Published: August 07, 2008 02:42 pm         

Gary Lowder drives for Yates Racing

NASCAR

Thursday, August 7, 2008 — Nestled in the heart of racing country is a NASCAR race team that got a fresh start for the 2008 season.

The team, which was formerly known as Robert Yates Racing, is now Yates Racing after Robert Yates retired at the end of the 2007 season.

Although this team is located in Concord, it has ties to Stanly County, as former Stanly County Commissioner Gary Lowder holds a place on that team.

Lowder, who has been an avid NASCAR fan for many years, drives the hauler for the no. 38 Ford Fusion.

“I owned my own trucking company for almost 40 years, and after selling it in 2007, I went into retirement,” Lowder said.

Retirement didn’t suit Lowder, though, and within a few months he decided he would continue to pursue a job in trucking.

Since Lowder had always been a racing fan, he had the idea to drive a team hauler, which carries the cars and equipment to and from the tracks each weekend.

He began driving the hauler part-time for JTG Racing in May 2007 but then moved to Roush Fenway Racing, where he also worked part-time.

After driving for various teams with Roush, Lowder was requested to drive for Yates Racing. After four races, Lowder became a full time driver for the David Gilliland’s team hauler.

“I lucked out. What I do doesn’t feel like a job to me. I’m just having fun,” Lowder said.

Lowder is one of two drivers for the no. 38 hauler each weekend, the other of whom is Johnny Mims.

“We get along really well and he’s a super nice guy,” Lowder said in reference to Mims.

Together, Mims and Lowder make it possible for the Gilliland team to travel to and from the track in one weekend.

“We take turns driving throughout the trip. During the race, one of us sleeps while the other stays on call,” said Lowder.

The reason one of the drivers stays on call is in the event their racecar driver may wreck during the race. One person has to be ready at the hauler if the pit team needs more equipment to make repairs.

Lowder says he loves his job, and though he’s been a fan for many years, he’s learned a lot about the behind-the-scenes workings of NASCAR.

“We learn a lot about how a team functions because there’s a lot more going on than what you see as the cars race around the track,” he said.

Lowder explained that there is a lounge area in the hauler that, along with the rest of the hauler, is fully air conditioned.

The car drivers often visit the hauler and spend time in the lounge, but it’s also used for the engineers as it is equipped with a fax machine and computer hook-ups.

The hauler also contains a shop area, complete with the tools and equipment to do any repairs and fabrications needed for the cars during a weekend.

There is also a kitchen area which, on the no. 38 hauler, is host to the Rocker dogs. Lowder said 100-140 hotdogs are eaten every weekend because other teams enjoy the Rocker dogs to the point they will visit the no. 38 hauler to get them.

Lockers containing the tools line the inside of the hauler, which includes the locker with all the radios worn by the team during the race.

Lowder said the longest track he had to drive to was Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., which after stoping for fuel, food and showers could take more than 46 hours.

“We drive straight through, though. When we get back we unload the equipment and tools and inventory them. On Wednesdays, we’ll reload the truck and leave for the next track,” he said.

The hauler drivers are not constantly away from home, though.

“We take turns with our days off, and occasionally one of us will fly to the track and meet the other driver,” Lowder said.

According to Lowder, the truck drivers are the first to leave the shop and last to get back.

An A team, which is responsible for setting up the racecars during practice and qualifying, will meet the truck at the track.

“That’s the hardest working group of people. They often work from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. without stopping for a lunch just trying to get the car ready. An average race fan just doesn’t know how hard they work,” Lowder said.

A second crew, the B team, flies to the track and arrives on race day.

Both crews then fly home together after the race, and the drivers leave with the hauler.

Lowder said he loves the job so much that, to him, it’s just another day at the shop.

“This team is really good. They’re very safety and employee minded and they make sure we have enough time to rest,” he said.

One thing Lowder finds amusing are the many fans he meets along the way that asks for souvenirs or where the team is headed next.

Nothing compares to Lowder’s experience at Victory Junction Gang Camp, which he visited with wife, Jann.

“It’s the most moving thing I’ve ever experienced; seeing the smiles on their face and the twinkle in their eyes,” Lowder said.

The camp first opened in June 2004 and is a place where children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses can experience life-changing camping adventures that are exciting, fun, and empowering, in a safe and medically sound environment.

It was started by Kyle and Pattie Petty, in honor of their son Adam and is located in the Piedmont Triad area on land donated by Richard and Lynda Petty.

“If not for Petty and NASCAR, many of these children wouldn’t have this kind of opportunity,” Lowder said.



Contact Tiffany Thompson at (704) 982-2121 ext. 24 or snaponline24@carolina.rr.com.