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Here are some of the people working behind the scenes to put the SunTrust Racing Team out in front. Check back to meet other team members in future updates.
Bob Adie
Shop Duties: Sub-Assembly
Pit Stop Duties: Rear Tire Assist
Date of Birth: 3/13
Place of Birth: Quantico, Va.
Hometown: Quantico, Va.
Current Residence: Indianapolis
Marital Status: Married to Amy
Children: Caroline
Joined Wayne Taylor Racing when it formed in fall 2006 . . . Had been with Riley Technologies since 2004 working with Daytona Prototype sub-assembly and assembly duties . . . Served as Sub-Assembly Manager for several CART teams, including Patrick Racing in 2003, Player’s/Forsythe Racing in 2000-2001 and Target Chip Ganassi Racing from 1993-1999, including its CART championship years from 1996-1999 . . . In 2002, became Team Manager with Fernandez Racing in CART . . . Worked as a Gearbox Mechanic with Rahal/Hogan CART team in 2002, Group 44 IMSA team from 1983-1986 and Longhorn Racing CART team from 1980-1981.
Adam Banet
Shop Duties: Data Acquisition Engineer
Date of Birth: 7/15
Place of Birth: New Albany, Ind.
Hometown: Floyd Knobs, Ind.
Current Residence: Indianapolis
Marital Status: Single
Children: None
Joined Wayne Taylor Racing in January 2008 . . . Was radio technician and support engineer at Target Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates IRL IndyCar Series team during the 2007 season . . . Attended the Jim Russell School mechanic training curriculum at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., during the 2006 season . . . Prior to pursuing a career in racing, was a design engineer with General Electric Appliances in Louisville, Ky., from 2002 to 2006 . . . Earned undergrad and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering at Purdue University prior to working full-time at GE.
Mark Bruce
Shop Duties: Team Transport Driver/Tires
Pit Stop Duties: Back-Up Fueler
Date of Birth: 6/28
Place of Birth: Indianapolis, Ind.
Hometown: Avon, Ind.
Current Residence: Avon, Ind.
Marital Status: Married to Mary
Children: None
Joined Wayne Taylor Racing in December 2008 as team transport driver and back-up fueler after leaving Forsythe Racing. Began racing career with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, where he spent six years before moving on to Walker Racing for a two-year tour of duty. Spent three years at Forsythe before coming to WTR.
David Dove
Shop Duties: Fabricator
Date of Birth: 9/23
Place of Birth: Indianapolis, Ind.
Hometown: Indianapolis, Ind.
Current Residence: Indianapolis, Ind.
Marital Status: Married to Sharon
Children: Matt
Joined Wayne Taylor Racing in June of 2008 as a shop-based fabricator . . . In 2006 worked for Vance & Hines with NHRA motorcycle champion Andrew Hines . . . In 2004, worked with Riley Technologies and the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car program featuring SunTrust Racing and drivers Wayne Taylor and Max Angelelli . . . . In 2003, worked for Players Forsythe Racing in the Champ Car World Series program featuring champion driver Paul Tracy . . . Hobbies include working on an NPCA Drag Racing Funny Car program and a 1969 Camaro . . . Has his own small shop at home for building hot rods and motorcycles.
Michelle Gibson
Shop Duties: Accounting/Office Manager
Date of Birth: 2/2
Place of Birth: Indianapolis, Ind.
Hometown: Indianapolis, Ind.
Current Residence: Brownsburg, Ind.
Marital Status: Married to Andrew
Children: Jayden
Joined Wayne Taylor Racing in January of 2008 . . . Most recent previous employment was as a staff accountant at Hat World from 2005 to 2008 . . . Enjoys spending time with family, reading, working with stained glass, and likes to spend time outdoors.
Gavin Hamilton
Shop Duties: Bodywork Manager
Pit Stop Duties: Rear Tire Changer/Airjack
Date of Birth: 12/11
Place of Birth: Oak Park, Ill.
Hometown: North Brook, Ill.
Current Residence: Carmel, Ind.
Marital Status: Married to Tracey
Children: None
Joined Wayne Taylor Racing in June, 2009 . . . Was crew chief for Team Australia in the Champ Car World Series and driver Will Power during 2006 and 2007 ... Crew chief for Forsythe Pettit Racing and driver Frank Montagny in the 2008 IndyCar season opener at Long Beach, where the team finished second . . . Lead mechanic at Forsythe Racing in Champ Car from 2002-2005 and worked with driver lineup that included Patrick Carpentier . . . Car builder at Ganassi Racing’s IndyCar program from 1999 to 2001 . . . Lead mechanic on Mark Blundell’s Pac West Racing Champ Car entry from 1997 to 1999 . . . Car builder at Newman-Haas Racing in Champ Car from 1993 to 1997, which featured drivers Nigel Mansell, Mario and Michael Andretti, and Christian Fittipaldi . . . Motocross enthusiast and avid enduro rider.
Dan Helman
Shop Duties: Chief Financial Officer
Pit Stop Duties: Fueler
Date of Birth: 5/31
Place of Birth: Warsaw, Ind.
Hometown: Orlando, Fla.
Current Residence: Orlando, Fla.
Marital Status: Married to Barbara
Children: Dana, Newt and Stacy
Joined Wayne Taylor Racing when it formed in fall 2006 . . . Dan is Wayne Taylor's longtime accountant and has joined Wayne's racing efforts during event weekends as his fueler . . . Worked his first Rolex 24 At Daytona in 1981 with a Porsche 914-6 team . . . While still holding down his full-time job as a CPA/Accountant, Helman continued to work when possible on other projects such as Rolex 24 At Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, IMSA GTP Lights, Buick Tiga, Camaro GTO, Porsche 911 and Cadillac LMP900 sports car racing programs.
Simon Hodgson
Shop Duties: General Manager
Pit Stop Duties: Logistics/Strategy
Date of Birth: 11/18
Place of Birth: Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England
Hometown: Indianapolis, Ind.
Current Residence: Indianapolis, Ind.
Marital Status: Married to Madoka
Children: None
Joined Wayne Taylor Racing in January 2007. . .Came from Super Aguri Fernandez Racing Team Manager post in the Indy Racing League. . .Held various positions, including Lead Mechanic, Chief Mechanic, and Team Manager with Ganassi Racing efforts in Champ Car, the Indy Racing League, the Grand American Rolex Series, and NASCAR. . .Was Lead Mechanic on Alex Zanardi's Champ Car championship effort while at Ganassi, then Chief Mechanic during Juan Montoya's Champ Car title-winning season. . .Began racing career working with Team Lotus, McLaren, Lotus Engineering and G-Force.
Travis Houge
Shop Duties: Crew Chief (Overall Car Preparation)
Pit Stop Duties: Front Tire Changer/Oversees Mechanical Adjustments, Issues
Date of Birth: 6/22
Place of Birth: Fairmont, Minn.
Hometown: Dolliver, Iowa
Current Residence: Avon, Ind.
Marital Status: Married to Katie
Children: None
Joined Wayne Taylor Racing when it formed in fall 2006 . . . Worked with Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s Grand-Am program in 2005 as a fabricator and front-end assembly specialist along with being one of the team’s tire changers . . . Worked two years in the NHRA for Don Prudhomme Racing as a Pit Crew Mechanic, which included building and maintaining top fuel engines and driving the car hauler to and from each event.
Debbie Jacobson
Shop Duties: Team Operations and Sponsor Relations
Pit Stop Duties: Crew Support
Date of Birth: 12/1
Place of Birth: Chicago, Ill.
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
Current Residence: Indianapolis, Ind.
Marital Status: Married to Travis
Children: None
Joined Wayne Taylor Racing when it formed in fall 2006 . . . Responsible for Sponsor Relations, Registration, Hospitality, Travel, Credentials and the Contingency Program for the new team . . . Worked previously at Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Grand-Am operation from 2004-2006 assisting with logistics, operations, sponsor relations, and public relations.
Travis Jacobson
Shop Duties: Technical Director
Pit Stop Duties: Engineer and Strategy
Date of Birth: 1/18
Place of Birth: Madison, Wis.
Hometown: Madison, Wis.
Current Residence: Indianapolis, Ind.
Marital Status: Married to Debbie
Children: None
Joined Wayne Taylor Racing when it formed in fall 2006. . .Began working with SunTrust Racing as an employee of Riley Technologies during the 2004 season as Track Engineer, responsible for engine mapping, shocks and assisting with team strategy. . .Joined Riley Technologies in 1999 as a Design Engineer and Project Leader with the Cadillac LMP American Le Mans Series program along with Riley Technologies Indy Racing League interests. . .Played key role in the creation and development of the SunTrust Riley Mk.11.A Daytona Protoype chassis.
Bill Mullen
Shop Duties: Lead Mechanic
Pit Stop Duties: Front and Rear Tire Changer
Date of Birth: 12/28
Place of Birth: Hamilton, Ohio
Hometown: Hamilton, Ohio
Current Residence: Fairland, Ind.
Marital Status: Married to Laura
Children: Sean and Tess
Joined Wayne Taylor Racing when it formed in fall 2006 after spending over 20 years as a racing mechanic and crew chief. . . Joined Riley Technologies in 1995 and assembled all 30 Daytona Prototype cars through the 2006 season. . . Worked with SunTrust Racing team as crew support for the team's endurance races from 2004-2006. . . Served as crew chief for the MKIIIC program from 2002-2003, Cadillac team in 2000, Reebok Indy Racing League program in 1998, Corvette American Le Mans program in 1999 and with Danka/Wayne Taylor WSC team in 1996-1997. . . Worked with Derrick Walker's CART team.
Brian Pillar
Shop Duties: Support Engineer
Pit Stop Duties: Fuel Strategy/Stop Sign/Tire Assist
Date of Birth: 11/27
Place of Birth: Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Hometown: Aliston, Ontario, Canada
Current Residence: Indianapolis
Marital Status: Single
Children: None
Joined Wayne Taylor Racing December 2007. . .Engineer for RealTime Racing and drivers Peter Cunningham and Pierre Kleinubing in the SCCA Speed World Challenge series from 2004 to 2007. Won the driver and manufacturers championships in 2005 and 2006. . .Engineer and crew chief for Techmark team in the SCCA World Challenge in 2003. . .Worked with Hyundai Motorsports in the Grand-Am Cup Series in 2001 and 2002. Drivers included Nic Jonsson. . .Began racing career with the Basi Motorsport school near Montreal in 2000. . .Designed Formula SAE race cars while working on mechanical engineering degree at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
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