The drivers get the trophies, the television interviews and the championship stage photographs. The guys underneath the race cars get another oil pan to pull, another set of bearings to change and another engine to put back together before the next round.
Now, thanks to VizionOne Hand Cleaner, they’re getting something else for all that dirty work: money.
Since launching its Grunt of the Race program at Valdosta, Georgia, VizionOne has handed out $6,000 to bottom-end mechanics on winning NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car teams. It’s a program built around recognizing the crew members who rarely make it into the winner’s circle photographs but have plenty to do with getting the race car there.
And some of those mechanics have gotten pretty good at collecting checks.
Travis Vandermel, who handles bottom-end duties on Shawn Langdon’s Top Fuel dragster, leads the money chase with $1,750 following Langdon’s Rockingham victory. Funny Car mechanics Aaron Kelley, who works on Jordan Vandergriff’s car, and Jake Arceo, who services Matt Hagan’s machine, have each collected three Grunt of the Race awards.
For Vic Wood, VizionOne’s Racing Manager, Drag Racing Sales, handing out those checks has become one of the better parts of his weekend.
Wood, a longtime drag racing industry veteran who oversees the program, has spent much of the season making his way through the nitro pits, presenting awards and getting to know the people who use the company’s all-natural hand cleaner.
“Well, it obviously makes me feel good,” Wood said. “Everyone likes giving out money, and in this case I’m not giving out my money, so that’s even better.”
The money comes courtesy of VizionOne owner and veteran Pro Stock racer Rodger Brogdon, who finances the program. Wood said the response has been everything the company hoped for, even if some winners are more expressive than others.
“But thankfully Rodger Brogdon finances this deal and I think people just love it,” Wood said. “I mean, I’ve not had one guy, who refuses a check? A lot of them really light up. Some of them just say, ‘Thank you,’ but they all appreciate it.”
For Wood, the awards have also opened doors to relationships with the crews who actually use the product.
“And for us at VizionOne, it’s really worked for us,” Wood said. “It’s helped us build relationships with the teams, and most importantly, the people who use the hand [cleaner]. So yeah, it’s a pretty good deal.”
Vandergriff knows exactly what Wood is talking about. His bottom-end mechanic, Kelley, has collected three checks, and the driver jokes he probably should have negotiated a percentage before the winning started.
“If I had known Aaron was going to win the Grunt of the Race award this often, I might have worked out a deal with him where if I win, we all win,” Vandergriff said. “But I’m happy for him. He’s won three awards, and he deserves every dollar. He’s the guy underneath the car getting dirty and changing the bottom end. Nobody deserves the recognition more than he does.”
Vandergriff also sees something beyond the money. Bottom-end mechanics are among the busiest people between rounds, and their work doesn’t always get recognized outside the pit area.
“These guys deserve the publicity because no car at this racetrack gets down the track without their hard work,” Vandergriff said. “The bottom-end guys do some of the toughest work out here, and recognizing them gives them motivation to keep improving and advancing in their careers.
Aaron Kelley is my bottom-end guy, and I’m proud he’s getting this recognition.”
Kelley wasn’t surprised his team found success. When he joined the operation, he liked what he saw from the people making the tuning decisions.
“I had a great feeling coming into this year that we would’ve won a lot,” Kelley said. “And we have three Diamond Wallys to prove it. I got three big checks to prove it. And I say we’re going just good.”
Vandermel, meanwhile, has found that winning brings its own set of financial obligations, especially when the other crew members know how much money he’s collected.
Asked how often his teammates have leaned on him to buy the beer,
Vandermel didn’t hesitate.
“Every time,” he said.
And how much of that $1,750 does he have left?
“Little bit. Little bit. Saving it for the end of the year.”
