When the 2009 racing season came to a close, possibly so did the driving career of one of the most successful drivers on the West Coast, that driver being Rip Michels. The economy had hit Rip hard like so many other Americans. The team was low of chips, running out of lady luck, and ready to walk away from the table.
Rip had relied on friends to help “chip in” for the 2009 season. The team had thrown together all the chips they could raise to try and make another champion run. Short on crew, chips, and time, he knew that he had reached the end of the line, and the mountain was a little too big to conquer. “We just didn’t have it all together like the other years,” said Rip.
Rip finished second in the 2009 points, with 3 wins, 14 quick times, 17 top fives, 3rd in the California State, and 13th in the nation. Prospects for the 2010 season were not looking good, and then Toyota Speedway played a wild card (a Joker) when they decided to implement a SPEC motor rule for the upcoming 2010 racing season. “We were finished. We just didn’t have the chip stack to covert over to the new motor and the 40HP advantage it has” said Team Manager, Michael Medlin. “So we decided to walk away from the table and park the car.”
Rip had no plans on running the showdown; in fact he and his wife were painting the house when he was approached by Ron Nava of rpmtvonline.com right before Christmas with an idea to get Rip back in the game for the showdown. Mr. Nava wanted to film Rip, and his entire team in a reality show type setting, somewhere between the Real World and Viva La Bam. A total of six cameras would be used, in the car, on the driver, and on the crew.
Ron put out a call for people to help Rip run the showdown, and the response was overwhelming. “After Ron’s PR piece came out on Racingwest, the telephone started ringing off the hook. I was truly touched,” commented Rip.
“Friends and sponsors offered what they could. Andy Daddario, who is a fan, chipped in, my long time associate sponsors Art and Lori Johnson of Works of Art Johnson bought a set of sticky black rubber chips for the car. Then Bob DeFazio, the COO of Toyota Speedway of Irwindale, called with encouragement. I was surprised, Bob D said ‘Rip you’re the all time win leader at the speedway, you have got to be there.’”
“It felt good to have friends like Ron, Andy, Art, Lori, and Bob show there support. I also got a call from a company that will be the primary sponsor on the car for the race, but I will announce that when the details are finalized.”
“I thought I was forced into retirement, but I guess the fans and the casino pulled me back into the game for one more hand. We’re putting all our chips into this race, all or nothing, as it might be our last for a while,” smiled Rip. “It will be an uphill battle against the new spec motors but we’re up for the fight.”
“We have had some great runs in the showdown and came so close to winning it all. Holmes and I raced side by side with 10 to go in 2004, I finished 2nd. Then in 2005 I had a rocket ship for a car and battled Auggie for the win, and came coming up short again. Then the 2007 battle with Pursley, which was a heartbreaker. We had a dominate car all year and it looked like our race to win. Pursley is the best driver I have ever raced with at Irwindale and he just drove by with 20 to go and we finished 2nd again. Hopefully, this year we can hit the jackpot with a win,” commented Rip
The team would like to thank the following associate sponsors for their help:
IDevaffiliate, Ron’s Rear Ends, Victory Circle, Total Power Batteries, Orme Brothers, Aurora Rod Ends, Quarter Master, Schroeder Torsion Bars, Ringers Gloves, Circle Racing Wheels, BC Sportsimages, Apache Studio Rentals. Merengue Bakery & Café, Hot Rod Hobbies, UPgrade Decals, and Works of Art Johnson.
For more information on Rip Michels and sponsors, please visit Rip Michels Racing Inc., at www.ripmichels.com or ripmichelsracing@myspace. Also check out our new Facebook page
