An Inside Look at NayKid Racing by a One Time Outsider

by James Elgert

James Elgert won the opportunity to be part of the NayKid Racing crew courtesy of an online contest sponsored by Dodge Canada.

At first, when I received the call that I had won a trip to Mosport to join the NayKid Racing team for a weekend I thought it was just another scam. I played along and decided I would keep going until they asked for money. Well, they never asked. All the flight info arrived and they even made the arrangements so that I could bring my nine month-old daughter with me. I have always dreamed of being a part of a race team. Never had I considered that my dream would actually be made a reality… but it was thanks to Dodge and NayKid Racing.

Working with the Cindi Lux (driver of the No. 2 NayKid Racing Dodge Viper Comp. Coupe), Scotty B. White (driver of the No. 3 NayKid Racing Dodge Viper Comp. Coupe) and the entire NayKid Racing team during the World Challenge ALMS event at Mosport was amazing. It was great getting down and dirty; pulling off tires, watching the crew tweak the suspension settings, helping to move the war wagon up to the pits and watching the drivers in action. I love getting my hands dirty and I enjoyed being right in the middle of everything… doing the best that I could to be useful and beneficial to the team.  It was incredible.

Scotty, Cindi and the rest of the team were very warm and welcomed me and my family. Any question we had they answered with such passion. Whenever they had a minute of downtime they came over to chat with my wife Krystal and play with my daughter Carrera. We were fortunate to have lunch with Scotty one day.  We sat down and talked about how he got started in racing and what his favorite cars were. It was a great experience I will never forget.

Just like that lunch with Scotty, the whole weekend gave me a real insight into how a team operates. It also put me into places that I never dreamed I would get to go. My pit lane access was amazing. Being able to watch the race from the pit wall was unbelievable. I have never been so close to a car going that fast. I had an awesome view of the final turn where you could see every car struggle to keep traction as it flies around through it, then watching them come hammering down the straightaway. The Speed World Challenge is a great series.

The team gave me an inside look into what actually happens on the track. I was able to chat with Fred (Lux, crew chief and Cindi Lux’s husband) as he was checking the suspension adjustments. He gave me some insight into how these teams are funded and cars prepared.

Upon seeing how the drivers and the crew interact, I noticed that everyone has great respect for each other. There was no talking down or yelling or any one person giving orders. Everyone would ask any other free person to give them a hand; it didn’t matter if it was a driver, crew chief or a Dodge technical person. No one was above changing a tire or putting the hood on. Everyone worked as a team and got the job done. In the NayKid Racing camp there are no egos. No one is too good to do a task. The guy cleaning the car is just as important as the drivers!

Cindi poses with her latest crew member.

After one of the practices I was able to sit in the lounge in the trailer with Scotty and Cindi to watch the review- or “debrief” as they call it- of the most recent on track session. On the laptop computer they had all the data: RPM, throttle position, what gear they were in, how many g-forces they were pulling. They studied and analyzed the computer endlessly. Then the drivers would compare their laps, corner by corner, to see how they could benefit or improve by taking the corner a little differently. There was a huge amount of trust and admiration between the drivers. It was neat to watch them in action. They wanted to find speed for themselves but also wanted to help each other. I found this intriguing to say the least.

Upon talking with one of their mechanics, Mark, I was filled in on little details that are big issues I never even knew existed! There is a constant battle to keep the cars clean and the decals in pristine condition. There is also the fact that such heavy restrictions have been placed on the Vipers from the race officials. The Dodge Viper Competition Coupe, in its ‘from the factory’ form, is just too powerful for the Corvettes and the Cadillacs.

I love all forms of road racing although I am a little biased towards Dodge. If you can build a car to compete then don’t hold back the natural born leader of a Viper and limit the displacement or air to the motor. Don’t let the other cars get “goodies” and then retard the Vipers. If anything, run stock motor to stock motor! But that’s just my opinion and I do have just a small bias on this subject.

The team was an absolute joy to be with. Every member of NayKid Racing made our whole family feel like we were a part of their family and team. When Dodge told us that we would have a true behind the scenes access on a race team… they really meant it. We were never once asked to leave. We were able to listen to any conversation that we felt like.

NayKid Racing is a pretty special group of racers that really deserve a lot of success on the track. Unfortunately our time with the team seemed far too short. It was a great experience and I wish I could be given another opportunity to do it all over again! I have always loved Dodge vehicles for their tough, powerful, and safe designs. Having been given an opportunity to see inside a world that, until now, I had only ever been on the other side looking in, why would I go anywhere else?  I can never thank Dodge and NayKid Racing enough for this experience. This truly was a one of a time experience.