hes a good driver,’Â said Byrne. ‘Im also the eighth man over the wall on Sundays. Im the old guy now. I do driver comfort during the race, such as ice packs, drinks and such. And I do body repairs on pit road if we have any accidents on the track.’Â
‘¢ ALAN HOWARD – #38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
A native of Covington, Va., Howard didnt set out to become a crew member for a Sprint Cup team. His career with a major US airline was going well when he and NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield became friends in the late 1990s. More and more visits to Mayfields Michael Kranefuss Racing shop set the foundation for becoming a full-time crew member. When Howards job with the air carrier was eliminated, he found his new calling in NASCAR. Today, Howard works as shock specialist and mentor for many of the younger members of the team. ‘I guess the way I came into NASCAR was a different way to get into racing,’Â Howard says. ‘I enjoy the travel and meeting people and doing different things.’Â
‘¢ KEVIN PENNELL – #39 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevy
Earlier in his life, Pennell thought of stock car racing as a hobby, but followed it closely, having grown up around the heart of stock car racing in Kannapolis, N.C. For three years, he raced Limited Late Models and Super Stocks at Concord (N.C.) Speedway and worked part-time in 1994 helping Dale Earnhardt Sr. at Dale Earnhardt Inc. The following year, Pennell joined the organization fulltime and later helped build Nationwide Series cars for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Today, when he isnt providing bulls for local rodeos, Pennell works as car chief for Ryan Newman and Stewart-Haas Racing. ‘My job with the team is to make sure the car gets through technical inspection and handle everything pertaining to the car prior to the race,’Â Pennell says. ‘That includes chassis set-ups and anything the crew chief, Tony Gibson, feels we need to do to the car.’Â
‘¢ RYAN QUANN – #42 Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing Chevy With parents having connections to NASCAR and serving the sport in various roles, Quann has been around stock car racing his entire life. The graduate of the Bobby Isaac Motorsports program at Catawba County Community College in Hickory, N.C., took his chassis-building skills to the Sprint Cup team owned by Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates. Through a friend, the avid golfer and snowboarder received an invitation to work for the organization and presently helps the team in various capacities. ‘Im in the composite-component shop building carbon-fiber parts for the cars,’ Quann says. ‘On Sundays, I work in a pit support role. I was in the right place at the right time when I started with this team, and I love being here.’Â
‘¢ BRIAN DANTINNE – #43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford
Born in Wallace, Mich., in 1967, Dantinne began his career by turning wrenches on race cars at the local short tracks at the age of 12. He spent time in the American Speed Association ranks before moving to NASCAR. For the past three seasons, he has worked as car chief for the #43 Fords made famous by team owner and seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty. ‘My job both on race day and back at the shop is to oversee the guys working on the car and making sure everything is performing the way its supposed to,’Â Dantinne says. ‘My favorite part of the job is meeting new people and traveling. Its a people sport. We get to see new parts of the country and enjoy new venues. I never dreamed I could make a career of racing but Ive been involved now for 30 years. Its been a fun ride.’Â
‘¢ BOB BECHSTEIN – #47 JTG Daughtery Racing Toyota
Since the 1970s, Bechstein has been involved with several different forms of racing. In addition to stock cars and super modified, the early part of his career was spent around open-wheel racing ‘Â IndyCar. By the late 1980s, the Sandusky, Ohio-native built an engine business that opened the door to opportunities the Nationwide Series. In the late 1990s, he joined former Sprint Cup team owner Travis Carter and has been in Sprint Cup since. He currently serves as the front-suspension specialist with the #47 team and driver Marcos Ambrose. ‘Ive been racing my whole life and I guess Ive never had a real job,’Â Bechstein says. ‘What I enjoy most is taking a bunch of mechanical pieces and doing the best you can with them. Seeing the end result at the end of the night is what its all about.’Â
‘¢ RON MALEC – #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy
A native of Franklin, Wis., Malec began racing go-karts as an eight-year-old competitor. Like so many fellow crew members, he began his career on the short tracks, working on and driving race cars. Malec aspired to become a Sprint Cup driver, but when finances ran low, fate placed him with driver Jimmie Johnson during his days of racing off-road trucks and later American Speed Association cars. Malec has been at Johnsons side throughout and has enjoyed the spoils of four consecutive Sprint Cup championships. He has changed tires during his Sprint Cup career and presently holds the position of car chief. ‘I help direct the pit crew as far as changes to the car during the race and if theres a crash, I have to handle that also,’Â Malec says. ‘I really enjoyed working with cars as far as racing goes. Thats what Ive done my whole life. To do something you love for a living is pretty easy. When Im not racing, I enjoy restoring old cars.’Â
‘¢ BRIAN CHASE – #56 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
While in high school shop class working with cars, Chase discovered his friends Dad owned a gas station. As pay for pumping gas after school, they were allowed to use the shop to work on street stocks and hobby stocks raced on local short tracks. An invitation to work for free on a Busch North (now Camping World North) car led to a trip south in 1997 to apply for a job in NASCAR’Âs Sprint Cup arena. Chase and his friend landed a job with Diamond Ridge Motorsports. Today, Chase, an avid bike racer and marathon runner, builds and installs rear-ends, trailing arms and all the rear suspension on David Reutimanns #00 Toyota and handles the jack on race day for the #56 car driven by Martin Truex Jr. ‘The decision to go racing meant turning down a scholarship to play hockey for Sacred Heart University (in Fairfield, CT.),’Â Chase says, ‘But racing is all Ive ever done and I love what I do.’Â
‘¢ NICK HENSLEY – #77 Penske Racing Dodge
While growing up in a family of racers in Asheville, N.C., his Friday nights were all about turning wrenches on race cars at the famed Asheville-Weaverville Speedway. In 2005, the avid former baseball star graduated King College in Bristol, Tenn. with a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology. Having suffered injuries on the field, Hensley had his sights on pre-med and aspirations of becoming a hand surgeon. His passion to race was too strong to ignore. The present-day front-end mechanic and race-day gas man is much happier pursuing his duties with the #77 Sprint Cup team. ‘The crew chief may make a change to the front of the car and Im responsible for making sure that change gets made in a timely manner,’Â Hensley says. ‘My job is to make sure nothing falls off the front end of the car.’Â
‘¢ ODIE HUGHES – #78 Furniture Row Racing Chevy
Hughes began his racing career with driver Larry Thomas, brother of NASCAR driver Herb Thomas, in 1962. He swept Thomas’ garage floors, performed odd jobs around the shop and began traveling to races to help pit the car for Thomas. Over a period of several decades, Hughes has worked with many NASCAR legends including Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip and Bill Elliott and was a member of Terry Labontes championship team in 1984. ‘Ive done a little bit of everything,’Â Hughes says. ‘Ive been a jack man, cleaned the windshield (before tear-offs) and worked as a catch can man which is what I do today. But working with Terry in 1984 and winning it all that year was probably the best time of my career.’Â
‘¢ PETE WRIGHT – #82 Red Bull Racing Toyota
Over the past three decades, Wright has contributed to numerous victories among a variety of NASCAR champions. The Thomasville, N.C.-native works as a consultant of sorts with the #82 Red Bull Racing team, offering a great deal of experience in virtually every area of race car construction and race strategy. Presently a builder of fuel cells for the team, Wright has spent years of his career working as crew chief with many prominent Sprint Cup teams. ‘Im a road mechanic with the 82 team, but Im kind of like the granddaddy for the younger guys,’Â said Wright. ‘If someone has a problem with something, they rely on me. Id say Im probably the most experienced road mechanic in NASCAR other than maybe Dale Inman (crew chief for seven-time champion Richard Petty). I still enjoy it. As long as Im able to do it, Ill be here.’Â
‘¢ ADAM WRIGHT – #83 Red Bull Racing Toyota
Thomasville, N.C.-native Adam Wright is following in the footsteps of his father Pete Wright, a former well-known crew chief who has worked with such drivers as Terry Labonte, Darrell Waltrip and Hut Stricklin, to name a few. Wright works alongside his father at Red Bull Racing on the #83 team as road mechanic contributing to the team in various capacities. Some of his responsibilities include making sure the team transporter is fully equipped for each of the 36 Sprint Cup races on the schedule. ‘My dad has done some cool things,’Â Wright says. ‘Now I have more of an understanding of what he knows and how much he can offer. To be with Red Bull is really great because they are a great company. I will always remember 2009 with Brian Vickers making the Chase and enjoying my first win.’Â
‘¢ DAVID BRYANT – #88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy
Go-kart racing and Grand Stock competition at South Boston Speedway led Bryant on a path to one of the premier teams in NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports. The Farmville, Va., native began his career with former Nationwide Series driver Hank Parker Jr. before moving to Melling Racing and driver Stacy Compton. At Hendrick Motorsports, he worked on the #48 team driven by Jimmie Johnson before becoming car chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr., making sure his Chevrolets are well prepared for each event on the 36-race schedule. ‘Racing is all Ive ever done,’Â Bryant says. ‘This is a family here in NASCAR and going down this road is cool. Doing something like this is awesome.’Â
‘¢ PAUL BALMER – #98 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford
A native of Elmira, N.Y., Balmer began his racing career right out of high school and raced Late Models and Street Stocks locally at such tracks as Owego Shangra-La Speedway and Black Rock Speedway. Balmer moved to North Carolina in 1995 to pursue a career in NASCAR. He serves in various roles as a team mechanic at the shop and works as a road mechanic when at the race track. ‘What I enjoy most is seeing the car run up front on race day and just working on it,’Â Balmer says. ‘Its not really a job. Its just something fun to do. I’Âm happy doing what I’Âm doing.’Â
‘¢ JEREMY DYER – #99 Roush-Fenway Racing Ford
Saturday nights for Dyer always meant going to watch his family race around local short tracks in his native state of California. Throughout his life, he watched his grandfather, father and uncle, Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday, work on and race the cars that sat in the family race shop. Over the years, Dyer followed the racing path and like his famous uncle, moved to the east coast to follow his passion as a NASCAR crewman. He steadily progressed through each of NASCARs premier divisions and now sets up race car chassis during the week and carries front tires for Carl Edwards #99 Roush-Fenway Racing Fords.
In addition to the grand marshal program, TUMS once again has designated all fans attending the TUMS Fast Relief 500 as the ‘Official Starter’Â for the event. Each fan will receive a commemorative flag. Following the lead of the NASCAR flagman, fans will participate in the official start of the race. Tickets to the TUMS Fast Relief 500 now are on sale. For more information, call 877.722.3849 or visit www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Tums)(10-20-2010)
