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HOMETOWN: |
Knoxville, Tenn. |
HEIGHT: |
6 ft. |
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BORN: |
Sept. 25, 1952 Battle Creek, Mich. |
WEIGHT: |
180 lb. |
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WIFE: |
Hope |
CHILDREN: |
Megan, 11 Julie, 3 |
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FIRST RACE: |
1969 IN A '57 Chevrolet at Middle Tennessee Dragway. Doesn't recall the outcome. |
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DRAG RACING HIGHLIGHTS: |
1983 |
Bought a previously raced SS Nova, competed in bracket races at Music City Dragway, Nashville. |
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1986 |
Entered his first NHRA National, failed to qualify at Atlanta. |
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1987 |
With Larry Pritchart, developed a new engine, set 3 national records in SS/I the next two seasons, was 1st into the 9-second bracket with a 9.91 at Baton Rouge in 1988. |
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1988 |
Took Chevy II to quarter-finals at Gatornationals, won his class and reached quarter-finals at Winston Finals. |
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1989 |
Won class titles at Houston & Gainesville with Chevy II introduced possibly 1st front-wheel-drive car, a Beretta, & won classes at Atlanta, Memphis, Indianapolis & Winston Finals; reached quarter-finals at Indy, semis at Pomana. |
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1992 |
Drove an A/Super Modified Olds Cutlass Calais in Competition Eliminator. Jumped to Pro Stock, was bumped in last qualifying round at Indianapolis, lost to Bruce Allen in 1st round at Dallas. Reached 2nd round but broke his engine against Jerry Eckman. |
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1993 |
Qualified in top half of field four times. Had several 2nd round finishes. Was 16th in Pro Stock points. |
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1994 |
Qualified for all but 3 races. Finished 4th in reaction time standings, 9th in top speed. Qualified in the top half of the field 6 times. Reached 2nd rounds at Pomona Winternationals & Phoenix. Finished 11th in points. |
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1995 |
Set new personal all-time speed & E.T. records of 7.094 sec. & 194.88 mph. |
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1996 |
Set new personal all-time speed & E.T. records of 7.017 sec. & 197.02 mph. Reached 2nd round at Indianapolis Nationals. Qualified for 12 of races in the NHRA Winston Select series in the toughest of all NHRA pro categories. |
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NON-RACING BACKGROUND: |
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Born in Battle Creek, Mich., but grew up in Cookeville, Tenn. |
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While at Baxter Upperman High School, played two ways at end on football team, which won Upper Cumberland conference championship in his junior year. One season was coached by Lonnie Warwick, former Minnesota Vicking. |
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Father was an Exxon dealer, and Mike grew up learning the auto service business. |
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Graduate of Tennessee Teach, earning B.S. in business administration, majoring in accounting. |
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Started in business with a full service car wash in 1976. Started expanding in 1980. Soon had a chain of auto service centers with self-serve gasoline pumps, oil change centers, car wash and convenience stores. Was sole proprietor through 1992. |
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Incorporated at end of 1992, merged with a shell corporation, United Petroleum Co., and applied to list shares on NASDAQ. Chain now includes 20 units in Tennessee, Georgia & Kentucky. |
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Business also owns mineral rights to 61,000 acres in eastern Kentucky and has signed a contract with Enron Oil & Gas Corp. for development of natural gas reserves. |
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Raises Tennessee Walking Horses. Currently has 30 in his stables. |
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Goes to World Championships. Best known horses are Eb's Black Charger, two-time reserve world champion, and Generators Turbo, 1993 state amateur champion. |
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After 1994 NHRA Mile-High Nationals, celebrated one-year courtship of Hope Richard of Denver by having a wedding ceremony. They now live in Knoxville. |
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United Petroleum Co. is the Pennzoil distributor for Tennessee, Georgia and the southeast corner of Kentucky. |
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