Johnny Gray | |
---|---|
Born | 1953 Artesia, New Mexico, U.S. |
Retired | 2013 |
Related to | Shane Gray (son) Tanner Gray (grandson) Taylor Gray (grandson) |
Funny Car | |
Wins | 7 [1] |
Previous series | |
Competition Eliminator, Pro Stock |
Johnny Gray (born 1953) is a retired NHRA drag racer and oil company executive. Since 2021, he has been a partner in Tricon Garage, an American professional stock car racing team that competes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series, for which his grandsons Tanner and Taylor Gray compete.
The elder Gray has been racing in various forms of motorsports for nearly half a century; he began drag racing in the early 1990s, climbing the ladder from the National Hot Rod Association's Competition Eliminator division to Pro Stock and later, the Funny Car category with Don Schumacher Racing. Gray retired in 2013 to support the Pro Stock efforts of his son, Shane, and grandson, Tanner. Tanner went on to win the NHRA Pro Stock title in 2018 before moving on to stock car racing. [2]
In January 2021, Gray partnered with David Gilliland Racing (DGR) to compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series and the CARS Late Model Stock Tour with factory support from Ford Performance. [3]
Johnny Gray was the son of John R. and Bobby Dawn (née Till) Gray. [4] His father was a self-made oil industry titan in New Mexico and north Texas regions. [5]
Johnny Gray was president of Marbob Energy, the New Mexico oil producer co-founded by his father. Gray and his sister sold the company in 2010 for $1.7 billion in proceeds. [6]
Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park is an auto racing facility in Brownsburg, Indiana, about 10 miles (16 km) northwest of downtown Indianapolis. It includes a 0.686 mi (1.104 km) oval track, a 2.500 mi (4.023 km) road course, and a 4,400-foot (1,300 m) drag strip which is among the premier drag racing venues in the world. The complex receives about 500,000 visitors annually.
Memphis International Raceway was an auto racing park located near the Loosahatchie River in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, just approximately ten miles south of Millington, and a few miles north of the city of Memphis.
The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is an auto racing sanctioning body in the United States, founded in 1953 by John Marcum. The current president of ARCA is Ron Drager, who took over the position in 1996 following the death of Bob Loga. The ARCA Menards Series races stock cars similar to those seen in past years in the NASCAR Cup Series, and indeed most cars used in the Menards Series were previously used in NASCAR. ARCA's competitor "Frankie" contain a mix of both professional racers and hobby racers alike, in addition to younger competitors trying to make a name for themselves, sometimes driving as part of a driver development program for a NASCAR team. ARCA Menards Series races are broadcast on Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2 or MAVTV, and they have been previously broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2, USA Network, TNN, Prime Network, CBS Sports Network, NBCSN, TBS and TNT.
David Leonard Gilliland is an American professional stock car racing driver and team owner. Since 2017, he has operated Tricon Garage, a team that races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. They have also competed in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series West and CARS Tour.
Todd Jeremey Gilliland is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Front Row Motorsports. He is the son of NASCAR driver and team owner David Gilliland.
Cody Coughlin is an American professional stock car racing driver who competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 72 Ford Mustang, and part-time in the ARCA/CRA Super Series and CARS Pro Late Model Tour, driving the No. 1 Toyota/Chevrolet, both for his family team, Coughlin Brothers Racing. He has also competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in the past.
Tanner Sean Gray is an American professional racing driver who has competed in drag racing and stock car racing. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 15 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 18 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing. Gray is the youngest professional driver to win a national event in NHRA history, and the youngest driver to win a solo NHRA season championship.
Tricon Garage, formerly known as David Gilliland Racing, DGR-Crosley, and Team DGR, is an American professional stock car racing team that competes in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The team was founded in early 2017 when racing team owners David Gilliland and Bo LeMastus came together to form a collaborative effort from their respective teams, David Gilliland Racing and Crosley Sports Group, known as DGR-Crosley. DGR-Crosley fielded Toyotas in 2018 and 2019 before announcing its switch to Ford starting in 2020. The team reverted to the David Gilliland Racing name in 2021 as Johnny Gray became a co-owner. Former co-owner and driver Bo LeMastus remained with the team in a marketing and sponsorship capacity.
Thaddeus Drake Moffitt is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 46 Chevrolet Silverado for Faction46.
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Corey David Heim is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 11 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage and part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 26 Toyota Supra for Sam Hunt Racing. He also serves as a reserve driver for Legacy Motor Club and 23XI Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. He has previously competed in the ARCA Menards Series, East Series, and West Series.
Taylor Gray is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 17 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage and part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 19 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing.
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Justin S. Carroll is an American professional stock car racing driver who competes part-time for his family-owned team, TC Motorsports, in both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 90 Toyota Tundra, and in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 91 Toyota Camry.
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Sarah Burgess is an Australian professional racing driver and crew chief. She has experience in multiple disciplines such as drifting, rallycross, short course off-road racing, and stock car racing.
The 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series was the 29th season of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, a stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. The season started with the NextEra Energy 250 on February 17 at Daytona International Speedway, and ended with the Craftsman 150 on November 3 at Phoenix Raceway.