1on1: Jimmy Makar

Jimmy Makar has been involved in stock-car racing for more than 30 years, including the last 17 as a valuable employee with Joe Gibbs Racing. In fact, he was one of the first ever hired by JGR -- nearly six months before the team's first race in February 1992.

He served as crew chief for Dale Jarrett when Jarrett won the 1993 Daytona 500 -- scoring JGR's first victory at what now is the Sprint Cup level. Currently the senior vice president of racing operations for the organization, Makar also spent eight seasons as crew chief for driver Bobby Labonte when Labonte drove the No. 18 Chevrolet for JGR. During that span, Labonte and Makar teamed to score a total of 19 race victories, the 2000 series championship, 20 poles and 143 top-10 finishes.

Making of Makar

	Born: March 24, 1956
	Hometown: Cedar Knolls, N.J.
	Current residence: Statesville, N.C.
	Family: Wife Patti, 13-year-old twin sons Alex and Dillon.
	Worked under: Robert Gee, Junior Johnson, Buddy Parrot, Harry Hyde.
	Crew chief for: Rusty Wallace (1991); Dale Jarrett (1992-94); Bobby Labonte (1995-2003).
	Wins as crew chief: 22
	Current position: Senior vice president of racing operations for Joe Gibbs Racing.
	Favorite off-track past-time: Fishing (he once landed a tarpon that weighed between 150 and 175 pounds).

Makar also worked earlier in his career for Penske Racing, and was the chassis specialist at Blue Max Racing when driver Rusty Wallace won the 1989 Cup championship.

He began his long career in NASCAR working with the legendary body-specialist Robert Gee, and has at various times also worked with the likes of Junior Johnson, Harry Hyde and Buddy Parrot. He sat down with NASCAR.COM recently and shot the bull.

Q: What's it like to become a senior vice president of racing operations, in charge of three teams, after many years of being a crew chief in charge of only one?

Makar: The biggest difference is trying to look ahead, have a long-term vision of the future. When you're a crew chief, you're worried about the next race in front of you and that's about it. And you've got fewer people and fewer things to worry about. But doing what I do now, I'd be lying if I didn't admit that there are still times when you wish you were living more in the moment on top of that pit box. I'm on top of the pit box now, too, but I'm not the one making the calls on race day.

Q: How long did it take you to get comfortable in your current role?

Makar: It took, I'll say, a good three years before I was finally able to shake that feeling. It gets in your blood. I assume it is just like driving a racecar. It's something you get used to, and you enjoy. You enjoy the adrenaline rush; you enjoy the decision-making process ... you're in the heat of the battle. For someone who is competitive, that's what you thrive on. So it took a long time to get rid of that feeling.

Q: Talk about coming down to North Carolina from New Jersey, where you grew up, and how you hooked up with Robert Gee ...

Makar: It kind of started when my dad bought a racecar from Roger Penske way back in 1975 or 1976. He just wanted to do a little stock-car racin' part-time. Back then you could buy a Cup car and go race with a very little bit of money. So we did that, and got it wrecked in Dover, Del., and tore it up pretty bad. We had to send it back down to New Jersey, where we were living at the time.

So I had to get the frame straightened and get a clip put on it -- I think it was a front and a rear clip. We had a lot of work to do to it and we were stuck for money. It was just a family operation. So my dad said to kind of do whatever I could do to get the car worked on.

Morgan Shepherd was driving the car part-time at the time, and he suggested to get the body put back on the car by Robert Gee. He knew who Robert was. So we took it to Robert and I told Robert I would hang around and help on the car to help defray any costs that we could. And he said, 'Fine, that's what we'll do. I'll put you to work. But we won't be starting on your car for a while. You're welcome to stay and hang out.'

Q: So that's how you got your start in the business?

Makar: He offered me a room at his house right there at the shop. So I lived with him and worked on all kinds of odds and ends. Basically I learned how to work on racecars from him, as far as body work and fabrication were concerned. He just took me in like a son. I stayed there for several months until we got our car fixed.

When I got ready to leave, he told me that if I ever wanted a job to give him a call and he would give me a job. I went home and it wasn't but a couple of weeks later that I already had that itch and that desire to come back. So I called him up and he said, 'Sure, come on down.' So I went back down there and that's where I got my start." (Continued)