Where Are They Now?

  • John Kenney

Not every member of the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame is inactive in his chosen profession. Some continue to perform at a high level after induction, adding to already stellar credentials.

Gary Nelson (Class of 2006) was among the most innovative crew chiefs in NASCAR, ultimately hired by Bill France Jr. as his Winston Cup Series director. Nelson has taken his talents to IMSA’s WeatherTech Championship as team manager of Action Express, which fields a pair of Corvette Daytona Prototype cars in North America’s premier sports car series.

His charges ran one-two in recent races at Watkins Glen International, Mosport’s Canadian Tire Motorsports Park and Road American. Action Express tandems Joao Barbosa/Christian Fittipaldi and Dane Cameron/Eric Curran are first and second, respectively, in the standings entering the season’s second half.

Jerry Baxter (Class of 2015) continues as a crew chief at Kyle Busch Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. His driver, Christopher Bell, drove KBM’s No. 4 Toyota to victory in June’s event at Gateway International Raceway outside St. Louis. Bell stands sixth in series points but with his victory is qualified for the NCWTS’ first Chase championship unfolding this fall.