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In part two of this three-part article we see how a global business leader becomes a part-owner of Penske Racing's NASCAR Team.
Tom DeLoach's NASCAR Years
Prior to DeLoach's retirement, in 2000 as the worldwide coordinator of Mobil's Motorsports program, the company also had a relationship with Penske's IndyCar and NASCAR teams. Penske had only one car in NASCAR's Sprint Cup series at the time.
DeLoach said he had a “vivid memory of Roger Penske. We'd been an associate (sponsor) and we needed to be primary.” He told Penske “we know we like to be with you. If you can't see clear to start up a second team? We wanted to let you know we wanted to let you know first. Roger you talk about a guy who moves, he moves (fast).”
That's when Penske started his second NASCAR team with Michael Kranefuss (formerly Ford's DTM and later worldwide motorsports boss) for driver Jeremy Mayfield.
When DeLoach retired from Mobil as he said “I didn't retire well.” As a high level executive he, personally, had the funds to stay in racing. He asked Penske about being a part owner of that second Penske Racing car. The German-born Kranefuss had previously sold his interest.
Penske told DeLoach “Here's the deal I'll sell you a percentage of the race team. In a year I'll give you the option to double your percentage or sell me back (the part ownership).”
DeLoach stayed until Mayfield left for Ray Evernham's start up team with Dodge and Penske shut down his “second” team. Eventually Penske would have his own second team with Ryan Newman driving.
“I have tremendous respect for Roger Penske,” DeLoach explained “you learn a lot watching him in action.”
But the former executive wasn't through with racing. “You take a little bit from a Ron Dennis (the Formula One team principal) and a little bit from Roger Penske. I'm impressed to have mentors like them. I don't have the size of their wallets and don't race in their league. Whatever you do; be professional about it.”
In 2005 he bought out the interest in small NASCAR truck series team and named it Red Horse Racing after Pegasus the symbol of Mobil.
In third and final part of the article you see how DeLoach is happy in NASCAR's Camping World Truck Series and why he intends to remain there.
Tom DeLoach's NASCAR Years
Prior to DeLoach's retirement, in 2000 as the worldwide coordinator of Mobil's Motorsports program, the company also had a relationship with Penske's IndyCar and NASCAR teams. Penske had only one car in NASCAR's Sprint Cup series at the time.
DeLoach said he had a “vivid memory of Roger Penske. We'd been an associate (sponsor) and we needed to be primary.” He told Penske “we know we like to be with you. If you can't see clear to start up a second team? We wanted to let you know we wanted to let you know first. Roger you talk about a guy who moves, he moves (fast).”
That's when Penske started his second NASCAR team with Michael Kranefuss (formerly Ford's DTM and later worldwide motorsports boss) for driver Jeremy Mayfield.
When DeLoach retired from Mobil as he said “I didn't retire well.” As a high level executive he, personally, had the funds to stay in racing. He asked Penske about being a part owner of that second Penske Racing car. The German-born Kranefuss had previously sold his interest.
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| Roger Penske. (Photo: LAT for IndyCar) |
Penske told DeLoach “Here's the deal I'll sell you a percentage of the race team. In a year I'll give you the option to double your percentage or sell me back (the part ownership).”
DeLoach stayed until Mayfield left for Ray Evernham's start up team with Dodge and Penske shut down his “second” team. Eventually Penske would have his own second team with Ryan Newman driving.
“I have tremendous respect for Roger Penske,” DeLoach explained “you learn a lot watching him in action.”
But the former executive wasn't through with racing. “You take a little bit from a Ron Dennis (the Formula One team principal) and a little bit from Roger Penske. I'm impressed to have mentors like them. I don't have the size of their wallets and don't race in their league. Whatever you do; be professional about it.”
In 2005 he bought out the interest in small NASCAR truck series team and named it Red Horse Racing after Pegasus the symbol of Mobil.
In third and final part of the article you see how DeLoach is happy in NASCAR's Camping World Truck Series and why he intends to remain there.