MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 3, 2006) - Nearly a decade ago, Troy Loomis joined Michael Waltrip Racing when it was a modest family-owned NASCAR Busch Series team in Sherrills Ford (N.C.). Loomis, who was a mechanic and tire specialist at the time, referred to the team as ‘five guys in a garage.’ Today, Loomis is the shop foreman at Michael Waltrip Racing and has watched the organization evolve over the years.
“Back in the day, it was just Bobby Kennedy, Chris Bryant, Jerry Baxter, Glenn Funderburk and myself,” said Loomis. “We always joked around and called ourselves ‘five guys in a garage.’ We’re all still hanging around at one Waltrip shop or another. We were really successful together as a team. We started out running 18 to 22 races. We won races together. Everybody was good at everything. I’m looking forward to the day our core group is back under one roof together. It’s in the works.”
With growth came change and in 2006, Loomis relocated from Waltrip’s backyard to Lakeside Park in Mooresville in order to facilitate the ever evolving Michael Waltrip Racing operation.
“Man, times have changed,” said Loomis. “As we grew, we moved into a bigger facility. Eventually, we’re moving again to support multiple NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Toyota Camry teams in 2007 and our Busch teams too. We are continuing to expand and anticipating our move to Waltrip Racing World. The growth is so exciting for us. We are in search of the best people. We’re putting together the parts and pieces to build our Toyota Camrys.”
The beginning of the NASCAR Busch Series season has been a challenge, but Loomis knows the 99 team is making strides.
“Our team has faced obstacles this year, but it’s nothing we can’t handle,” said Loomis. “We’re now getting to the point where we are about to turn the corner. One of our goals for this year is to finish in the top-10 NASCAR Busch Series points standings and win a few races along the way for all of our sponsors. Our last few finishes show we are headed in the right direction. Three and a half weeks ago, we were 23rd in points after Texas. We are now 16th."
When the 36-year-old is not working on Waltrip’s NASCAR Busch Series entry, he’s racing his own Dirt Modified at Thunder Valley in Lawndale (N.C.). After four races, Loomis in the top-five in points.
“Racing is something I really enjoy doing,” said Loomis. “I started racing in Pennsylvania and then it just progressed from there. I have a nice balance between my own racing career and working for Michael Waltrip Racing.”
