In a time of supermarket strikes and 150 million-dollar contracts in Major league baseball, it is nice to know there are still people that do things because they love doing them. Duane Sharp, Crew Chief of the Jim Pettit Racing 03 Ford stands tall among the ranks of great Crew Chiefs working in the NASCAR Auto Zone Southwest Tour. A man who has been all over the country working on racecars in the Bush, ARCA, Winston West, Craftsman Trucks, and Southwest Tour series starts his 4th season as the Crew Chief for Jim Pettit II and feels this year by far will be the best.
Duane Sharp got his start before the age of 10 with his three uncles who raced everything from boats to racecars. If it went fast, they were interested in it and soon he was too. In 1977 Duane started working on his uncles Formula A car and in 1982 he was working on Dirt Late Models. In 1986 when the Southwest Tour got started Duane was there and stayed. From 1990 until 1994 Duane crewed Modifieds and 360 Sprinters. In 1994 it was back to pavement racing and it was at Madera that Duane met Jim Pettit II. As competitors they became friends and after a few more years, in 1999 they finally started their current partnership.
In 2000 as Crew Chief of the 03 car, Duane’s hard work paid off with 19 wins and 3 track championships. In the Tri- Holiday Championship Duane and Pettit made history by not only winning each of the 100 lap races but also leading every lap. It was this immediate success that led them back to the Southwest Tour. Since joining the Tour three years ago the 03 Ford has always enjoyed success. Never finishing lower in the points than 7th and back to back 3rd place finishes in season ending points make Duane Sharp the most consistent Crew Chief currently in the Southwest Tour. All that is left is a Championship, and all indicators point to this being the year.
At the track you will not find anybody who is more
competitive or more driven to win than Duane Sharp. Away from
the track you will not find anyone who spends more time and
energy prepping for the next race. If you talk to Ted
Yamashiro, engine builder, about Duane he will tell you that
there is no one better at transferring horsepower to the
pavement. He is an advocate of teamwork and cohesiveness and
the results are obvious to those who know him and the 03
team. If you ever have the opportunity to talk with Duane
after a race, take it. You will not be disappointed. Duane
is a wealth of knowledge and one of the brightest stars in
the sport.
