Driven by a passion for automobiles, Ray Evernham started working on short track race cars at age 15 and never looked back. Since then, he has designed, built and driven some of the most advanced race cars known to man. His drive to succeed in motorsports created opportunities for him in both the auto racing and technology industries.
In 1983, Evernham worked with Roger Penske and Jay Signore to resurrect the International Race of Champions (IROC) series. The opportunity offered Ray the chance to work with the world’s best racers, including Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip and Bill Elliott. The experience taught Evernham, as team manager, the value of team success and priceless lessons in the business of racing.
In 1993, Ray was offered the opportunity to team with, up and coming driver, Jeff Gordon as his crew chief at Hendrick Motorsports. He would go on to revolutionize the crew chief role at NASCAR’s highest level of competition, as leader of the Rainbow Warriors.
During his tenure with Gordon, he earned three championships and 47 wins in 216 NASCAR Cup series starts, including two Daytona 500 victories and the inaugural Brickyard 400. His success earned him crew chief of the decade honors in 2000, and his innovative work with pit crews continues to set the performance standard today. His thumbprint also remains on engineering systems used throughout the industry.
In 2006, the media voted Ray Evernham the greatest crew chief of all time, an honor he believes to be his highest recognition to date.
Now through his TV show AmeriCarna, Ray gets to share his passion for automobiles and reveal the untold stories of cars that have so heavily influenced American culture as we know it today.
Transitioning into the realm of television with his show AmeriCarna, Evernham provides a captivating platform to share his profound passion for automobiles. Through AmeriCarna, he unveils the untold stories of cars that have left an indelible mark on American culture, offering viewers a unique perspective on the automotive tapestry that shapes our lives.
And as we delve into the world of automobiles, it’s impossible to ignore the importance of details like car seat covers. For those seeking the perfect blend of style and functionality, the keyword “silverado” introduces a noteworthy element. Whether it’s about protecting the interior or enhancing the aesthetic appeal of your Silverado, Evernham’s expertise extends beyond the race track, resonating with automotive enthusiasts who appreciate the finer details of their vehicles.
I was able to chat with Ray about NASCAR, his role in Cars 3, and fatherhood.
Art Eddy: We are in the NASCAR Hall of Fame here in Charlotte. We are at a Cars 3 event. Not only do you have history with NASCAR, but with Cars 3 as well.
Ray Evernham: Yes, it is pretty neat to see Cars 3 in here. I was actually a technical consultant on the movie and worked with them. They gave me a few lines. I am a character in the movie. I am Jackson Storm’s crew chief. So I am supporting Jackson tonight. It was just an amazing experience and a lot of fun.
AE: You have to think about the first Cars movie to now and the introduction of race cars to the younger generation who might not have found the passion for NASCAR, but then being a fan of Lightening McQueen and wanting to learn more about NASCAR. Do you feel that these movies help with the interest of NASCAR?
RE: Absolutely. I think that it helps with the interest of automobiles, auto racing in general and NASCAR. These movies tell a really good story. This movie is about racing, but it is about someone who came from a background where they were told that they could never compete or that they would never be good enough or that they weren’t built to be a champion. Yet they made it. I think that it is great that they portray the NASCAR theme and it shows that. I think it is more important that PIXAR continues to tell amazing stories to our children.
AE: You have been a huge influence in the world of NASCAR. You teamed up with Jeff Gordon as his crew chief. You have seen a lot of change from the time you started to now. How do you think the evolution of NASCAR has been and do you feel that it is going in the right direction?
RE: I think that the spirit of NASCAR is strong. I think that maybe the technology has gotten out a little bit far. I would like to see that reined in a bit. I would like to see the human touch put back in a little more. I believe that NASCAR is working really hard to make sure that we put on a good show. In the end it is a competitive race, but it has to be entertaining. Whether it has to be shortened or the new Chase segments. We have a lot of changes like that happening to make the points battle more exciting.
I think that we have the youngest, most talented, exciting group of drivers coming up with Chase Elliot, Ryan Blaney, Darrell Wallace, and Danny Suárez. All the people that have been in the Cars 3 movie. We have got some great young drivers that are coming up like Erik Jones. When I look at that I think the future looks pretty bright.
AE: What got you into the world of racing and NASCAR?
RE: I don’t know. I never wanted to do anything else. I can’t even imagine. I have always wanted to race as a kid playing with cars in the driveway on up to the time of going to the short track races with my uncle and my dad. I built my own car when I was seventeen and haven’t look back since.
AE: What popped into your mind when you found out that you were going to be a father for the first time?
RE: Oh boy. It was an amazing experience. It was something that we wanted. It happened a long time ago. The first time for me. It has been an incredible experience. There was 25 years in between of being a dad. Now I have both ends of the spectrum.
I have a son who is a very gifted young man. He is on the Autism spectrum. I have a daughter that is a little over two years old. Together it has been the most amazing experience in my life.
AE: What are some of the core values you look to instill into your kids as they grow up?
RE: I think it is a lot of the things you see in the movie. Even if someone tells you that you can’t do something and you want to do it, you have got to work hard at it and have that confidence. In the end we have done a lot of things and won a lot of trophies and whatnot. What I want them to know and understand is that without the people that we have touched along the way and the experiences and the friends that we have met those things would just be stuff. It is just trophies. It is really about the people, family, and friends.
I think if you watch Cars 3 film it really portrays that. Lightening is getting older. He is not the top guy anymore. He is not winning the big races. He is getting his butt kicked. He realizes it is not about that anymore. It is about doing things for other people. It is about enjoying those experiences. For my kids I want them to understand to live in the world, share the world with other people and do things to help.
AE: What is the one biggest piece of advice you have for new dads?
RE: Spend time with your kids. Spend time with them early. I didn’t do that with my son because I was on the road. Find that balance. If you have a career that needs your time you got to be able to find some balance. I know that to win championships, win races, or be top in business you got to put in extra effort, but you also have to find that balance. The younger years with your kids are extremely important.
Life of Dad Quick Five
AE: I am probably tossing you a softball on this one. Do you guys have a favorite family movie that you all love to watch together?
RE: (Both laugh.) Any of the Cars films.
AE: Do you guys have a favorite song that you all like to sing to or dance to as a family?
RE: J.D. McPherson. He has a song called Let the Good Times Roll that my daughter and I dance just dance away to.
AE: Describe the perfect family vacation.
RE: Well the perfect family vacation would be around the Daytona race. We can do Disney. We can do Daytona. We can do the beach. It is a good place to go.
AE: In your opinion where is the best venue for a fan catch a race if they have never been to a NASCAR race before?
RE: Oh wow. My favorite track is Darlington. It has the most history there. It is not a huge track. It is a mile and three eighths. The history and the handling and the way the guys have to run around the race track six inches from the wall. It is a good long race on Labor Day. So I am going to say if you can only go to one go to the Southern 500.
AE: I hate to put you on the spot, but do you have a favorite driver that you like to watch right now?
RE: Oh boy. You can’t pick one. It is tough for me since I am friends with a lot of them. I like to watch a lot of the young guys come up. Kyle Busch is one of the most talented drivers to watch, but watching Chase Elliot and Erik Jones and guys like that coming up too. So I can’t pick one.
Follow Ray on Twitter at @RayEvernham and pick up Cars 3 now download on Digital and get on Blu-ray and new on 4K UHD on Nov 7th.