Toby
Toby Whealdon is the spotter/mechanic for David Ragan and the No. 6 UPS team. Before heading out for the race in Richmond this weekend, Toby took some time to talk with UPS Racing about his job with Roush Fenway Racing.
Toby and the UPS team
How did you get into the sport? My first job in motorsports came at a local short track back home in Virginia, around 1990. I had been working with Roush Fenway Racing part-time for four years, but I am now in my second season as a full-time guy here at RFR.
What’s your favorite part about being on a NASCAR team? Well, it’s definitely not the traveling! The actual racing is my favorite thing. I can’t describe how it feels to go a whole week with so many different things on your mind, and then showing up to a race and having all your problems go away and your adrenaline gets pumping, and for those few hours, there is nothing but the race to worry about. It is truly an amazing feeling to go racing.
What’s the coolest thing that you’ve gotten to do since being a member of the No. 6 team? Well, I haven’t been with the No. 6 team too long but I’d have to say having my first job spotting for them at Daytona is pretty special to me.
What’s your normal “run of show” during the week? During the week I fulfill my role as mechanic. This involves me working predominantly with the final assembly of the car.
What are your normal responsibilities once arriving to the track each weekend? One of the first things I must do, as spotter, is check and double-check our radios and the cables we use. Once I get my spotter duties completed I try and help out with the car in any way I’m needed. I am a very busy person when we’re trackside because I spot for two teams. Our UPS car and also the No. 6 in the Nationwide Series.
What are you responsible for during the actual race? The most important thing I do is keep the driver and car safe. You could say I’m ‘the eye in the sky’; I try to pass on any information that could be helpful. Like giving updates and making sure the guys know when pits are coming up.
If you weren’t working in racing, what do you think you would be doing? I would be a mechanic for a dealership somewhere.
Where did you grow up? Virginia Beach, VA.
What’s your favorite thing to do on an off-weekend? Without a doubt, spending time with my family takes priority on any off-weekend.
Something interesting about yourself? I love to go fishing.
Movie: Wedding Crashers, Something About Mary…anything that will bring a laugh.
TV Show: King of Queens, Two and a Half men
Cartoon as a kid: Smurfs
Pizza toppings? My favorite is garlic chicken pizza.
Place to eat? I love Sushi.
Music: (band, song, genre, whatever they want to share) Country and Rock. I listen to a lot of Gary Allen, I think he is probably the best o ut there right now.
