By Bill Klingbeil
INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 25, 2013) – A common thread among the most successful racers is they typically spend their time looking ahead at how they are going to win their next race. Looking back is rarely, if ever, an option.
For nearly 30 years, Jimmy Carr, race director for Tony Stewart Racing (TSR), has always kept his eyes focused on finding ways to be successful in the challenging world of dirt-track racing. For at least one night, however, the native of Maple Grove, B.C., Canada, will have no choice but to check the rearview mirror and relive some of his greatest accomplishments. Saturday in Toronto, Carr will be part of an ultimate victory lane celebration when the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame holds its 19th Gala Induction Ceremony presented by Canadian Tire.
Carr, the 1991 World of Outlaws (WoO) STP Sprint Car Series Rookie of the Year and 2001 WoO Crew Chief of the Year, will join an impressive class of inductees into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame, which includes Bob Armstrong, John and Sharon Fletcher, Ron Fellows and Tom Walters. Italian-American Mario Andretti will also be inducted as the International Category honoree.
“I’m still not sure it’s really sunk it, yet,” Carr said. “I was just a kid who wanted to race. There was no way I ever dreamed that someday my name would be included alongside some of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport. I’m just thankful for all the opportunities I’ve had over the years. My parents helped get me started, and a lot of other people believed in me along the way. This is a huge honor and I feel like it’s not only me going in the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame, but all the guys like me who dreamed of racing. It’s big for all of the sprint car racers and guys who give up everything they have just to be able to go racing on the weekend. I’m certainly humbled by this honor.”
For the last 13 years, Carr has been a valuable asset to TSR, an organization that has won a combined 17 owner championships in two of grassroots motorsports most storied series: The WoO STP Sprint Car Series and United States Auto Club (USAC).
Carr’s path into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame was a long and winding road that began with drag racing in the Seattle area. His straight-line career was short-lived, however, as he ultimately followed his father’s footsteps into the world of circle-track racing on dirt. After successfully competing on weekends in Washington and California, Carr made a name for himself nationally by touring with the Outlaws in 1991. He finished eighth in the standings that year and earned the series’ coveted Rookie of the Year award. An injury cost him most of the 1992 season, but he was back on the road racing sprint cars nationally for the next six years before becoming a crew chief during the 1998 season for Danny Lasoski. The success was immediate and included a Knoxville (Iowa) Nationals victory, and it opened a whole new chapter in Carr’s career. Two years later, the Carr-Lasoski combination formed an alliance with Stewart and, since 2000, Carr has been an integral part of TSR.
“I think it’s a great honor for Jimmy and great for sprint car racing that one of their own is being inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame,” Stewart said. “You look at the guys he’s going in with and that’s a pretty impressive group. Jimmy was a great driver and has become an awesome crew chief for me. I think it’s very deserving and I’m really proud of him. He’s a great friend and, obviously, he’s helped us build a great organization.”
Carr has worn a number of hats during his time with Stewart. In the early years, he was the crew chief for TSR’s Outlaws car driven by Lasoski and later would assist TSR’s USAC drivers Levi Jones, Bryan Clauson and Bobby East in their quest for championships. His primary focus currently is overseeing the activities in TSR’s Brownsburg, Ind., race shop while also serving as crew chief for Stewart’s winged sprint car team. Carr was at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, last Saturday night, lending his support as East claimed the organization’s most recent USAC TRAXXAS Silver Crown championship.
Jimmy Carr: Race Director, Tony Stewart Racing
Date of Birth: Oct. 10, 1962
Hometown: Maple Ridge, B.C., Canada
Residence: Brownsburg, Ind.
Marital Status: Married, Judy
Children: None
Highlights: 1991 World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year … 2001 World of Outlaws Crew Chief of the Year … 2001 World of Outlaws champion crew chief … 1998, 2001, 2003 and 2004 Knoxville Nationals-winning crew chief.
About Tony Stewart Racing
Tony Stewart Racing is a championship-winning organization competing in USAC and the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series. From its 25,000-square-foot facility in Brownsburg, Ind., TSR fields USAC entries for three-time USAC champion Bryan Clauson and three-time USAC champion Bobby East. And in the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series, TSR campaigns the No. 11 Bad Boy Buggies/J.D. Byrider/Chevrolet Performance/Maxim for 20-time series champion Steve Kinser and the No. 15 STP/Armor All/Chevrolet Performance/J&J for five-time series champion Donny Schatz. TSR has earned a total of 17 owner championships – 13 in USAC and four in the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series. For more information, please visit us on the Web at www.TonyStewartRacing.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/