mikahb

I had to sell my beloved C5 T1 car a couple years back when I got laid off unexpectedly. Tough time for me and I have done very little racing since.

In June of this year, I was approached by a group of guys trying to put together what I think is an extremely cool racing program. Of course I was thrilled to get involved and I think we're finally far enough along that I can share with everybody.

Back in the early days of his career, Richard Petty did some drag racing and some road racing in addition to his circle track stuff. Today, his company Petty's Garage produces customized Dodge Challengers.

We are working with Dodge, Mopar Perofrmance, and Petty's Garage to put together a 2-car race team for 2011 to run in the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series with 2011 Challengers. We'll run the new 6.4L HEMI engines and be in the GS class.

Turning two-ton cruisers into corner carvers is no small feat, but we've got some excellent technical resources on board to make it happen and I have absolute confidence that we'll be able to compete and win.

Here is a picture of Richard's Personal Challenger (#1 of 43 Signature Series cars) last night as we finished up the wrap and loaded it for SEMA. It will be in the Mopar Performance booth and should get some good attention. We really hoped to have a race car to display, but the whole deal has a lot of moving parts and has taken some time longer than we hoped to come together. If all goes well, we should have a real (if incomplete) race car to show off at PRI. This picture is in Richard's old NASCAR race shop where he and his father Lee raced out of for so many years - it is the same shop we'll be using as our race shop which is just cooler than I can say.

Anyway, just thought I'd share since many of you racers might get a kick out of it. You can check out our website as things get rolling - we'll have a pretty steady flow of information, pictures, and videos up there documenting our project.

Loco Vette

Way !

stano

way cool for sure and good luck! It's funny how things turn out sometimes.

dvandentop

nice bet you are glad to be back into the racing scene

mikahb

Thanks guys. Yeah, I'm glad to be back in touch with race cars - it's the only place I want to be! Not sure yet if I'll get to handle any driving duties this year as my role on the team is Technical Director first - fill-in driver second. I expect we'll have enough technical challenges to keep me busy all year long.

But, the driving part will come when the time is right - just being able to think racecar full time will be a cool deal for me this year.

eogel

Congratualtions on the return to the racing scene. Very cool project!

Ed

johninar

Very happy for you. Sounds like a job that most of us only dream about.

Rob31

Very cool . Heavy car ...
Any info on RPM . They going to still have a NASCAR team next year ?

mikahb

Yeah, it's heavy as it comes, but we are comfortable we can make the 3300lb target without too much trouble. I've heard they may even let us run 3250lbs - that would be harder but still achievable.

I can't share the little bit of inside info I have about the RPM situation, but our effort is independent of that (separate business entities). I do think they will have a team next year though.

Git Er Dun

Very cool! Any more pictures you can share from Petty's garage? Looks like some cool cars in there.

rasrboy

Very cool Mikah! Great to hear your back in the scene and good luck with everything.

Aaron

Rob31

Met the King at Bristol in 96 , nice guy Tall and had really long fingers .
Sounds weird but thats what I remember ...
( another racing story from your old uncle Rob )

Anyway ...where gonna need some more pictures

Han Solo

What a dream job. Congrats!

SIK02SS

Congrats Mikah! I was actually wondering what you were up to the other day! Coincidentally, I've also heard about the Challengers hitting the track next year through the mill Glad to hear you're having a blast and good luck with it all!!

mikahb

Thanks guys, it is a really dream job although the pay leaves something to be desired. But, some things are worth sacrificing for and this is one of them.

Going to put a bunch more pictures up on the website today including more of Petty's Garage.

63Corvette

Great opportunity....GREAT job

check6x

I was looking for my SEMA contacts and found this thread.

Recently there was a thread asking are you a Corvette guy?

I answered not really I am a dirty American muscle car guy gimme a '68 Plum Crazy Charger with a 440.

I bought the Corvette for open road racing. I have an '06 Charger SRT8 and did not want to cage it.

There are situations where the Charger beats the Vette.

Bob Bondurant drove the Charger on his track. He said the car is a little tight in and loose off. I had all traction control off via a manual switch. He signed the dash. I would rather have King Richards sig.

Good luck. Anxious to hear more on the 6.4L.