Stock Car Racing
In 1988 the opportunity of a lifetime came. Mike Curb, sponsor of his Gardner Racing team, and Cary Agajanian, Mike's partner, offered him a 1 year contract to drive his Sunoco sponsored NASCAR Winston Cup car. It wasn't a hard decision to make, just a quick one. Brad moved his family to North Carolina. It was a huge learning process as the team was a "rookie" team all around. Rookie driver, rookie crew chief, rookie engine builder and rookie crew. Brad finished 3rd in Rookie points behind winner Ken Bouchard and 2nd place Ernie Irvan. In 1989 Sunoco pulled their sponsorship and went with a veteran team & driver causing our team to fold. Brad and family drove back across the United States and moved back home to California. He did what he knew best, drove sprint cars again full time. Brad has a tremendous need for achievement, dominance and aggression. His needs give him a desire to win races and become a champion. He has an inner ambition that drives him to be number one. Giving up is not an option.
In 1994 a couple of opportunities came up to qualify and race NASCAR Winston Cup cars. Brad was honored and privileged to drive for the legendary Harry Hyde for 3 races in the #9 Melling Racing entry. In 1995, Felix Sabates approached Brad to be a crew chief and team manager for his new NASCAR Craftsman Truck team with Jay Sauter and Robby Gordon sharing the driving roles. The very next year, Felix promoted Brad to a NASCAR Winston Cup crew chief with Wally Dallenbach and Robby Gordon sharing the driving roles. This team was part of a 3 car team, however, it didn't achieve the success anticipated in its short time frame thus, folding.
In 1997 and 1998, Brad teamed back up with Mike Curb and Cary Agajanian as a team manager for their NASCAR Busch car driven by Stevie Reeves. During this period, Brad was given the opportunity to drive in 8 races. 1998 also saw Brad spotting for Wally Dallenbach in the #25 Hendrick NASCAR Winston Cup car as well as Kenny Wallace in selected Busch races. After many years of effort and now understanding how tough it is to get into NASCAR as a driver, Brad realized that his chances were over. He was too young in 1988 and this new era had teams/sponsors looking for drivers in their teens. He has been very fortunate to have raced with many veterans in NASCAR and wouldn't trade that experience for anything.