Barry
Wright was born in Shelby, North Carolina and was a 1969 Shelby
High School Graduate and 1971 Graduate of Nashville Auto/Diesel
College in Nashville, Tennessee.
Barry worked for several years as an automobile mechanic with
always a dream in the back of his mind to some day have a race
car of his own. He had loved going to the races as a child with
his Daddy. By 1971, he had built his first race car. It was
a car for what they then called the "Rookie" Division.
He was the crew chief and his childhood friend, Butch Bowen,
was the driver. They won several races that first year. But
in the second year of racing, they won races everywhere they
went.
Barry had started his own automotive repair business in Shelby.
He was very successful in that venture, but he longed to build
race cars for a living. His success with his own car had other
racers asking him to work on their cars. In 1976, his dream
came true. He and his wife Judy moved to Spartanburg, South
Carolina where Barry had some financial backing to build cars
for a race team. He opened his own race car manufacturing business
in April 1977. He built cars for many of the top dirt late model
drivers in the country. By 1980, he had built a new shop in
Cowpens, South Carolina where he still does the race car manufacturing.
In 1987, he added on to his building. In 1997 he started a powder
coating business. Powder coating is a dry paint, or powder,
process for coating anything metal. The powder is baked into
the metal. All of Barry's race car frames are powder coated
as well as many of the parts that go on the car. The powder
coating business also coats parts for several other industries,
small businesses and car builders. In 2007, he added on to the
Cowpens race car facility again.
Barry
has had many years of racing success and is considered one of
the premier dirt late model pioneers. He has designed many pieces
that go onto the cars as well as designing the chassis itself.
He also has many top-notch drivers in his cars all over the
country. Now in his 34th year of race car design and manufacturing,
his cars continue to win as he researches, tests and develops
new and improved components for all of his racers.
One of the most satisfying things he has accomplished was his
induction into the "Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame"
in 2002. His induction was for "Lifetime contributions
to the sport." It was so pleasing and humbling for him
to be recognized in this way.
Some other honors and awards he has received include:
* Who's Who Among Rising Young Americans in Business and Society
* National Dirt Racing Association (NDRA) Pro National Series
Tour Car Builder
* 1993, 1994, & 1995 Hav-A-Tampa Dirt Racing Series Chassis
Manufacturer of the Year
* 2001, 2002, & 2004 National Dirt Late Model Chassis Manufacturer
of the Year
* 2004 & 2005 O'Reilly Southern All Stars Series Chassis
Manufacturer of the Year
* 2005 World Dirt Racing League (WDRL) Chassis Manufacturer
of the Year
Barry
has also won some prestigious races in his career. One of the
most outstanding races was in 1995 when his "House Car"
won the $100,000 to win 'Dream 100' at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg,
Ohio.
Also, in June 2007, Nextel Cup driver, Carl Edwards, won the
"Prelude to the Dream" race at Eldora Speedway. All
of the proceeds from this race went to the Victory Junction
Gang Camp for Children, started by Kyle Petty in memory of his
son Adam Petty. This ranks as one of the most satisfying wins
in Barry's career since it helped to provide funding for sick
children to go to camp.
In 2010, Barry and the House car team won the Southern Nationals
Championship title. With driver Jonathan Davenport at the wheel,
the team continues to win races as they run with the best of
the best across the nation!
PHYSICAL
ADDRESS:
Barry Wright Race Cars
403 Battleground Road
Cowpens, SC 29330
PHONE
NUMBERS:
Main Line: 864-463-4711
Barry Wright: 864-463-4711 EXT: 102
Judy Wright (accounts receivable/billing/pricing):
864-463-4711 EXT: 100
Lance Wright (technical support/waterjet info):
864-463-4711 EXT: 103
Justin Horton (parts/shipping): 864-463-4711
EXT: 101
EMAIL
ADDRESSES:
Judy Wright: judy@barrywright.com
Lance Wright: supertech@barrywright.com
Justin Horton: parts@barrywright.com
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