Source: SRL Media Relations/Chris Stai
Date: 08/30/2007

WILTON, California -- If you see a hauler being towed down I-5 in the very early Sunday morning hours toward San Diego, it’s a good chance you will see the Mendenhall brothers and Ward Newton making their way back home after a StockCar Racing League (SRL) race. Or course you will most likely only see one awake and hopefully that will be whoever is driving. The Mendenhalls are unique and successful brother combination that has found out how to be competitive and still have fun at the same time.

Mike and Rob Mendenhall grew up watching and eventually crewing with their dad as part of his drag racing team in Southern California. Their dad was their inspiration for getting into racing with both around the sport of drag racing sense they were born. Mike started watching stockcar racing in 1985 when he began going to El Cajon Speedway to watch some of his customers drive the engines he worked on in the Street Stock division. After watching a few races he convinced his brother Rob to come along and watch a race. After the 1986 season, one of Mike’s customers decided to sell his Street Stock and Mike had an idea. He called Rob and said let’s race street stocks!

So in 1987, Team Mendenhall was born in the Street Stock division at El Cajon Speedway. Mike had some early success with 4 trophy dash wins in their first year and the team won their first main event in 1989. The boys continued in street stock through the 1994 season when they went out on top with one of their favorite achievements thus far in racing. Their last race in street stock was in Las Vegas at an open competition event with drivers from all over the western states. Not only did they win the main event, they also set the track record in the process. A great way to end the Street Stock portion of their racing careers.

Now as one of the many competitive teams in the SRL, both Mike and Rob have noticed a difference in how they approach racing. Both have noticed a major difference from their days at El Cajon Speedway. The Mendenhalls enjoy great friendships with many of their fellow SRL drivers, they get along quite well with the SRL officials and their having lots of fun competing in the series. The 2007 season has not gone as they had hoped with probably more downs than ups, but they have felt that they have been one of the top 5 cars to beat in each race. They have learned to put each race behind them and work on getting ready for the next race.

So what does driver Mike Mendenhall do when he is not making his way down I-5 to or from an SRL race? When he is not busy with his job as a Racing Cylinder Head Specialist, he enjoys keeping track of his 3 sons. Mike enjoys supporting his boys in their motocross endeavors as well as attending their high school soccer matches.

As for Rob, I asked him the question he gets asked quite often, why doesn’t he drive the car. It took one race in a “Factory Stock” car for Rob to confirm to himself that Mike should drive their car. Rob was leading early in the race when he allowed a car to pass. But when the car “ruffed him up” a bit in the process in turn 3, by turn 4, Rob had taken him out and was quickly black flagged. “It reminded me that I did not have the patient temperament that it takes to be a good stockcar driver.”

The Mendenhalls, a unique brother team that know how to be competitive and have a lot of fun at the same time!

Mike Mendenhall
Car Owner: Rob Mendenhall
Experience: 20+ years
Primary Sponsors: Alfred Matthews GMC-Pontiac-Cadillac, Crower Racing Products
Newton Communications, Ron’s Rear Ends, Jess Motorsports, Howe Powersteering, GES Engineering, Pete Thompson Racing Engines, Mendenhall Racing Heads

Remaining 2007 SRL Racing Schedule:

September 1st Madera Speedway
October 20th Shasta Raceway Park

About the Stockcar Racing League (SRL):

The SRL is one of the premier stock car racing series in the country. The series has patterned itself after NASCAR with beautifully prepared cars and support vehicles, and identifiable team uniforms. This seventh season looks to break all attendance records, attracting over 70 seasoned drivers from all over California and the southwestern states. Local and regional stock car fans can also cheer for new stars that will someday drive the machines of NASCAR. The series is a training ground, not only for drivers but for mechanics, chief mechanics and engineers. This series is great for fans who love live action on a hot weekend.

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