JIMMY  MAKAR   -   03/24/1956

In 1976, at the age of 20 years, Makar began his NASCAR career after being chosen to take his father's NASCAR Cup Series car to Robert Gee, where he helped with the repairs.  After two weeks, he was offered a job at Gee's shop.  Makar accepted the job, and moved from New Jersey to North Carolina.  He continued to work at Gee's shop until he was offered a job as a mechanic from Harry Hyde in 1979.  Two years later, he was hired by Ron Benfield and Buddy Parrott.  Makar spent three years with Benfield and Parrott before he was hired by Junior Johnson. However, after one season, he moved to Blue Max Racing, where he continued to work to 1990.  During Rusty Wallace's 1989 championship, Makar was the team's chassis specialist.  In 1990, he became a crew chief for the first time. He was the crew chief for Wallace in seven races as the duo posted three Top 10 finishes.  During the 1991 season, Makar joined Penske Racing South, where he continued being Wallace's crew chief for 17 races.  The combination recorded their first win at Bristol Motor Speedway in the spring.  Midway through the season, Makar left Penske to work for Joe Gibbs, who was building a new team around Dale Jarrett, Makar's brother in law.  He was Jarrett's crew chief from 1992 to 1994, winning two races together, one of which was Joe Gibbs Racing's first win, the 1993 Daytona 500.  After Jarrett left following the 1994 season, Makar remained at Joe Gibbs Racing to become Bobby Labonte's crew chief.  Their first season together they won three events including the Coke 

600.  They added one additional win in 1996 and 1997.  Labonte piloted their Pontiac to two wins in 1998 before ripping off five wins in 1999 and a runner up finish in the points standings.  2000 saw them win the Brickyard 400, along with three other wins, and claim the Cup Championship.  He remained Labonte's crew chief through 2002 adding three more wins.  At the end of 2002 he was assigned to his current position, the team's Senior Vice President of Racing Operations.  He also assists the team's engineering and aerodynamic departments.  For his career his drivers made 23 visits to victory lane.  They won such notable races as: Daytona 500 (1993); Coke 600 (1995); Brickyard 400 (2000); along with the 2000 Cup Championship.

 

All Photos copyright and are property of their respective owners