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LYN ST. JAMES on Indy, Driving Again & Advice for Today’s Drivers

Stephen Cox Blog Presented by McGunegill Engine Performance

Indycar fans fell in love with Lyn St. James in 1992 when she won the Indy 500 Rookie of the Year award and kicked off a decade-long open wheel career that would eventually include nine starts at the Brickyard.

She worked her way up through the road racing ranks, starting with a 1970’s Ford Pinto as her first race car. It took four years of sponsor hunting before she was able to land an Indy ride with Dick Simon Racing, which specialized in bringing new drivers to Indianapolis.

Although she’ll be the first to tell you that Indycar’s current “ladder” system excludes most aspiring drivers today and would have been an impassable road block for her as well, she still devotes a great deal of time mentoring young racers.

St. James remains a fixture at Indianapolis. She returns to the race each year to sign autographs, make public appearances and renew acquaintances. I was fortunate to catch up with her over dinner at a south side Italian restaurant during the Indy 500 festivities and found her as amiable and insightful as ever.

What is Indycar doing right – and wrong – nowadays?
“Well, they’ve got momentum going because they’re doing a lot of right things. The racing is extraordinary. The on-track product is just really good. They have a group of drivers there now that have been there long enough that they are willing to go above and beyond what maybe some of the previous drivers were willing to do to help promote it. They understand that this is what they need to do to help the Indycar series grow and it certainly helps their own careers as well.”

“They’re trying to work on the schedule, and I think the schedule is getting better. They’re going back to Road America. They’re going back to Phoenix even though Phoenix hasn’t drawn a huge crowd yet.”

“But the more complicated we make it, the more difficult it is to keep the fans engaged with the body kits and so forth. If the fans don’t understand what’s happening, you’re going to lose them. I think stability in the schedule and stability in the rules are still yet to be achieved.”

You’re driving again and you won a pretty exciting race at Thunderhill not long ago, didn’t you?

“I got a ride in a 1977 Chevron B39 Formula Atlantic car. I fell in love with that car. I started racing it again and again and I thought I’d died and gone to heaven because back in the 70’s, when I was racing my Pinto and my Vega and a Corvette, I would watch the Formula Atlantic cars and go, ‘Oh my gosh, some day I wish I could drive a car like that.’ So I got to fulfill a lifelong dream.”

“One of the races they put on is at Thunderhill and I had a blast. I ended up winning that race. I ended up doing a pass on the outside going up into Turn One. The crew applauded. I found out later that the whole place went crazy. So I ended up winning, and I hadn’t won a race in a long time. It was just awesome.”

“It brought back all the racer in me. I love vintage races because the races are short. There aren’t many fans. It tends to be more like a family deal, you know… no media, no money, no trophies. It’s all for the fun and the passion, and I love that.”

I know you work a lot with young drivers, but what advice would you give to experienced, fully trained drivers who are racing in the middle ranks and looking to move higher?

“By the time you’re in your early twenties, if you’ve not figured out how to get paid and get a professional ride, you’re probably not going to get one. I think that sucks, but that’s the way it is. We don’t make up the rules in the world. My story and my model wouldn’t work in today’s world. It just wouldn’t work. But you’ve got to look at the world the way it is and not the way you want it to be or the way you think it should be.”

“For those who are middle class or upper middle class, who have full time jobs, but have a deep passion and aspirations to be a professional race car driver… race what you can afford to race. Race as often as you can. Develop the best resume that you possibly can.”

“You cannot always be at the same tracks. If you only race at three or four race tracks, you’re not showing enough diversity. Get out of your comfort zone. If you live in the east, go race out west. If you’re an east coast champion and you can go out west and beat a west coast champion, now you’re showing some talent.”

“Make sure you get a test day. Go out early. I used to go out a day early and beg just to take my rental car around the track. Nobody’s there yet and I would promise that I’d go very slow. I didn’t even need a hot lap.”

“Stay where you can win. Build a resume that’s as strong and impressive as you can possibly build. And then get out of your comfort zone and away from the tracks you know and go beat the champion somewhere else.”

Now living in Arizona, St. James employs her extraordinary public relations skills as an ambassador for the RPM Foundation. The organization promotes the preservation of America’s automotive heritage and trains craftsman to keep antique cars in original, running condition.

After dinner, I asked if I could order a copy of her book, “An Incredible Journey,” and mail it to her for a signature. She laughed and said, “It’s funny you should ask. I think I still have a box of them with me.” So we walked to the parking lot and got a copy out of the trunk of Lyn’s car, which she autographed on the spot.

Now that’s public relations

Stephen Cox
Sopwith Motorsports Television Productions
Driver, Electric GT Championship & C7R Motorsports #21
Co-host, Mecum Auctions on NBCSN

June 12, 2017
RPM Goes from Adversity to Diversity

Richard Petty Motorsports selects Darrell “Bubba” Wallace to drive the No. 43 car this Sunday at Pocono

When Aric Almirola suffered a T5 compression fracture during a crash at Kansas Speedway last month, Richard Petty Motorsports was faced with a decision to make.

With the expected return of Almirola to the NASCAR Monster Energy Series sometime later this season, RPM was in need of a temporary driver. They decided to go with Regan Smith who filled that void for three weeks but his availability is now limited going forward because of his participation in the NASCAR Truck Series.

On Monday, RPM made a historical selection for a more permanent replacement as they announced that Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. will fill in for Almirola and take the seat behind the wheel of the No. 43 Smithfield Ford Fusion for the Pocono 400 this Sunday at Pocono Raceway.

It will be his Monster Energy Series debut.

“Driving the famed 43 car is an unbelievable opportunity for any race car driver,” said Wallace. “With all that Richard Petty has contributed to the sport, I’m honored to start my first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event with this team.”

Darrell Wallace Jr. at Dover International Speedway on June 3, 2017 (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

Wallace has been competing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series for the last five years where he’s tallied five wins, 20 top five finishes and 30 top 10 results. Wallace, who also has five pole awards on his resume, has earned this opportunity.

“We ultimately decided that after making notable strides through the different racing levels in NASCAR, we wanted to be the team to give Bubba Wallace a shot at the highest level of racing,” said RPM Co-Owner Andrew Murstein. “He has proven himself on the track and will serve as an outstanding ambassador for RPM and our partners until Aric returns.”

The 23-year-old from Mobile, Alabama will become just the fourth African-American driver in NASCAR history joining the likes of Willy T. Ribbs, Bill Lester and Wendell Scott who won a race in 1963. Wallace is a product of NASCAR’s “Drive for Diversity” program and currently drives the No. 6 Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing in the XFINITY Series.

With RPM’s groundbreaking decision to elevate Wallace to a high profile role in the Monster Energy Series, the objective is that it inspires more African American drivers to follow in his footsteps.”

“That is our hope,” said Murstein. “(NASCAR CEO and Chairman) Brian France has always contended that our fan base needs to look like America.” “The best way to do that is to have a diversity of drivers to which all ethnicities can connect and support. We have seen it with Aric and we hope to experience it with Bubba as well.”

There is an irony in Wallace’s hometown because one of Murstein’s good friends is Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron who also hails from Mobile. Murstein is the founder and President of Medallion Financial and has Aaron on his Board of Directors. Murstein would love to see Wallace enjoy the same success that Aaron did.

“Just as Hank shattered records in MLB, I sincerely hope that Bubba one day also sets a record and becomes the first African-American driver to ever win a race in NASCAR’s modern day top series,” said Murstein. “I know this won’t happen overnight, but he certainly has the talent to one day become the first to do so.”

Diversity is nothing new to RPM as Almirola has been an inspiration to the Hispanic American community. And now, Wallace will serve as a more than capable fill-in while also making some history in the process.

“We see this as an outstanding opportunity to further showcase and support diversity in NASCAR,” said Murstein. “Having Bubba in the iconic No. 43 car is a historic event which we fully embrace and hope it leads to even more diversity in the sport moving forward.”

While the selection of Wallace was a team decision within RPM, a large voice in the process remains with “The King” himself as well as with the team’s sponsors including Smithfield Foods, Ford, STP, and Nathan’s Famous.

“I’m incredibly grateful that Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports and Smithfield have the confidence in me to help fill the seat until Aric fully recovers, which is the most important piece of this,” said Wallace. “Moving up to the Monster Energy Series is a tremendous challenge, but I am ready to represent this organization, help the 43 team get the best results possible and prove that I belong at this level.”

At the end of the day, the historic decision was a no-brainer, especially in the mind of the legend that the team is named after and the companies that support the No. 43 car.

“(Richard Petty) is a part of every major decision in the organization,” said Murstein. “He remains as passionate about NASCAR as ever and sees this as a natural evolution, just like in every other sport. Plus, he wants to win races and Bubba has shown he has the talent to do so! We absolutely respect and value our sponsors’ opinions and we have heard nothing but positive feedback.”

The fact that RPM is a huge part of NASCAR’s growing diversity program should not be a surprise. That’s because Murstein has been around diversity all of his life. His grandfather, who started Medallion’s predecessor company in 1937, was from Europe and drove a taxi when he came to the United States.

Murstein’s father took over the business in the 1960’s and wanted to sell some of the 500 taxi cab medallions but there wasn’t a bank that would provide financing to the mostly immigrant cab drivers who wanted to buy them.

“From there, we became one of the largest lenders in the United States to women and minority-owned companies,” said Murstein. “That’s one of the reasons I am so proud of RPM today. I believe we are the only team in many many years, if not in the history of the sport, to have both a Latino driver and an African American driver. This is a historic event, and not only a great day for RPM, and for NASCAR, but for one America.”

There are many happy faces throughout the RPM organization as a result of the selection of Wallace, but there are just as many, if not more, coming from the entire NASCAR family. Wallace is an up and coming driver in the sport and his big opportunity here at a young age is a huge moment in NASCAR history. There will certainly be plenty of interested and excited eyes that will be focused on Wallace and the No. 43 car this Sunday in Pennsylvania.

“From the very highest levels of NASCAR, there is a universal feeling that this is great for the sport,” said Murstein. “The NASCAR “Drive For Diversity” program was founded specifically to find great drivers like Bubba Wallace and make sure they have every opportunity to perform in NASCAR at the highest levels. I commend NASCAR for making this program an organizational priority so this day would come.”

Should Wallace impress the NASCAR world while he fills in for Almirola, it could lead to an even bigger opportunity for him down the road. There are a number of possibilities that lie ahead for him including a full-time role with RPM if they add a second car next season or an opportunity with another race team that might be looking to add a driver.

But for now, Wallace will do his best for RPM as the organization waits for Almirola to return.

“He’s doing much better,” said Murstein who is a big fan of Almirola. “He was in tremendous shape, to begin with. When Kyle Busch was injured, he came back and won his first championship. I firmly believe Aric will come back and be better than ever.”

Murstein is also excited about seeing Wallace on his team, at least for the time being. There is always the possibility that Almirola and Wallace could both be in the RPM plans down the road and that puts a smile on Murstein’s face. His family has been big proponents of diversity for many years and Andrew has continued that tradition in NASCAR.

In the face of adversity, Murstein and Richard Petty Motorsports have found a way to make a big stride in diversity.

June 5, 2017
A Day of Mixed Emotions for RPM Co-Owner

Andrew Murstein was having a pretty good sports day this past Saturday.

Up first, the co-owner of Richard Petty Motorsports was watching his 9th-grade son Matt playing with 12 graders in an AAU basketball game that was tied with five seconds left. The young man took the inbounds pass, faked left and went right.

Then came an impersonation of basketball Hall of Famer George “The Ice Man Gervin”

“He finger rolls a shot in at the buzzer and they win by two.”

The proud papa’s day was not done yet.

From there, Murstein went home to watch the New York Lizards, the Major League Lacrosse team that he also owns, take on Atlanta. In that game, Paul Rabil, considered to be the best lacrosse player on the planet, scores five goals in a 14-12 victory.

“The Lizards win and now I’m going for the trifecta,” said Murstein who would then switch over to watch the Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Speedway.

What he saw was a crash involving Joey Logano and Danica Patrick with Aric Almirola, driving RPM’s No. 43 car, coming up right behind it.

“I’m hoping he steers clear but no,” said Murstein.

Almirola is injured in the crash and has to be removed from the car only after the top of the vehicle is cut off. The veteran driver suffered a compression fracture to his T5 vertebra and was released from a hospital on Sunday.

So much for the perfect sports night that Murstein was having. The crash put everything into perspective.

“Just like that, sports can change not only your night but your driver’s life,” said Murstein. “When the window comes down I think everything is fine. But then he’s not getting out. Moments later he’s lying flat on a stretcher. Such is the life of a pro athlete. Except in this sport, life can be taken away in the blink of an eye.”

A few hours after the crash, Murstein gets a call from “The King” Richard Petty who told him that Almirola was going to be ok. What also happened during a period of time after the crash was that Murstein’s phone started to blow up with people calling to see how Almirola was doing.

Many of those calls are also available NASCAR drivers who were inquiring about the possibility of filling in for Almirola and driving the No. 43 car.

“At first I feel bad that they are asking,” said Murstein. “I mean he’s just gone through a major accident and drivers are seeing if that’s an opportunity for them.”

Murstein informed the inquisitive drivers that he’s not going to make any decision until he finds out how long Almirola is going to be out. He was hoping it would only be for a week, but the next day he finds out it’s going to be at least a month.

Photo Credit: regansmith.com

So RPM has announced that they are going to with Regan Smith this weekend in at the Monster Energy Open in Charlotte.

“Hate the circumstances surrounding it, but I’m looking forward to being in the @RPMotorsports #43 and very much appreciate the opportunity,” tweeted Smith on Wednesday. “@aric_almirola is a friend and a great competitor, we will work hard this weekend to do him, his sponsors and @RPMotorsports proud.”

In the midst of what was a super sports Saturday for Murstein until the crash, he never dreamed that he was going to have to think about anybody else driving the #43 car this week and for the foreseeable future. But with the reality being that Almirola was going to need time to heal, a decision had to be made.

“Finding a replacement is not easy,” said Murstein. “There are many things to juggle. Who does the sponsor want? Who does the manufacturer want? Who has the necessary experience on just a few days’ notice to get behind the wheel of a machine going 200 mph? There were many qualified people that we spoke to, but at the end of the day Regan Smith is our man.”

Being a substitute driver is nothing new for the 33-year-old Smith. In 2012, he was the fill-in for Dale Earnhardt Jr. who missed two races with a concussion. Earnhardt spent some time with Almirola Wednesday at an event for the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation.

“Seeing @aric_almirola tonight was awesome,” tweeted Earnhardt on Wednesday. “He’s a lucky dude. @ReganSmith will do a fantastic job subbing for him till he’s well.”

In 2014, Smith took the place of Tony Stewart for one race the day after Stewart struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr. during a dirt track race. Then in 2015, he filled in for Kyle Larson and Kurt Busch.

Nobody wants Smith to succeed more than Andrew Murstein. But while the RPM co-owner is doing everything he can to bring the race team back to prosperity, his primary thoughts are with Almirola who very easily could have been injured worse in what was a very scary wreck.

“Immediately your heart goes out to him and his family,” said Murstein when thinking back to the events of last Saturday.

But the NASCAR schedule continues and Richard Petty Motorsports is moving forward with Regan Smith as it’s driver while Aric Almirola is on the mend. Sports can serve an escape for many people but think about what Andrew Murstein went through last Saturday.

He experienced the joy of watching his son be the hero on the basketball court and his lacrosse team coming up with a big win. But he also held his breath watching the driver of his NASCAR team get injured in a crash. Life is so precious and when you compare it to sports, it certainly makes you think about think about what’s really important.

May 19, 2017
NASCAR Continues to Drive Business to Sponsors

When you think about the lifeblood of a sports team or league, certainly fans, sponsors, and broadcast partners come to mind. With that in mind, it’s hard to find a more perfect example of how all three of those sources mesh together than NASCAR where everyone benefits from each other’s success. A big component of that success is the increase in business that NASCAR drives to its many sponsors.

Despite the reported slip in television ratings and attendance along with Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s recent announcement that he is retiring at the end of this season, there is evidence to show that current sponsors are getting a return on their investment and more and more big companies are joining the NASCAR family.

“NASCAR works for business,” said Sean Downes, Chief Revenue Officer for Richard Petty Motorsports. “Despite any headwinds, the fan base remains huge and their commitment and loyalty to sponsors that support their sport exceeds all other sports properties.”

Speaking of Richard Petty, “The King” is living proof of how a race team and a sponsor can enjoy a prosperous long-lasting relationship. Petty began a relationship with STP back in 1972 and they are still together today with the longest sponsorship in NASCAR history. Over the course of more than four decades, the STP brand has become synonymous with Petty because he has impacted their business in both a positive and influential manner.

And now, 45 years after starting a landmark relationship with STP, Petty is having a significant impact on another sponsor. Since 2012, Smithfield Foods has been a sponsor of RPM aligning themselves with a global icon like Petty to grow their bottom line.

“The NASCAR fan consumes 15 to 40 percent more of the type of products we make than the average American depending on the product,” said Smithfield Foods Vice-President of Corporate Marketing Bob Weber during an April 2014 interview with Sports Business Daily. “We know the fan buys sausage. We know they buy bacon. We know they buy pork. How do we get them to buy us? We believe in the NASCAR pitch that consumers believe buying sponsors’ products keeps them in the sport and keeps the sport effervescent.”

When Smithfield renewed its agreement with RPM back in 2014, they did so after seeing a double-digit and sometimes triple-digit rise in sales because of its involvement with NASCAR.

“We have validated the ability of the team and the sport to connect our brand and products both to fans and customers,” said former Smithfield President and CEO Larry Pope during a 2014 interview with NASCAR.com. “It translates to sales at the finish line, which for us is the cash register. We’ve seen the data supports the fact that this is the right way to reach our customers.”

The numbers don’t lie.

NASCAR is quick to point out that they surpass all other major United States sports when it comes to fan loyalty. They are number one in avid fans who consider trying, consciously supporting, and recommend sponsors. With a massive audience of 80 million fans, NASCAR followers spend an average of almost 10 hours a week following the sport.

With that said, the partnership of RPM and Smithfield is akin to a marriage made in heaven.

“Having Smithfield Foods as a sponsor has been a great partnership for RPM,” said Petty, a 7-time NASCAR champion. “We have enjoyed having them be a big part of our program and growth and we take great pride that the partnership has had a tremendous impact on their sales. Our fans are very loyal to our team and they, in turn, have been very supportive of Smithfield.”

Several sources in the NASCAR industry have told me that they have bought Smithfield products because “The King” is involved in the relationship. It makes all the sense in the world because any sponsor on the famous “43” car would have a big leg up on the competition.

“There are people that like Kyle and Kurt Busch and there are people who hate them,” said a NASCAR industry source. “But who doesn’t love The King?”

The reality is that companies are getting their monies worth when they partner with NASCAR. According to NASCAR, more than one in four fortune 500 companies are sponsors of a team, track, media partner or NASCAR itself and there has been a 20 percent increase in new companies coming on board since 2008. Also, nearly half of fortune 100 companies are now sponsors with that number growing by 5 percent each year.

NASCAR is doing its part to retain and attract sponsors by evolving to meet the needs of the fan base. There is a focus on digital engagement or building programs that attract that all-important younger demographic.

“It also helps that there is a stable of young drivers with extraordinary talent to continue giving fans the on-track excitement they seek while serving as national ambassadors for the companies so heavily invested in the sport,” said Downes.

One driver, in particular, that could play a big role in the continued success and popularity of NASCAR is Aric Almirola who drives the No. 43 car for Richard Petty Motorsports. This season, he has three top 10 results including a fourth place finish at the Daytona 500 and another fourth place showing this past Sunday at Talladega.

His goal is to continue to produce big results, not only for the race team, ownership, and “The King” himself but also for the sponsors like Smithfield.

“I want to win,” said Almirola. “We’re in a performance-based business. It’s imperative that we are successful and competitive so that way we can keep our sponsors happy. Without sponsors, race teams don’t survive in this sport. We have great sponsors. (Smithfield has) been great to us, supporting us and helping us achieve the things that we want to achieve. But, we’ve got to continue to strive to do better.”

NASCAR and its teams are under immense pressure to keep their sponsors happy. What sets NASCAR apart from other sports is that there isn’t another sport that relies so much on corporate support. The competition in NASCAR isn’t just on the track in terms of winning races and championships. There is also the competition for the next big company that is ready to come on board as a sponsor.

“The sanctioning body, teams, tracks, and media partners are all competing for sponsorship dollars to generate revenue for their respective entities,” said Downes. “Therefore, the competition amongst the primary stakeholders is fierce. Sponsorship on the team level is most critical. Without sponsorship, the teams cannot fund their operation and quite frankly, the sport would not exist.”

So at the end of the day, the weight of the NASCAR world is on the sales staffs to generate the revenue that is needed to survive. It’s a monumental responsibility because the bottom line is for the team to perform well and win. That only happens on a consistent basis if a team can land those highly coveted sponsorship dollars.

That leads to the age old question…what came first…the chicken or the egg?

NASCAR, its teams, and the media partners are all clamoring for sponsors, but are those sponsors going to see a return on their investment? The statistics are saying “yes”, but all of the entities in NASCAR need to continue to produce to ensure that the sponsors continue to see the “checkered flag” of results.

The bottom line is that the sponsors need to continue making money as a result of their support of NASCAR.

“More than ever, marketers demand to know their path to ROI (return on investment) before any commitment is made to a race team,” said Downes. “This includes performance on and off the track. Therefore, securing sponsorship is only half the battle. It is incumbent on the team to truly understand a company’s objectives and to customize marketing platforms that will deliver results.”

In the sports world, there is no shortage of competition. There are the battles on the tracks, fields, rinks, and courts. The various sports are competing for the entertainment dollars of the loyal fan bases. And there is also the battle of these sports entities for the sponsorship dollars, a quest that couldn’t be any more prevalent than it is in NASCAR.

Winning races, selling tickets, and increasing television ratings is a team effort from all parties involved including NASCAR as an organization, the teams, and the media partners. Then, within a team, it’s the job from everyone in the organization from ownership to sales to the drive and to the crew to not only make the current sponsors happy but to help land new ones.

May 10, 2017
One-on-One with Bill McAnally

Known as the namesake for Bill McAnally Racing, Bill McAnally is no stranger to success. Aside from being the owner of a seven-time K&N Pro Series West-championship organization, McAnally also teamed up with two-time Pro Series West champion (both titles were won with McAnally) Brendan Gaughan and his father Michael Gaughan to win two Camping World Truck Series races and the Rookie of the Year honors in 2002.

Aside from also winning the 1990 NASCAR Whelen All-American Late Model championship at Roseville Speedway as a driver, McAnally has also fielded cars in the K&N Pro Series for several drivers such as Austin Cameron, Clint Bowyer, and Gaughan. McAnally also holds one of the longest sponsorship associations in motorsports, as his teams have been sponsored by NAPA Auto Parts for 27 years.

What is it regarding the K&N Pro Series that has helped your organization thrive?

BM: Well, we worked our way up through NASCAR’s weekly series, and actually captured a championship back when I was driving, and it was just the next step in the progression. Back then it was just known as the NASCAR Winston West Series, and I bought a Winston West car and the thing that I found about the NASCAR regional touring series is that it was easier to find support to get into some of the markets, especially on the west coast. I mean, we’d get into very popular markets like Spokane, Washington; Seattle, Washington; Denver, Colorado; that have no NASCAR racing at all, so when we come in we’re a real good sales tool for our partners in having a NASCAR race.

So I was able to find support; at the regional level it’s much more hands-on if you get your sponsors in and up-close. We were just at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in South Carolina, and it’s just a lot more that can fill ownership of it, so much better. The customers from NAPA Auto Parts, the shop owners, the store owners, the Toyota dealers and their employees and their key customers; they can just get in and fill ownership and get so much closer to it.

After several years in the K&N Pro Series that have seen your organization win multiple championships, what is it that keeps you in that division?

BM: It’s a very rewarding series to help develop the young drivers that are coming up. It’s a lot of fun for me because it’s a great series where you can work weekends, and you aren’t traveling as much as you do with the national touring series.

I got to build a Camping World Truck Series team back from 2000 to 2002 for Brendan Gaughan, and we ran trucks there for several years. We got Rookie of the Year in 2002 and won both races at Texas our rookie year. But there was just so much traveling and you were gone so long that you couldn’t have the family time and tend to my other business.

Brendan Gaughan celebrates a Winston West (now K&N Pro Series West) victory at Auto Club with his Bill McAnally Racing crew in 2001.
Courtesy: Bill McAnally Racing

So the K&N Pro Series, there are less races, especially here in the west and the traveling is fairly close so you don’t spend so much time on the road. It’s a fun series, helping these young drivers achieve their dreams and moving up the latter. We’ve had amazing drivers over the years, Brendan Gaughan, we’ve worked with Clint Bowyer, Sarah Fisher, Cole Custer, currently Todd Gilliland, just a lot of great, young drivers trying to achieve their dreams and it’s fun to be able to help them do that along with the crew members who have gone through our programs and get jobs at the national touring series level in NASCAR. To walk through the garage area and see all the guys living their dream that actually used our program as one of those steps is very rewarding.

As a K&N Pro Series owner, do you feel that the lack of a gimmick (Playoffs, stage-racing) in this division helps it maintain a separate identity from the other divisions?

BM: Yeah, I mean it definitely has it’s own identity. It’s gotten to the point now that drivers are stepping through it so quick. In years past, you’d have drivers that would run the series such as Andy Santerre, Doug Fadden, Matt Kobyluck, and out here in the west you had guys like Austin Cameron and Eric Holmes who were just staples in the series. Back in the day you had Ron Hornaday and Rick Carelli; they were here and that’s what they did.

Now, today where they’ve changed their rules and allowed 15-year-old drivers to get into the series, they’re here and gone before anybody could learn who Daniel Suarez was or Kyle Larson was, or the people who used the series recently as a stepping stone, they’re now out of the series before they could really get a fan following. So it’s definitely changed a lot.

How do you feel about the competition product that the K&N Pro Series puts out at each event?

BM: It’s amazing. Every year it’s a challenge to be competitive and to contend for the championship. About the time I think it’s going to be easy because somebody’s moved on or moved up there’s always somebody else that steps up and makes it a challenge that you’re battling to win races and championships.

With the current state of change in NASCAR, do you feel that the K&N Pro Series could use similar changes?

BM: Yeah, I mean, they’re continually changing things; we’re making changes, not at the level of the national touring series, but we are making changes such as spec engines and a new body. These changes help strengthen the series and make it better all the time.

Considering that the K&N Pro Series visits the smaller, older home tracks that were popular during NASCAR’s Golden Age in the 60s’ and 70s’, are there any tracks you feel the division could benefit from visiting?

BM: It’s funny you ask that because it is a double edged sword. It’s amazing that we get into markets like Spokane, Washington, Seattle, Washington, and Denver, Colorado because no other NASCAR touring series goes through those markets, even though they’re very strong markets. It’s great that we get into those markets as well as for the sponsors that we have (NAPA Auto Parts, Toyota, etc.), corporations that support our racing efforts, love that we get into those markets that have no other form of NASCAR touring racing.

But when you’re developing drivers you like to develop them on the national touring tracks. So like I said it’s a double-edged sword. Developing a driver, I would love to be taking them to [Auto Club] Speedway, get them out here on the west coast; Chicagoland, you know, take them to Kansas City, run the tracks they’re going to run as they move up the ladder and gain some more experience on the national touring tracks.

But then again, like I said it’s a double-edged sword. It’s just so great that we get into these markets and we have such a hands-on, up-close series that our sponsors can utilize and use us as a marketing tool in areas that have no other form of NASCAR racing.

What is it about Bill McAnally Racing that has kept it as the premiere organization in this series?

BM: It’s the people. We’ve got a great bunch of people and we’ve been very fortunate through the years to keep a great group of people and they care, and they do what it takes to be the best. They’re willing to work hard and put in what it takes to be competitive week in and week out, and that’s what it takes. It takes great people and we’re fortunate to have them.

There’s also the great sponsors that give us what we need to go promote them and be able to race, to live the dream. If we didn’t have the great people and we didn’t have the sponsorship support, it wouldn’t be happening.

Todd Gilliland wins his third K&N Pro Series West race of 2017 at Irwindale Speedway.
Photo Courtesy: Bill McAnally Racing

With the success you’ve had this season and last with Todd Gilliland, is there any other driver that you’ve worked with that you can compare him to, or is he in a league all his own?

BM: We’ve been fortunate to have a lot of great drivers, and Todd is just, for his age, I’ve never had a driver with the experience, the knowledge, the know of what he wants out of a race car. Not just to qualify, but what he needs in the race car 100 laps into the race to have the car good. Todd’s just got an amazing knowledge of that at his young age.

At his age, I had Cameron Hayley for awhile at the age of 15, but Todd is one of the youngest drivers that I’ve ever had, and his knowledge compares to drivers who have been driving race cars at this level for many years. He’s very special, unique, and he’s got a very bright future in front of him.

Speaking of, how would you describe the chemistry between the three of your drivers (Gilliland, Chris Eggleston, Derek Kraus)?

BM: We’re one corporation, one company, and we all work together. The drivers, the crew chiefs, every team member, we work together to be the very best that we can be. That goes for the drivers too. Anything they can do help each other, they’re more than willing to work together.

You’ve brought in a lot of young, great talent, some of which have gone on to accomplish a lot in the sport. How do you feel about BMR’s position as a stepping stone for some of those up-and-coming drivers?

BM: Personally, I feel we’re one of the best in the business, and it’s because of the people we have. Not only do we help you develop on the racetrack and learn the skills that veteran drivers, (three-time K&N Pro Series champion) Eric Holmes works for me as a spotter and a driver coach. We surround our drivers with people who can help them develop as quick as possible not just on the racetrack but with their marketing, speaking in front of sponsors, and even doing autograph sessions. We have show car and driver appearances, interviewed on radio and television, we work really hard to put our drivers in position so they can also develop their public relations skills and working with the media while working on their driving skills.

We just try to give them a well-rounded development program as a whole, and I don’t think there is a better place to develop a driver in the NASCAR ranks, in the K&N Pro Series level, than at BMR.

Thank you to BIll McAnally and Kevin Green of Bill McAnally Racing.

May 5, 2017
A Plan Fit For A King

Owner Andrew Murstein has big plans to restore Richard Petty Motorsports as a NASCAR power.

When Andrew Murstein entered into negotiations to purchase Richard Petty Motorsports from George Gillett in 2010, he didn’t have to look further than the name of the team to come up with a partner. While the President of Medallion Financial Group was eager to become a sports owner after raising $220 million to establish a sports fund in 2008, he didn’t know much about NASCAR.

With that in mind, he invited Richard Petty to New York to chat about it over lunch.

“At first it was honestly hard to focus as the whole restaurant was staring at him,” recalled Murstein. “Most people recognized him immediately and kept interrupting for his autograph. Even the ones that didn’t kept staring and whispering.”

At the end of the day, there was enough time for lunch and serious discussions to carve out an agreement for Murstein, Petty, and DGB Investments to purchase RPM for less than $50 million by assuming the team’s debt. It was in 2008 when Petty Enterprises was sold to a private equity firm called Boston Ventures, a company that eventually merged with Gillett Evernham Motorsports.

Petty’s investment earned him a one-third stake in the team and a strong partnership was formed.

“Right from the start I knew he would be a great partner so we shook hands on a deal,” said Murstein who is also the owner of the New York Lizards of Major League Lacrosse. “I could have closed it without him but it was a no-brainer to have him as a partner. His name is on the door and it’s his legacy that I’m trying to preserve. I couldn’t have done it without him.”

And now the objective is to restore RPM to where it belongs as one of the elite teams in NASCAR. This season, the team is comprised of just one automobile as Aric Almirola drives the famous #43 car. There are plans to grow the team down the road and to get RPM back to the sport’s penthouse, but right now the objective is to build the team up slowly even if there might be some hiccups along the way.

Murstein grew up on Long Island as a huge sports fan but NASCAR wasn’t something he generally followed. But now that he owns a racing team, he’s glad he has one of the sport’s biggest names to help in this journey towards success.

“Richard is a national treasure,” said Murstein. “He represents the best in class in several major categories that are important to me. He is the best race car driver ever, the best representative any sport can have, and the best in humility. I’ve watched him not only sit for hours with fans to sign autographs but also talk to them and discuss personal issues. (Petty) is as humble and down to earth as you can get.”

Petty’s experience and expertise is certainly something that Murstein has been able to lean on and tap into, but winning races is not an easy thing to do. Sometimes success can take a while to achieve, but eventually the cream has a way of rising to the top.

Murstein is determined to make that happen with RPM, just like when his late friend George Steinbrenner bought the down on their luck Yankees from CBS in 1973 for just $8.7 million. “The Boss” and his family would go on to preside over seven World Series titles between 1977 and 2009.

“It’s pride on my part and the fact is that he and the sport of NASCAR deserve it,” said Murstein. “To me Major League Baseball is more interesting when the Yankees are in the mix. (George) turned them around and brought them back to their glory days. That’s the goal I have for RPM. We will do the same for RPM.”

Murstein has experienced what it’s like for RPM to win a NASCAR race but he had a taste of what it’s like to win a championship when his Lizards, now a perennial contender, won the Major League Lacrosse Championship in 2015.

That night in Georgia, Murstein held that trophy up high after the Lizards won their 1^sttitle since 2003. The hope is that one day he’ll achieve the same success with RPM and restore the team to its winning ways. It will certainly be a team effort when that happens because Murstein has always been successful in all of his businesses when he’s surrounded himself with successful people.

From a sports perspective, Murstein has worked with baseball great Hank Aaron, football legend Jim Brown, and “The King” who has become an important part of his inner circle, particularly when those competitive juices are running high.

“I get frustrated when we don’t perform well,” said Murstein. “(Petty) has a calming personality and is very wise. He knows good things take time and I believe we will have a lot of good things to show for it over the next several years.”

Through seven races this season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, RPM is ranked 18^th with one top ten result, a 4^th place finish in the Daytona 500. Almirola also drove the #43 car to a 14^th place finish at Las Vegas but the objective is to continue to make improvements and build RPM back into a powerhouse.

The team might be lacking in the win department right now, but there is no lack of optimism that better days are ahead.

“I’m very of confident in that,” said Murstein. “We have been taking two steps forward and one step back though to be honest. With the support of Smithfield and all of our great sponsors I know we will get there.”

Just like George Steinbrenner did with the Yankees and what Jerry Jones did with the Cowboys, Andrew Murstein has big plans to transform Richard Petty Motorsports into a NASCAR powerhouse. Sports leagues and entities need those teams you love and those teams you love to hate.

Murstein has that objective and he has “The King” along for the ride.

“Everyone in the sport wants to see “The King” succeed and stand in victory lane once again,” said Murstein. Every long journey has a first step. My first step was shaking hands with (Petty) at that New York restaurant. The journey to bring RPM back to the top is underway and I will make sure it happens.”

When you think about that meal seven years ago in New York City, how can you not label anything but a “King” sized lunch?

April 18, 2017
One on One with XFINITY Series Driver Ryan Reed

With a win to start off the 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series, Roush-Fenway Racing driver Ryan Reed is currently fourth in points and in position to make a run for his first series championship in his fourth full season. Reed, 23, has two XFINITY wins to his credit, both at Daytona, but has had strong showings at several other tracks, scoring top-10s last season at Iowa, Watkins Glen, and Kentucky.

The Bakersfield, California native took the time to talk with SpeedwayMedia.com about his 2017 season and life as an XFINITY Series driver.

You’ve had a fairly consistent start to your 2017 season, with a win and two top-10s already. How do you feel your results compare to your team’s effort this year?

Ryan Reed: Obviously, the win was phenomenal. Starting the year getting us locked into the playoffs with a win was so important and takes a lot of pressure off us throughout the year; we are in a really good position. We want to knock down more top-10s, we feel we’re in a much better place than 2016 not just because of Daytona, but with overall speed. If you look at our average finish we are leaps and bounds ahead of a year ago.

You have two wins at Daytona, undoubtedly one of racing’s most hallowed grounds. It’s easy to say one win at Daytona is luck or happenstance. But to have two wins at Daytona does show a bit of mastery. How do you feel about having two major wins at Daytona?

RR: I certainly think, especially the second win, was a lot harder. The first one, I ran a good consistent race and was in the right place at the right time on the last lap. The second one, we had to fight for and overcome two wrecks and at the end of the race I took the lead with five or six to go and had to hold off Kasey Kahne, Brad Keselowski, Austin Dillon, a bunch of good Cup guys. I don’t think I was in the place two years to hold those guys off, but I’ve learned a lot over the last two years. Running a Cup race at Talladega helped a lot. I’m proud of the win.

Aside from restrictor-plate racing, where do you feel you perform your strongest? Which tracks do you feel you need the most work done?

RR: I think we are really strong on road courses. I think our mile-and-a-half package is getting better and the two-mile tracks are really good for us too. Michigan and Fontana have always been two of our best race tracks even if the stats don’t show it, those are the tracks we’ve had the most speed. We’ve got to figure out how to close out the races better. Tracks I need to get better at are probably Bristol and Dover. Both of those really high-banked concrete racetracks. I don’t know if that says something. The concrete surface has not suited my driving style as well. Those are sort of my calendar as places to get better at. I’ve definitely gotten better throughout the years, I finished ninth at Dover last year and I think we’ve improved, but those are tracks where I can improve as a driver.

It’s evident that you’ve improved over your XFINITY career. To what do you credit that to?

RR: I don’t know if it’s just one area, it’s getting better in a lot of areas, but I think to get better in those areas I had to definitely commit myself to learning. I had to humble myself and open myself up to advice from a lot of people and be okay with struggling in areas and asking for advice. I think as a race car driver it can be a little defeating sometimes to admit you need help, but I’ve learned how to do that and it’s made me a much better driver. I also think battling through adversity, the days that are tough and frustrating, being able to salvage those and not let those days turns into 20th-place finishes, instead you get a 13th-place finish. It’s still not a great day, but it could have been a lot worse. As a driver, I’ve learned to battle and get a little more out of the every week and especially on the weeks we aren’t doing so hot.

Last year you made your Cup debut at Talladega in the No. 99 Ford. Where would you like to make your next Cup start? With the success that the No. 99 has seen over the years as a Roush team, did you feel like you had any expectations to live up to at Talladega?

RR: I absolutely want to get to the Cup level and I want to be racing on Sunday every week. That’s been my goal since I was a little kid and that continues to be my goal today. Talladega was a tough race for a lot of reasons. Talladega is a tough race track and it was my first start so there were a lot of nerves, it was the middle of the Chase and an elimination race. So there were a lot of challenges, but for me, it was about going in there and running all the laps so I could learn and also to not cause a problem for any of the Chase guys and taking someone out of contention for a Championship. Those guys worked all season long and I was just coming in for one race. I just tried to stay out of trouble and learn.

How would you describe your relationship with your teammate Bubba Wallace? Where does he help you the most? Where do you help him the most?

RR: Bubba and I make good teammates. We each have strengths and weaknesses and we communicate well. We are both very dedicated to getting better, whether that means the race team or ourselves as race car drivers. We try and give as much feedback as possible to the race team and each other. I don’t know that there’s necessarily one place where I’m better or he’s better, one week he might be a little better than I am and the next I might be a little better than him. So we try to communicate what it is that we think we are doing better than the other so the other person can get better.

2017’s NASCAR season is still fairly new. What are your expectations for the rest of the season?

RR: I think for me I’ve got my sights set on a Championship and my team does as well. We’ll just do whatever we can to learn throughout the summer. We are going to enjoy being locked into the playoffs, which takes a lot of pressure off. Try and knock out a few more wins and get more bonus points.

With the recent news that NASCAR plans to implement restrictor plates at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for this year’s XFINITY event, how do you feel that affects you as a competitor?

RR: I’m not sure, I think testing there might help me a little bit, have a little bit of experience, but it’s going to be a very tough race. Having practice knowing that we’ll be wide open, but then also, too, you’ll also have some aero sensitive situation since the track is so flat and we are going to be running in a pack. It’s going to be interesting, I don’t know what to expect. I don’t know what it will be like when we get 40 cars out there.

There’s a large debate among NASCAR fans and personalities that there is not enough parity in the XFINITY Series; in 2015 Cup drivers won 23 of 33 races, while in 2016 they won 20 races. Do you think that NASCAR should do even more to make the XFINITY Series a division where “names are made,” like the PR campaign states?

RR: As a driver, you’re never going to tell me the reason I didn’t win was because there’s another driver too good out there or has too much experience. I want to win no matter who’s out there. No matter if it’s my teammate Bubba Wallace, or Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, or anyone else. Definitely beating those guys makes it way more special for sure. When you win on a day you have a lot of Cup guys out there, you know you did something special. At the same time, I can see from a fans perspective that you are watching Cup guys win on Saturday and Sunday a lot.

Does the XFINITY Series need more stand-alone events? If so, what type of tracks should be on the circuit?

RR: I think the stand-alone races are great. Iowa is always a lot of fun; it’s a really cool race track. Selfishly, I love short track racing so I would love to see them go to more short tracks. I think Indianapolis Motor Speedway is unbelievable to go to and race at, but the short track just outside of there is a really cool race track and I’d love to go there. We have great partners that need to be represented at these amazing facilities, and I think Indy is one of them, so I’m proud we get to go there and race at a track like that.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series has the annual All-Star event at Charlotte. The Camping World Truck Series has the Mudsummer Classic at Eldora. What should the XFINITY Series add to its schedule that would equal those two events?

RR: Those are two of the coolest races around. The All-Star race is a staple for any major sporting league to have an all-star type event, so that race is very special. The trucks have really nailed it with going to Eldora. The fans love it and drivers love it. In the XFINITY Series, we do some more road course racing than either of those series and that’s really cool to go to some road courses like Road America and Mid-Ohio that are unbelievable places. With the way the Final Four is now, Homestead is becoming a very special race and this year we will not have any Cup guys so it’s going to be a much different race than you’ve ever seen. It’s going to be a unique race and maybe Homestead can be that race for us.

Special thanks to Ryan Reed and Nancy Padula

March 31, 2017
How a kid from Long Island ended up owning a NASCAR team

Growing up on Long Island, Andrew Murstein was a huge sports fan. He was even a big WWE fan cheering on the likes of Andre the Giant and Bruno Sammartino. In fact, one of the three objectives that he had when entering the real world, along with owning a bank and entering politics, was to own a sports team.

There were two reasons why Murstein wanted to get into the sports world.

“Both a passion for winning, as well as making a lot of money,” said Murstein. “The best of both worlds. I love sports because there is a definitive answer. I love winning and hate losing.”

Murstein has yet to reach his political goals, but he is the founder, President and largest shareholder of the Medallion Financial Corporation, a company he launched in 1996. In 2008, Murstein raised $220 million for a sports fund and began the process of trying to buy a team. He looked into buying the Chicago Cubs, Montreal Canadiens, and even the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League.

But what about NASCAR? Did he ever see himself owning a race team?

“To tell you the truth, not really,” said Murstein. “I knew very little about it. I never went to a race or even watched it.”

Well, sometimes things don’t go according to plan.

In 2010, he was negotiating with George Gillette to buy the Montreal Canadiens when the subject of NASCAR came up.

“He owned Richard Petty Motorsports and we started talking about that,” said Murstein.

And those discussions led to Murstein teaming with DGB Investments and Richard Petty himself to buy RPM from Gillette for less than $50 million. So how does a nice Jewish boy from Long Island not only end up with a NASCAR team but one with the premier team name in the sport?

“Luck,” said Murstein. “I was at the right place at the right time.”

Murstein proceeded to learn as much as he could about the sport. What he lacked in knowledge about racing cars, he made up for with applying his business acumen to doing what he could to help Richard Petty Motorsports get back to the top of the NASCAR world.

“Andy has been great for our race team,” said Aric Almirola who drives the No. 43 car for RPM. “Andy is a really smart guy and he’s been a great financial resource for the race team. He thinks outside the box on a lot of different things. He asks questions to stimulate conversation and ideas.”

But as much as Almirola appreciates what Murstein brings to the table, he too often wonders how that kid from suburban New York that went on a quest to own a professional sports franchise wound up writing a check, not for a baseball team, football team, hockey team or basketball team, but for a NASCAR team.

There was a time when not many, if any, New Yorkers even followed NASCAR, but Murstein jumped in head first and that passion brings a smile to Almirola’s face.

“I sometimes kid with him and ask him what the hell he’s doing,” said Almirola who finished fourth at the Daytona 500 earlier this season. “That’s what I love about Andy is that he’s not conventional. He makes people think. I do sometimes joke with him and ask him how a guy from Long Island ends up owning a race team with Richard Petty?”

It’s a good question but Murstein, who also owns the New York Lizards of Major League Lacrosse, is certainly enjoying life as a NASCAR team owner. He has many photos of his first victory as owner of RPM when Marcos Ambrose took the checkered flag at Watkins Glen in 2012. Murstein also experienced the thrill of victory with the Lizards who won the 2015 MLL title and it’s a feeling he’d like to get used to.

“It’s wonderful,” said Murstein. “As stated earlier, I love winning and hate, hate, hate to lose at anything.”

Andrew Murstein has been a tremendous success in the business world and he has enjoyed that winning feeling with Richard Petty Motorsports as well as in lacrosse with the Lizards. His goal is to bring RPM back to prominence in NASCAR and when you consider his passion and will to win, there’s no reason to doubt that he’ll pull it off.

Not bad for a kid from Long Island who once knew nothing about NASCAR!

March 29, 2017
One on One with NASCAR K&N Pro Series Driver Jesse Iwuji

Texas native Jesse Iwuji is a rarity in the NASCAR garage. That isn’t because he’s one of a growing number of minorities in the garage. Rather, it’s because the full-time K&N Pro Series West driver is also an active-duty member of the United States military. A U.S. Naval Officer, Iwuji finished 10th in the 2016 K&N Pro Series West standings, with a season-best finish of 10th at Orange Show Speedway in May.

Iwuji, driving the No. 36 Chevy for Patriot Motorsports Group, talked with SpeedwayMedia.com about racing, deployment, and making a difference in the lives of the fans.

Speedway Media: What was it that drew you to NASCAR?

Jesse Iwuji: I think what really drew me to NASCAR was that one, it’s a really big motorsport in America and it’s America’s number one watched motorsport. I felt that NASCAR was going to be the big stage and the place where I felt that I was going to make a big impact because I’m different when it comes to the sport. There’s not a lot of African-Americans in the sport or a lot of active duty members of America’s armed forces.

SM: How did you first get involved in racing?

JI: “Right after I graduated from the Naval Academy in 2010, I began drag racing at local dragstrips in a Dodge Challenger that I had, and it was a great car. I was souping it up, adding a lot of power to it, and just going to different, small, local competitions.

“Then around 2013, I bought a Corvette and began taking it to local road course tracks nearby to run time trial events and after about a year of doing that, I’m getting pretty good at it and I thought, ‘You know what? I think there’s something I could do to push my performance. I want to pursue a professional racing career.’ That’s when I decided to pursue my goals and NASCAR was the first door that opened up for me.”

SM: How do you balance being active duty military with your NASCAR career?

JI: “There is a balance you have to find when it comes to stuff like time and time management and everything. because, you know, I am still full-time in the Navy, I’m still active duty, and I got to work Monday through Friday and the main thing is to just make sure I balance my time right so that I’m not missing too much work and ultimately be able to meet my racing obligations too.”

SM: As a U.S. Naval Officer, how often have you been deployed, and where to?

JI: “I’ve been in the Navy for six-an-a-half years now, and I’ve been deployed twice. My first deployment was in 2012, for about 10 months from February through December, and I was on a minesweeper ship in the Arabian Gulf in Bahrain most of the time, where we would do exercises and operations with other naval forces as well as the U.S. Navy, training and doing different things.

“In 2014, I went on my second deployment on a different ship, the USS Comstock, which was an LSD (Dock Landing Ship) amphibious ship. I was on the ship from July to December of that year, about five months. We had left from San Diego, then we had gone to Hong Kong, then all the way around to the Middle East. Once we got there, we spent about five months there before we came back.”

SM: What are your goals as a NASCAR driver?

JI: “Ultimately I’d like to make it to the top level of NASCAR, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. I also want to use this as a platform to help a lot of people. It doesn’t necessarily have to be people in the motorsports world; it could also be people outside of it. I just want to use it to bring positivity, to help people achieve their dreams, to show people it is possible to achieve dreams that may seem impossible, that may seem unrealistic or something like that. I just want to show people that, hey, if you’re going to put your all into it, put your life into it, really believe in yourself, and continue pushing and grinding every single day, then those dreams can come true.”

SM: You’re highly active on social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Is there a favorite platform?

JI: “Instagram and Facebook are my favorite right now, but I find myself interacting more on Instagram than Facebook. Instagram’s algorithm allows for posts to reach more people than Facebook’s, which allows me to promote the things I’m involved with better. The visual aspect of Instagram also is very intriguing too.”

SM: How do you feel social media helps your brand?

JI: “Social media is a powerful tool you can use to build your brand and other brands looking to get involved with you. The amount of people engaged on there is second to none. If used correctly, social media can be a key tool in attracting sponsors to help further your career.”

SM: You had a post on Instagram recently that stuck out to me because of the way you handled a follower’s negative, racial comments. Could you reiterate your stance when it comes to negative NASCAR “fans” like that?

JI: “NASCAR does not need racist fans and many NASCAR fans feel that racism does not belong in NASCAR. Our sport promotes positivity and growth and with it now being 2017, we, as a sport and country, should be past the times of the 50s and 60s. NASCAR is currently doing a lot to expand its diversity initiatives and I’m in full support of that.”

SM: You’ve been showing some material with Kappa on your Instagram lately. Will they be a 2017 sponsor?

JI: “Kappa Riding has brought me on board to be a Kappa Riding Ambassador in 2017 and I’m looking forward to supporting and promoting that brand throughout the year. Throughout the year you’ll see posts on my social media of me sporting their gear and pushing their marketing efforts to reach new crowds. It should be exciting and their gear is phenomenal!”

SM: You do a lot of charity work as well as interact with a lot of young fans. What drives that in you?

JI: “I love inspiring those with dreams and aspirations of becoming more than what they currently are. Young minds think big and see themselves doing great things. It’s our jobs as adults to feed that hunger to become great. With the position I’m in as a driver in such a popular industry, I love utilizing my status in there to help mentor, motivate, and inspire the youth to go after the dreams and goals they have that people may have told them they couldn’t reach before.”

SM: How do you stay active away from the track?

JI: “I spend two-plus hours a night on my iRacing simulator at home and I work out daily. When I work out I lift weights and do sprints to keep my physical condition where it needs to be to compete in such a physically demanding sport. On my iRacing simulator I use it to train my racecraft so that when I’m on the track in real life, situations that occur will not surprise me.”

SM: What type of track do you feel strongest at?

JI: “The ¼ mile ovals have been my best performances in 2016. In 2017 I’m looking forward to getting better at all of the other tracks. I need to be a versatile driver that is strong at all types of tracks.”

SM: Recently on your Instagram, your No. 36 Chevy was adorned with NASA livery for a visit to NASA. What was that about?

JI: “In October 2016 I was invited by NASA Ames Research Centers to speak to employees in a brief about the correlation between NASCAR and NASA. My race team supported my efforts by bringing the racecar to the event so the workers at NASA could view it after the brief. Since we were there, I decided it would be smart to put NASA on the car as a decal. Everyone loved it and the car was a hit!

SM: Which other drivers have been the most helpful to you?

JI: “Ryan Partridge has been a great teacher when I’ve come to him asking questions about tracks and how to run the race line there. He’s one of the rare few who can be a great driver and a great teacher at the same time. I’m definitely thankful for his help.”

SM: You talked about being aboard the USS Comstock, and last year Bubba Wallace carried the USS Comstock name on his No. 6 Ford for a XFINITY Series race. How did you react to that?

JI: “It was an honor to see the only African-American driver in the top-three national touring series of NASCAR carrying my last ship on his car for the NASCAR Salutes effort in the 2016 July Daytona race.”

SM: Recently you were on Oscar Mike, discussing racing. What’s Oscar Mike, and how did you get on the show?

JI: “Oscar Mike is code words for “On the Move.” It is a Verizon Go90 show about Army Vet Ryan Curtis going around from city to city finding military active and veteran service members doing cool things outside of their military careers. In each show, he will learn the occupation of the person he visits and then challenge them in a contest at the end of the show against what the military member does best. In my show, I taught him how to drive a racecar then we competed in a time trial competition at the end of the show.”

SM: You’ve been doing some Outlaw Karting. How’s that been going? There was one race that went south, what happened?

JI: “Outlaw Karts on dirt have trained me well and helped me learn how to drive a loose racecar. The race that went south really didn’t go too south except the one point when I flipped the kart but at least it still worked and I finished the race fifth.”

SM: Do you have any other family members who are up and coming drivers?

JI: “I’m the only person in my family racing. I might know one other Nigerian in the world who is a racing driver. I’m a pretty unique Nigerian when it comes to my passions!”

SM: In both military and racing, when will be your stopping point?

JI: “In the military, I plan on retiring in the Naval Reserves and in racing I plan on eventually competing at the highest level of NASCAR. That’s my goal, and that is what I will accomplish.”

Special thanks to Jesse Iwuji (Instagram: @jesse_iwuji).

January 9, 2017
Ryan Reed’s Passion to Win Equaled by his Passion for Diabetes Awareness

DARLINGTON, S.C. — After a top-15 finish at Darlington Raceway, Reed is only two races away from cementing his place in the inaugural XFINITY Series Chase for the Championship. He’s cautious but optimistic about his chances, saying, “We’re not in it for sure yet but mathematically, we have a cushion. I feel pretty confident on making the Chase.”

Reed began the Darlington race in the 15th position, crossing the finish line in 13th place in the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association Ford, after he went a lap down due to a caution that came out while he was on pit road.

Reed’s No. 16 Mustang featured a throwback paint scheme reminiscent of the red, white and blue Matador No. 16 that was driven by Bobby Allison in 1975. Allison, who captured five wins at Darlington during his career, also served as an honorary crew member for the team.

NASCAR artist Sam Bass, who was diagnosed with diabetes more than 20 years ago, helped design the paint scheme and was featured on the car as part of the “Drive to Stop Diabetes” program.

“It’s really cool, number one, to be able to drive the same car that Bobby drove. It’s a pretty amazing opportunity. But then also Sam Bass helped redesign it and he’s an artist in NASCAR and he also has type 1 diabetes like myself. So it’s pretty cool to be able to tie Sam into it and have that passion. Sam and I are pretty good friends so it’s been a really cool way to definitely honor the throwback weekend and also tie it into so many things that mean something to me.”

Ryan went on to credit Sam Bass with the original idea that was embraced by the team as well as their sponsors.

The choice to honor Bobby Allison was an easy one.

“I don’t know anyone in NASCAR that’s not a Bobby Allison fan,” Reed said. “He’s such a pioneer of the sport and helped shape it into what it is today. And for me, being able to come out here and make a living driving race cars, Bobby helped make that a reality for everyone that’s in the sport today. In that regard, I have a lot of respect for Bobby.”

Reed and Allison had the opportunity to talk about Darlington when the paint scheme was unveiled. They discussed how tricky the track was and how it could easily “bite you.” Allison obviously made a lasting impression.

“What a cool guy and amazing stories he has, a lot of history there,” Reed told me.

In his third full season in the XFINITY Series, Reed has proven his talent in a race car, with year-end rankings of ninth in 2014 and 10th in 2015. What may be more impressive is his determination to persevere under less than favorable conditions.

When Reed was 17 years old, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and told he could never race again. Devastated, but unwilling to give up his dream, he went looking for answers.

He found them with the help of Dr. Anne Peters who was based in Reed’s home state of California.

“Peters was the person who gave me hope that with hard work I could continue to chase my dream of being a professional race car driver. She put me on a strict diet and exercise regiment, which has allowed me to achieve the success I have had to date.”

In 2013, he was signed as a development driver for Roush Fenway Racing in the XFINITY Series and began a partnership with the Drive to Stop Diabetes program which is presented by Lilly Diabetes in collaboration with the American Diabetes Association. Reed’s commitment as an ambassador for diabetes awareness remains unwavering.

“Diabetes is tough,” Reed admits, “no one wants diabetes but once you have it, if you accept it and change your lifestyle, listen to your doctors and take it on head first, there are some things that can come from it that are good as far as lifestyle changes and realizing it doesn’t have to dictate your life. You can go out there and live a very fulfilling life and do the things you love to do despite having it.”

The XFINITY Series travels to Richmond International Raceway this weekend for the 25th race of the regular season. Reed is currently 10th in the driver standings.

September 7, 2016