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Indy Car Crew: |
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Randy Baden Jr. |
Nickname:
Yankee
Residence: Katy, TX
Birthplace: Jasper, MN
Birthday: January 2, 1985
Marital Status: Single
Shop: Mechanic
Race Day: vent/airjack
Started Racing 1991 in Karting
Started with Foyt: 2006
Personal Note: Graduated from the
University of Northwestern Ohio for High
Performance
Interests: Hunting, fishing, farming
Best memory in racing: Winning a go-kart
race at a track I had never been to before.
See more about Randy in
our Spotlight On segment |
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Becky Baranouski |
Nickname: Becklett
Residence: Houston, TX
Birthplace: Monterey Park, CA
Birthday: November 15
Marital Status: Single
Son: Chris
Son-like Dog: Harley
Shop: Travel Manager
Race Day: N/A
Started Racing: In 1991 selling IndyCar
Driver trading cards at the race track, worked
for Performance Investment Group (P.I.G.) Racing
Indy car team in early-mid 90's and then A.J.
Foyt's team.
Started w/ Foyt: 1994-ish
Personal Note: Working with A.J. Foyt,
his family and his team has been one of the
greatest adventures in my life.
Interests: Watching my son's band As Eden Burns
gain popularity, Phantom of the Opera, Van Halen
with Sammy Hagar, my friends and my family.
Best memory in racing: Scoring for our
Indy 500 winning car in 1999. |
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Buddy Blackburn |
Name: Merritt Blackburn
Nickname: Buddy
Residence: Houston, TX
Birthplace: Manderson, WY
Birthdate: April 28, 1986
Marital Status: Single
Started Racing: In high school with a
dirt track late model team: Swanson Racing.
Started with Foyt: 2007
Shop duty: Mechanic
Race day duty: Outside front tire changer
Personal Notes: I am really enjoying this
great opportunity to work for A.J.
Interests: Music, drumming, hot
rods, engine theory and design
Best Memory in Racing:
Changing the right rear at my first Indy car
race – the Indy 500
See more about Buddy in
our Spotlight On segment |
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Andrew Copeland |
Nickname: “Andy”
Residence: Houston, TX
Birthplace: New Orleans, LA
Birthday: 1-7-1980
Marital Status: Single
Family: Mom&Dad, Older sister Christy,
Older brother Donnie, Twin brother James.
Job at Shop: Mechanic
Job on Race Day: Mechanic-catch tires,
stop sign guy.
Started Racing: Jim Russell 2008,
Infineon Raceway, CA.
Started with Foyt: 2010
Personal Notes: Hillcrest School
1999-Jos, Nigeria. Charleston Southern
University 2003-Charleston, SC.
Hobbies/Interests: F1 and pretty much any
form of Motorsport, Futbol, College Football,
and most any Sport. Getting together/hanging out
with friends, Dining out, Trying different
ethnic cuisine, Traveling, Seeing/experiencing
other cultures, Strolling urban streets,
Music-eclectic listener-favorite Band-“U2”
Best memory in racing: 2010 Indy 500-My
first Oval and Indy 500! As a fan, I would say
first time seeing Formula 1-German GP Hockenheim
2003. |
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Wade Crews |
Nickname: None
that can be mentioned
Residence: Katy, TX
Birthplace: El Paso, TX
Birthdate: July 20, 1966
Marital Status: Single
Started Racing: Around 1991 through
friends. Worked on an NHRA top fuel funny car.
Started with Foyt: 2006
Shop duty: Mechanic
Race day duty: Outside rear tire
Interests: Motocross, Music, Playing
drums, racing, hunting, fishing, country bars
and two steppin with my girl
Best Memory in Racing:
Michigan 500 win, Champ car Championship with
Team Players, First NHRA victory in funny car
against John Force.
See more about Wade in
our Spotlight On segment |
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Nancy Foyt |
Residence:
Hockley, Texas
Birthplace: LaMarque, Texas
Birthday: April 4
Husband: A.J. Foyt III (Tony)
Children: Tonia, Casie, A.J. IV
Shop: Office manager
Race day: N/A
Started racing: in 1992 with son Anthony
Started with Foyt (team): 1996
Personal Notes: Her son Anthony is
driving for Vision Racing in the IRL IndyCar
Series
Interests: My family, especially my
grandchildren |
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Robert Janke |
Nickname:
"Captain Bob"
Residence: Houston
Birthplace: Cameron, Texas
Birthday: Dec. 26, 1946
Marital Status: Single
Children: Tanya, Rochelle
Shop: Jet maintenance, pilot for 'A.J.
Air'
Race day: Sign board
Started racing: 2000
Started
racing with Foyt: 2000
Interests: Home remodeling projects,
rebuilding Triumphs & Austin-Healeys sports
cars, pro baseball, travel
Personal Notes: Has worked as a corporate
pilot since 1977 |
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Rodney Klausmeyer |
Nickname: "Arc" or "Rod Dog"
Residence: Hempstead, Texas
Birthplace: Hempstead, Texas
Birthday: March 7, 1963
Wife: Veronica
Children: Rachel, Sarah, Emily, Miah
Shop: Truck driver, maintenance
Race day: Fueler
Started racing: 1998
Started
racing with Foyt: 1998
Interests: Spending time with my family,
History, boating,
hunting, fishing, camping
Personal Notes: Became interested in racing after doing the electrical work in Foyt's new raceshop in Waller, Texas.
Best memory in racing: "Bubble Day at 2000 Indy 500"
See more about Rodney in
our Spotlight On segment |
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Brian McEntire |
Nickname:
Jitterbug
Residence: Waller, Texas
Birthplace: El Paso, Texas
Birthday: April 13, 1967
Marital Status: Single
Shop: Mechanic
Race day: Pit Support
Started racing: 1975 when I was 8 by
helping my dad and his friend with their stock
car in El Paso, TX - 32 years
Year with Foyt: 1st
Best memory in racing: Winning six races
in the 2007 USAC Silver Crown Series and working
with George Snider.
See more about Brian in
our Spotlight On segment |
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Thomas Semik |
Nickname: Mouse
Residence: Cypress, Texas
Birthplace: Detroit, MI
Marital status: Single
Shop duty: Mechanic / front end / fuel
cell
Race day: Inside rear tire changer
Started racing: 1990 Jim Russell
(England) Racing School
Start with Foyt: January 2009
Personal notes: Attended Mechanic school
at Russell Racing (1991 – 1992), became
Instructor at Russell Racing School 1993-1995,
Full-time mechanic started 1999 - present
Interests: Home improvement projects,
lots of running, walking / playing with my dog
Jasmine, collecting movies.
Best memory in racing: Working with the
Rusport team including driver - Justin Wilson.
Winning first race - Rusport - while doing "air
jack" during pitstops.
See more about
Thomas in
our Spotlight On segment |
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Ronnie Schultz |
Residence:
Waller, Texas
Birthplace: Houston, Texas
Birthday: March 29, 1959
Children: Rebecca, Robin, Ryan
Shop Duty: Subassemblies
Race day duty: Tire management
Started racing: 1978
Started
racing with Foyt: 2003
Interests: Computers, horses,
fishing, hunting, electronics
Personal Notes: Began working as a
mechanic for his uncle Walter Schultz on the
NHRA and
IHRA drag racing
circuit. Switched careers when
he began working with his uncle Bob Schultz who
trained horses.
Best memory in racing: My first 500 in
2003 and this year because we are going to kick
ass.
See more about Ronnie in
our Spotlight On segment |
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Part Time
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Larry Arnold |
Nickname:
'G'
Residence: Zionsville, IN
Birthplace: Princeton, IN
Birthdate: Nov. 12, 1944
Wife: Sara
Started Racing: In 1983 - Gohr Racing
with Steve Chassey as driver-finished 11th in
'83 Indy 500 with stock-block Chevy engine
Years in racing: 23 years
Started with Foyt: 2004
Race day duty: Spotter
Personal Notes: Retired as an executive
from Bristol-Myers Squibb after 30 years
Interests: Golf, Racing (Indy cars),
Reading
Best memory in racing: Finishing 2nd in
the 1999 Indy 500 with Jeff Ward (2nd to A.J.'s
winning car) and finishing 5th in 1987 Indy 500
with Gary Bettenhausen
See more about Larry in
our Spotlight On segment |
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Bob Barnhart |
Nickname: "Mr. B"
Residence: Indianapolis, Ind.
Birthplace: Indianapolis
Birthday: July 26, 1936
Wife: Lois
Children: Brett, Brian, Kurt
Shop: N/A
Race day: Tires, sign board (at Indy)
Started racing: 1988
Started
racing with Foyt: 1988
Interests: Family, all sports, wood-working
Personal Notes: Has seen every Indy 500 since 1951.
Best memory in racing: Watching A.J. win his fourth Indy 500.
See more about Bob in
our Spotlight On segment |
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Tetsuo Kuramochi |
Nicknames: “Chops”, Tetsu,
(A.J. calls me “Chop Chop”)
Residence: Tochigi-Pre (Utsonomiya),
Japan
Birthplace: Tochigi-Pre (Utsonomiya),
Japan
Birthdate: May 13, 1986
Marital Status: Single
Started Racing: In 2003, the Indy Cars
came to Japan and I met the guys from A.J.
Foyt’s team (in Utsonomiya) and went to see them
to help at the track. Since then, I’m helping
them whenever they need me.
Years in Racing: 5
Years with Foyt: 5
Personal Notes: My parents (Masao and
Ikumi), my brother Naoki and my sister Narumi
showed up for the race in Japan. Then my parents
came to Indy in 2008.
Interests: Cars, racing, airplanes,
music, foreign culture/language, skiing,
traveling, collecting pins.
Best Memory in Racing: In 2005 in Japan,
Anthony crashed in final practice and we fixed
the car until midnight. |
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Brent Nedbalek |
Nickname: "Snookems"
Residence: Snook, Texas
Birthplace: Brenham, Texas
Birthdate: Apr 26, 1983
Marital Status: Engaged
Started Racing: In 2008, flying A.J. Air
to Homestead, FL for Indy car testing
Started with Foyt: 2008
Personal Notes: Graduated from Sam
Houston State University with a degree in
Business Administration; is a commercial pilot
and aviation airframe/powerplant mechanic.
Interests: Aviation, flying and working
on airplanes, watching the Astros, fishing,
building gas model airplanes, playing the guitar
and traveling in a B55 Baron when my partner
lets me!
Shop Duty: Co-pilot for A.J. Air, A&P
Technician
Race Weekend: Helping the team with
anything I can.
Race Day Duty: Stop sign, Deadman valve |
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Lew Parks |
Nickname: "Abe
Lincoln"
Residence: Glen Aubrey, N.Y.
Birthplace: Honesdale, Pa.
Birthday: Feb. 21, 1938
Wife: Joan (married 42 years)
Children: Jeff, Carla, Chad
Shop Duty: Mechanic
Race day duty: Pit support, alternate
fueler
Started racing: 1960
Started
racing with Foyt: 1997
Interests: Auto racing and street rods
Personal Notes: Was awarded the Gilmore/Foyt
Rookie Crew Chief of the Year in 1980.
Best memory in racing: Indy 500 win with
A.J. Foyt and Kenny Brack in 1999.
See more about Lew in
our Spotlight On segment |
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Cecil Taylor |
Nickname: 'Junior' (when I'm in trouble with
my wife)
Residence: Kansas City, MO
Birthplace: Kansas City, MO
Birthdate: August 22, 1929
Wife: Patricia
Started racing: In 1946 helping Emil
Snyder work on his midgets
Started with Foyt: 1966
Race day duty: Tire management
Personal Notes: "I feel very lucky to
have been with A.J. all these years."
Interests: Racing, custom cars,
electronics
Best memory in racing: Winning Indy with
Parnelli Jones in 1963 and with A.J. Foyt in
1977 for his fourth win.
See more about Cecil in
our Spotlight On segment |
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