Rookie Brian Ross Makes Name For Self In ARCA
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
When stock car racing fans speak of their Saturday and Sunday afternoon heros, the names Earnhardt, Petty, Gordon, Martin and Jarrett often come to mind.
After three top-10 finishes in six races this year, including a second-place run in his last outing, Brian Ross, driver of Warsaw's Biomet/Damon RV team, is quickly becoming a household name on the ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series.
In his rookie season, Ross, 38, is currently second in the overall points race, trailing Bob Strait's 1,435 by 45.
"I think being second is pretty good for a young team, rookie driver," team consultant Red Farmer said.
And if anybody would know, it may be Farmer, a legend in his own right.
Farmer, who is believed to be around 68 years old, though he won't admit to anything, is now in his 52nd year of racing. He's tallied 737 feature wins, and his resume speaks for itself.
For example, in 1990 Farmer was inductued into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. In 1999 he was presented with the Governor of Alabama Award by the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. The award is presented annually to an individual or organization for its contributions to the sport. Farmer, who was also named one of Nascar's 50 greatest drivers in its first 50 years, is the only driver in history to receive the award.
His resume also includes Busch Grand National championships in 1969, 70 and 71. He won the Nascar Modified national championship in 1956, the same year Ralph Earnhardt, father of seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt, won the Sportsman Championship.
In two races this season, Farmer drove his late model to fifth- and sixth-place finishes on the dirt at Talladega, Ala.
"People keep wondering when I'm going to quit," Farmer said in the ML Motorsports media guide. "I'm finally to the point where I don't need to spend the rent money on a new set of tires. I ain't quittin' now."
When he's not behind the wheel, Farmer can be found at the ML Motorsports garage in Warsaw, hanging out with team manager Ed Mullen and the rest of the crew.
And that's where he was on the day of this interview, talking about anything and everthing from being a member of the famed Alabama Gang to his neighbor Bobby Allison to how Robert Yates, owner of cars driven by Dale Jarrett and Ricky Rudd on the Winston Cup Circuit, gave him a replica of Davey Allison's 1992 Daytona 500 championship ring.
Farmer has been done there and done that, as Ross, driver of the No. 67 Mary Louise Miller- owned Monte Carlo will tell you.
"Red has done a lot for me," Ross, the 1999 Kendall, Indiana Late Model Series champion said. "He's a walking encyclopedia. I don't think there's anybody he doesn't know, or hasn't gone fishing with, or gone to dinner with. He keeps me from getting lost."
Farmer's official title is team consultant. While Ross's foot presses the gas pedal, Farmer's knowledge may be the car's fuel, a big reason this team and crew of all locals is in second place.
"I work with work (crew chief) Scott (Eldridge) and (tire specialist) Tony (Barnes) on setups, a lot of the tracks they haven't been to," Farmer said. "I've run all these tracks for many, many years. I basically tell them what springs and shocks they need for that particular race. I work with Scott getting the car through inspection."
Crew chief Scott Eldridge, along with most of the rest of the crew consisting of Tim Frantz, Nick Dimmick and Ken Nisley, are locals, making it more impressive that Ross and Co. are in second place.
"I enjoy working with the rookies and seeing young teams progress," Farmer said. "It's fulfilling for me to see that. You don't win races with money, money just provides you with opportunities. If you don't have the people or personnel around you, you won't win. These people all work together. The whole crew loves working together. They enjoy it."
Though Ross hasn't found Victory Lane this season, he has qualified on the pole twice - at Salem and Flat Rock.
In the first ARCA race of the season, Ross finished 19th at Daytona International Speedway. The next two weeks he finished eighth at Salem (Indiana) and third at Anderson (Indiana).
"I thought we had a good chance to win at Salem," said Ross, a winner of more than 160 late model features. "We ran over something and got two laps down. At Anderson, we were leading with a quarter of a lap to go and we got turned around by Kenny Schrader. He stopped while I passed and finished behind me."
Ross' best finish of the year came March 27 at Michigan's Flat Rock Speedway, where he finished second.
Ross, who won nine late model races in 16 starts a year ago, said his first racecar was free, and that he had no idea it would turn into a career. Now he sits in second place in the ARCA points race in just his first full season. Sitting in a black leather chair at the team's headquarter's he's asked if he can win the championship.
"Dane (Miller, Biomet CEO) and Mary Louise are doing what it takes to do this right," Ross said. "They're pretty serious about what they're doing. If we keep things going we can win the championship."
Fifteen races remain on the ARCA schedule, with the next being Saturday at Michigan Speedway. The race will be televised on ESPN.
"The Biomet team is doing real good," Farmer said, sporting an Alabama Gang T-shirt. "Look at where they started. They're leading the rookie points and are second overall."
Farmer still climbs in behind the wheel as often as he can nowadays, but now he's a teacher, and Ross, his prized pupil is passing the course. [[In-content Ad]]
When stock car racing fans speak of their Saturday and Sunday afternoon heros, the names Earnhardt, Petty, Gordon, Martin and Jarrett often come to mind.
After three top-10 finishes in six races this year, including a second-place run in his last outing, Brian Ross, driver of Warsaw's Biomet/Damon RV team, is quickly becoming a household name on the ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series.
In his rookie season, Ross, 38, is currently second in the overall points race, trailing Bob Strait's 1,435 by 45.
"I think being second is pretty good for a young team, rookie driver," team consultant Red Farmer said.
And if anybody would know, it may be Farmer, a legend in his own right.
Farmer, who is believed to be around 68 years old, though he won't admit to anything, is now in his 52nd year of racing. He's tallied 737 feature wins, and his resume speaks for itself.
For example, in 1990 Farmer was inductued into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. In 1999 he was presented with the Governor of Alabama Award by the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. The award is presented annually to an individual or organization for its contributions to the sport. Farmer, who was also named one of Nascar's 50 greatest drivers in its first 50 years, is the only driver in history to receive the award.
His resume also includes Busch Grand National championships in 1969, 70 and 71. He won the Nascar Modified national championship in 1956, the same year Ralph Earnhardt, father of seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt, won the Sportsman Championship.
In two races this season, Farmer drove his late model to fifth- and sixth-place finishes on the dirt at Talladega, Ala.
"People keep wondering when I'm going to quit," Farmer said in the ML Motorsports media guide. "I'm finally to the point where I don't need to spend the rent money on a new set of tires. I ain't quittin' now."
When he's not behind the wheel, Farmer can be found at the ML Motorsports garage in Warsaw, hanging out with team manager Ed Mullen and the rest of the crew.
And that's where he was on the day of this interview, talking about anything and everthing from being a member of the famed Alabama Gang to his neighbor Bobby Allison to how Robert Yates, owner of cars driven by Dale Jarrett and Ricky Rudd on the Winston Cup Circuit, gave him a replica of Davey Allison's 1992 Daytona 500 championship ring.
Farmer has been done there and done that, as Ross, driver of the No. 67 Mary Louise Miller- owned Monte Carlo will tell you.
"Red has done a lot for me," Ross, the 1999 Kendall, Indiana Late Model Series champion said. "He's a walking encyclopedia. I don't think there's anybody he doesn't know, or hasn't gone fishing with, or gone to dinner with. He keeps me from getting lost."
Farmer's official title is team consultant. While Ross's foot presses the gas pedal, Farmer's knowledge may be the car's fuel, a big reason this team and crew of all locals is in second place.
"I work with work (crew chief) Scott (Eldridge) and (tire specialist) Tony (Barnes) on setups, a lot of the tracks they haven't been to," Farmer said. "I've run all these tracks for many, many years. I basically tell them what springs and shocks they need for that particular race. I work with Scott getting the car through inspection."
Crew chief Scott Eldridge, along with most of the rest of the crew consisting of Tim Frantz, Nick Dimmick and Ken Nisley, are locals, making it more impressive that Ross and Co. are in second place.
"I enjoy working with the rookies and seeing young teams progress," Farmer said. "It's fulfilling for me to see that. You don't win races with money, money just provides you with opportunities. If you don't have the people or personnel around you, you won't win. These people all work together. The whole crew loves working together. They enjoy it."
Though Ross hasn't found Victory Lane this season, he has qualified on the pole twice - at Salem and Flat Rock.
In the first ARCA race of the season, Ross finished 19th at Daytona International Speedway. The next two weeks he finished eighth at Salem (Indiana) and third at Anderson (Indiana).
"I thought we had a good chance to win at Salem," said Ross, a winner of more than 160 late model features. "We ran over something and got two laps down. At Anderson, we were leading with a quarter of a lap to go and we got turned around by Kenny Schrader. He stopped while I passed and finished behind me."
Ross' best finish of the year came March 27 at Michigan's Flat Rock Speedway, where he finished second.
Ross, who won nine late model races in 16 starts a year ago, said his first racecar was free, and that he had no idea it would turn into a career. Now he sits in second place in the ARCA points race in just his first full season. Sitting in a black leather chair at the team's headquarter's he's asked if he can win the championship.
"Dane (Miller, Biomet CEO) and Mary Louise are doing what it takes to do this right," Ross said. "They're pretty serious about what they're doing. If we keep things going we can win the championship."
Fifteen races remain on the ARCA schedule, with the next being Saturday at Michigan Speedway. The race will be televised on ESPN.
"The Biomet team is doing real good," Farmer said, sporting an Alabama Gang T-shirt. "Look at where they started. They're leading the rookie points and are second overall."
Farmer still climbs in behind the wheel as often as he can nowadays, but now he's a teacher, and Ross, his prized pupil is passing the course. [[In-content Ad]]