ODDY CENTRAL TO TEAM OWNERSHIP CHANGE
Wed, 2010-08-04 16:00
For the better part of two years, representatives from the Kingdom of Bahrain have pursued the tuning services of Jim Oddy, who was lured out of retirement in 2008 to become crew chief for ADRL Pro Extreme points leader Joshua Hernandez.
With Monday’s announcement of the purchase of the team from ADRL co-founder Dave Wood by Bahrain’s Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the deal is finally done.
“I kind of helped put this thing together,” Oddy says, explaining that after more than 50 years in the sport he wasn’t interested in leaving a successful operation for another unknown future—or in leaving behind the guys he works with on Hernandez’s ride.
retirement in 2008 to become crew chief for ADRL Pro Extreme points leader Joshua Hernandez.
With Monday’s announcement of the purchase of the team from ADRL co-founder Dave Wood by Bahrain’s Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the deal is finally done.
“I kind of helped put this thing together,” Oddy says, explaining that after more than 50 years in the sport he wasn’t interested in leaving a successful operation for another unknown future—or in leaving behind the guys he works with on Hernandez’s ride.
“I didn’t want to do this unless I could bring my own people,” he says of the three-year agreement that will keep his current crew intact.
So, when the team loads up in October after settling the 2010 ADRL Battle for the Belts, engine builder and car chief Troy Critchley along with clutch and chassis man Roy Williams will be heading over to Bahrain with Oddy and Hernandez to contest the Arabian Drag Racing League’s eight-race season that begins in late November. Additionally, Oddy’s son, Dave, and teammate Charlie Taylor will remain on the crew for all stateside events.
Critchley and Williams also will be moving from the team’s present base in Houston, Texas, to set up shop in Mooresville, North Carolina, near Oddy’s “retirement” home.
Oddy says groundwork for the eventual sale began in March this year after Wood confirmed he was interested in selling the team he originally took over a few years ago from fellow ADRL co-founder Tommy Lipar.
“It just all worked out; the timeline was right for it,” he says. “They bought it all; car, rig, engines, tools; lock, stock and barrel, everything that goes with running a team like this.”
Hernandez says he learned of the ownership swap the same time as everyone else, when the news broke late last night on the official ADRL website. And though he never felt Wood was actively seeking a buyer, he’s not surprised to see the sale take place.
“Really, I don’t know much about it yet, but with economic times being what they are and considering all of Dave’s varied financial interests, I know if the right offer came along he’d have to consider it. You don’t turn down a good deal,” the ADRL’s most recent Pro Extreme winner says. “No matter what, it’s very exciting to think about because they’re taking a very accomplished team from the United States and turning it into a worldwide sensation. That’s pretty exciting.”
Oddy confirms his current cast of crewmembers is the best he’s ever worked with.
“If it’s not the best team in drag racing it’s definitely one of the best,” he states. “And the best part of it is that we have the most fun of everybody. Win or lose, we never get down on each other and we enjoy each other’s company and the racing we do as a group.”
Oddy will have a new group to work with in Bahrain, too, as tuning consultant to Sheikh Al Khalifa’s already established Pro Extreme team.
“They have a team with a local driver and crew chief that I know are very good and I’ll be helping them out, too,” he says. “It’s going to be a lot of work, but I’m excited about it.”
However, when asked if he also is on board for a three-year term the formerly retired drag racing legend appears non-committal.
“If everything goes well and I’m having fun and I enjoy it, we’ll see,” Oddy says. “The moment I’m not having fun, that’ll be it.”
With Monday’s announcement of the purchase of the team from ADRL co-founder Dave Wood by Bahrain’s Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the deal is finally done.
“I kind of helped put this thing together,” Oddy says, explaining that after more than 50 years in the sport he wasn’t interested in leaving a successful operation for another unknown future—or in leaving behind the guys he works with on Hernandez’s ride.
For the better part of two years, representatives from the Kingdom of Bahrain have pursued the tuning services of Jim Oddy, who was lured out of
Pro Modified icon and tuner Jim Oddy was instrumental in facillitating the sale of the Dave Wood team to Bahrain’s Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
With Monday’s announcement of the purchase of the team from ADRL co-founder Dave Wood by Bahrain’s Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the deal is finally done.
“I kind of helped put this thing together,” Oddy says, explaining that after more than 50 years in the sport he wasn’t interested in leaving a successful operation for another unknown future—or in leaving behind the guys he works with on Hernandez’s ride.
“I didn’t want to do this unless I could bring my own people,” he says of the three-year agreement that will keep his current crew intact.
So, when the team loads up in October after settling the 2010 ADRL Battle for the Belts, engine builder and car chief Troy Critchley along with clutch and chassis man Roy Williams will be heading over to Bahrain with Oddy and Hernandez to contest the Arabian Drag Racing League’s eight-race season that begins in late November. Additionally, Oddy’s son, Dave, and teammate Charlie Taylor will remain on the crew for all stateside events.
Critchley and Williams also will be moving from the team’s present base in Houston, Texas, to set up shop in Mooresville, North Carolina, near Oddy’s “retirement” home.
Oddy says groundwork for the eventual sale began in March this year after Wood confirmed he was interested in selling the team he originally took over a few years ago from fellow ADRL co-founder Tommy Lipar.
“It just all worked out; the timeline was right for it,” he says. “They bought it all; car, rig, engines, tools; lock, stock and barrel, everything that goes with running a team like this.”
Hernandez says he learned of the ownership swap the same time as everyone else, when the news broke late last night on the official ADRL website. And though he never felt Wood was actively seeking a buyer, he’s not surprised to see the sale take place.
“Really, I don’t know much about it yet, but with economic times being what they are and considering all of Dave’s varied financial interests, I know if the right offer came along he’d have to consider it. You don’t turn down a good deal,” the ADRL’s most recent Pro Extreme winner says. “No matter what, it’s very exciting to think about because they’re taking a very accomplished team from the United States and turning it into a worldwide sensation. That’s pretty exciting.”
With Monday’s announcement of the purchase of the team from ADRL co-founder Dave Wood by Bahrain’s Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the deal is finally done.
Oddy confirms his current cast of crewmembers is the best he’s ever worked with.
“If it’s not the best team in drag racing it’s definitely one of the best,” he states. “And the best part of it is that we have the most fun of everybody. Win or lose, we never get down on each other and we enjoy each other’s company and the racing we do as a group.”
Oddy will have a new group to work with in Bahrain, too, as tuning consultant to Sheikh Al Khalifa’s already established Pro Extreme team.
“They have a team with a local driver and crew chief that I know are very good and I’ll be helping them out, too,” he says. “It’s going to be a lot of work, but I’m excited about it.”
However, when asked if he also is on board for a three-year term the formerly retired drag racing legend appears non-committal.
“If everything goes well and I’m having fun and I enjoy it, we’ll see,” Oddy says. “The moment I’m not having fun, that’ll be it.”
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