ANTELOPE, California — Bill McAnally Racing is marking a major milestone this season with the celebration of 20 years with race partner NAPA Auto Parts.
That partnership during the past two decades has featured much success, with multiple championships and titles at several levels in NASCAR, and many memorable moments.
BMR won four championships with NAPA in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, along with championships on the local level in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. In addition, the Bill McAnally-led team garnered the Rookie of the Year title in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2002.
“Over the years Bill has built a strong relationship with our good NAPA store owners on the West Coast as well as here at NAPA Headquarters in Atlanta,” said Mike Rearden, NAPA’s Director of Events/Sponsorships. “We consider Bill and his team true ambassadors of the NAPA brand and we look forward to a successful 2010 season and beyond.”
The long-term partnership between Bill McAnally Racing and NAPA Auto Parts is reflected in their similar approach to doing business.
“NAPA and BMR are mirror images of each other,” explained Brad Shaffer, Vice President Western Division of NAPA Auto Parts. “Both work tirelessly to perform at extremely high levels. That’s one of the many reasons our partnership has withstood the test of time.”
The relationship between BMR and NAPA is one that has had many benefits, meanwhile.
“Without Bill McAnally, I’m not sure if the K&N Pro Series West would be as popular as it is today,” said Dan Askey, GPC Senior Vice President Sales. “NAPA Auto Parts and its customers have certainly enjoyed being part of Bill McAnally Racing’s four K&N Pro Series West championships.”
McAnally, meanwhile, credits NAPA with helping to make the goals of BMR a reality.
“We are very grateful for everything NAPA has done for our program during the past 20 years,” said Bill McAnally, president of BMR. “We could not have accomplished everything we have without them. We appreciate their support and loyalty.”
“BMR has worked hard to make this partnership very successful,” McAnally said. “Our thanks go out to everyone who has made this success possible.”
The story of BMR and its relationship with NAPA is one that started after McAnally had moved up from the Street Stock class to NASCAR’s Late Model division at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif., in 1990.
“At the time, Bill was racing in Roseville, Calif. We sent him away with some oil, filters and a NAPA logo to put on the side of his car,” said Larry Haith, now General Manager NAPA Houston. “As we all got to know Bill because of his persistence, it quickly became apparent to us that he was a very committed individual, serious about the sport and because of his personality, would most likely do very well.”
McAnally was successful at Roseville, winning the NASCAR weekly championship there in 1990.
From there, he moved up the ranks of NASCAR with his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series West car (formerly Winston West Series) – which he ran selected races in 1992–1993.
It was at the beginning of the next season that disaster struck.
"I had pulled together enough financing from NAPA and a few other companies to run for 1994 K&N Pro Series West Rookie of the Year," McAnally explained. "The day before we left for Bakersfield (season-opener), we did a showing in Sacramento. That night, the entire truck and trailer were stolen from beside my house. We found it the next day in a rice field. All of our tools were gone and the trailer and car had been torched. Everything we had spent years building was gone."
McAnally was not about to give up on his dream, however. And in typical NASCAR fashion, help was quickly on the way.
"I got home from work one day and there was a message on my recorder from Richard Childress saying he had a care package for me if I wanted to come get it," said McAnally. "He gave so many parts and pieces, that it took all the money I had to get everything back to the West Coast."
For the next three years, McAnally drove a fully sponsored NAPA Auto Parts car on the K&N Pro Series West circuit. Early in the 1998 season, McAnally decided to relinquish the driving duties to focus on his role as a team owner.
Once that transition was made, he was able to win three championships in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. Beginning with 1999 and driver Sean Woodside, McAnally gave NAPA Auto Parts its first championship in the series. Current NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Brendan Gaughan and the #16 NAPA Auto Parts team went on to win back-to-back NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championships in 2000 and 2001.
“From ashes to soaring with eagles, Bill McAnally Racing attained with teamwork and leadership from Bill McAnally, with NAPA Western Division and their great customers, three consecutive NASCAR West Series championships,” recalled Wayne Wells, retired Vice President of NAPA AUTO PARTS Western Division.
BMR notched its fourth championship in 2008 with veteran driver Eric Holmes behind the wheel of the #20 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Camry.
Gaughan, meanwhile, had gone on to win the rookie title in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series under McAnally’s leadership and with the NAPA logo on the hood of his truck.
“Bill and the entire team at Bill McAnally Racing have dedicated themselves to NASCAR, the community and to NAPA Auto Parts,” continued Larry Haith. “They have demonstrated their commitment to growing the sport and the NAPA Store success both on and off the track with their participation in countless events creating loyalty to NASCAR and NAPA.”
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