Catchfence

6/17/09 – Humble, TX….. This weekend is Father’s Day, and for nineteen year old ARCA Rookie Stephan McCurley he will be spending plenty of ‘quality time’ with his dad and crew chief Mike McCurley as they compete in the Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA RE/MAX 200 at Mansfield Motorsports Park. The father and son duo have worked together the last 12 years towards a common goal – success for Stephan’s racing career. These years were spent side-by-side, in the shop and racing on the weekends since Stephan was seven years old, with Mike as the crew chief and Stephen the driver.

The two have succeeded through the ranks from karts, Allison Legacy cars, Late Models, the ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour and now the ARCA RE/MAX series. Always on a limited budget, just the two of them, they have pulled off some amazing feats over the years. This success comes from a relationship and communication between crew chief and driver that even Sprint Cup teams would envy.

At an early age, Stephan would come to his dad Mike with car designs and set-ups. Mike immediately saw an amazing ingenuity in his son. He would implement these suggestions and ideas on the race car. Soon this was almost a telepathic flow between the two of them. This led to success very early in Stephan’s career, and continued as he advanced in the sport.

This communication and teamwork between the two of them could not have been more evident last year when they raced their own Super Late Model in the ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour. They spent a lot of time on the road, sometimes for stretches that lasted up to three weeks; they traveled thousands of miles from Houston TX as far as Raleigh NC, with just the two of them to share driving duties. At the track they maintained and prepared the car with little or no crew to speak of, except for a volunteer crew member here and there.

“Dad and I spent a lot of time on the road last year.” Says Stephan. “It was hard work, but that’s what we both love to do. We talk about what we could do to make the car better, and making that happen. When you spend that much time together you get to be really close, and Dad and I know what each other are thinking sometimes without even saying it.”

Going up against well funded teams, with full crews, the two lone McCurley’s pulled off an impressive ASA season, finishing 2nd in the overall point’s championship for the ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour in series inaugural season, also winning the Blue Ridge regional championship in points and finishing 2nd in the Carolina Clash regional championship points.

At the end of 2008, the McCurley’s on-track performance caught the attention of ARCA team owner and fellow Texan Donny Kelly. He offered 18 year old Stephan a ride for 2009 in his #03 ARCA Chevrolet. In all aspects, this is a rookie team. This would be the first year for Donny Kelly as an ARCA car owner; Stephan has an ARCA driver, and Mike as an ARCA crew chief. They would have to pull off a very big job.

Mike knew he had to dive in and learn about the ARCA car as quickly as possible. Stephan also did the same, with shock setups and getting the feel of a heavier race car. They both maintain the ARCA car full time.

“Stephan and I work all day on the ARCA car, over at the shop in Porter TX, and drive back to our shop in Humble, every night to work on the late models, which we also maintain for other drivers. That’s actually our day job – that we do at night.” Says Mike. “Stephan is my first priority, he knows that I am going to make sure every bolt is tight on the car, and I’m going to go over everything twice. We work together to get the car better and he trusts that I am going to keep him safe at all times.”

This is the first time Mike has to lead a full pit crew; five of the #03 pit crew members include students from the University of Northwestern Ohio. Mike also serves as jack man and crew chief on race day, but he’s used to multi-tasking. “I will do whatever is needed for me to do,” he says “I’m willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to make sure Stephan succeeds in racing, even if that means working around the clock, and Stephan’s working hard right beside me. We can only hope that hard work pays off for him, I don’t care if I move on, I just want him to.”

Mike and Stephan knew this would be a big undertaking but they’ve never stepped away from a challenge. The sacrifices made by the McCurley’s extend more than father and son but to the rest of the family. Mom, Kristy, stays home with Stephan’s other two siblings, sister Destin and little brother Dayton. “Sometimes it’s hard when Stephan and Mike are gone, and they’re gone a lot.” Says Kristy. “But I fully support what they are doing and I’m very proud of what the two of them have accomplished together.” She continues, “The two of them are so close, and I’m just glad that Stephan has his dad to look out for him and keep him safe, I can sleep better at night knowing this.”

The PGM team with Stephan McCurley behind the wheel and Mike McCurley as crew chief, are making steady improvements on a race-by-race basis he currently 13th in ARCA driver points. “We are getting better every race, says Stephan. We are both learning with this experience. It would be great if more opportunities come for me from this, so my dad could get a break!” He laughs. “But I don’t know if he would know what do with himself, he has always been there for me, wrench in hand- ready to do whatever. I hope he can help out my brother and sister if they want to race, too.”

Father and son, driver and crew chief, best friends on and off the track, the McCurley’s have something special that only life in racing has brought them. Mike has run his own successful ‘driver development’ program for his son, that has done more than advance a career, but given them a bond and trust that many only wish they had with their sons and daughters. Many more challenges may be ahead for Stephan, but he knows he will always have his dad there for him.

To learn more about Stephan and Mike McCurley please visit: www.stephanmccurley.com

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