Not too long ago, drivers who moved up in the ranks of NASCAR had to work very hard for every opportunity on track, and coming from a giant check was a rarity. Drivers such as Josh Berry, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Preece utilized their undeniable talents to make it into top-tier rides in the NASCAR Cup Series, while networking and proving themselves behind the wheel early on in their careers. Brad Perez of Hollywood, Florida is taking the old school route to make it, as he races part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series, while working as a mechanic on the side. He is one of the hardest working people in the garage and has earned every opportunity he’s received behind the wheel.
“I started off racing in the South Florida area, doing whatever I could to get in a go-kart and once I started doing that, I started learning more about racing and more about the cars themselves. I have mechanic props to back it up, so I moved to North Carolina to become a full-time mechanic. But with all that being said, I still wanted to race and I had to meet the right people to keep racing. Luckily, I met Josh Williams and a lot of others who led me to opportunities to meet the right people that’d help me fund this dream and that’s how we ended up here.
A triumphant 24th-place effort at Sonoma, where the competition is at its peak and there’s zero margin for error.
Perez’s most recent event was the Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250 at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California. He piloted the #14 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for SS Greenlight Racing to a 24th-place effort.
“Sonoma was up and down, but I would have to say that that was the best car I ever had on a road course. Jason Kitzmiller and his team did a great job of putting that car together. The car drove really good.” Perez praises. “However, I noticed that towards the end of stage 1, I began experiencing lower back pain, since the seat wasn’t mine and was my teammate, J.J. Yeley’s. I have a lot more leg than he does and this caused me to have to push the brake pedal down more for support. I couldn’t feel my leg after some time, leaving me to nurse it towards the end. All-in-all, I managed to dodge the big crash and came home in 24th place.”
The simulator goes a long way when it comes to pre-race preparation.
Technology has advanced in ways beyond imaginable and racing is no exception to this rule. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series standout, Rajah Caruth, and NASCAR Cup Series phenom, William Byron, both began racing on a racing simulator/video game known as iRacing, which is the most realistic virtual driving experience and is precise with real-world racing physics. Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota also have their own simulators exclusively for the drivers, in the event of a team needing to gather data and do testing before any given event.
“I’ve been really honored and grateful for Shane Martin and a lot of the Jr Motorsports people for allowing us to use the Sim. I’ve been able to use the Chevy Sim and it is such a day and night difference between iRacing and the manufacturer simulator. They’re close, very close to the real thing and it helps a lot with confidence to be able to drive something close to the real thing. Comparing yourself to everyone in an even playing field goes a long way and everything in sports is about confidence.
Having fun in the ARCA Menards Series.
The ARCA Menards Series is where drivers who want to run in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series get a taste of the bigger tracks, but at lower speeds. The series is also good for drivers who’ve made it higher up in the ranks to gain valuable seat time and extra practice laps to improve their race craft. This weekend, Perez will be piloting the #10 Toyota Camry for Fast Track Racing Enterprises, Inc. and intends on learning as much as he can with the extra seat time.
“My main goal this weekend is to go out and have fun. This is an opportunity that was presented to me and while it’s not with the most well-funded team, taking care of your stuff really matters. Andy Hillenburg really trusts me with his car and I think that speaks volumes. All we have to do is keep the car clean and learn as much as we can, it really doesn’t matter where we finish. I love Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and have never driven a stock car there, but I’ve driven a Miata car there and been a spotter for other drivers at this track. I’m not putting pressure on myself, I just want to go out there and have fun.”
Hopes and dreams for the future, while paving the way with current opportunities and circumstance.
Racing requires a lot of time, energy and practice, as it is crucial to making it big time. Proving yourself as a driver isn’t a simple as getting behind the wheel and winning one race. You have to genuinely be driven to do this, including losing a lot of money and free time, at the expense of this dream.
“This is a sacrifice. As much as it seems cool and all, I’m sacrificing saving money for my future, I’m sacrificing time spending time with my family or being on vacation when I’m racing instead. I spend a lot of money to do this and working two jobs, but all-in-all, I want to be a full-time race car driver. I want to be able to get to the point where I can do that. I’ve built up the network to do that and I want to be able to return it to my partners (sponsors), and once you do that, you come to a point where you can’t really fail. I want to be in that position, as I’m working hard to get there, and obviously, nothing’s guaranteed, but I’m going to keep trying until that happens. If not and I become a little too old, I’ll be more realistic about my life, but until then, I’ll keep trying.
Brad Perez is a product of what hard work, dedication and never giving up on your dreams looks like, running races every chances he gets, making his sponsors happy and selling T-Shirts to help his dream further get off the ground. His next race is tonight’s Zinsser SmartCoat 150 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, which will take place on June 21, 2024 at 6:00PM EST. Those who want to see what Perez can do behind the wheel can catch the race on FS2, as he’s going to turn a lot of heads on track once again.
Every Man on Every Crew, LLC. 
Leave a comment