Racing Experience:

Started racing quarter midgets at age six and became a national champion as well as a member of the Quarter Midgets of America Hall of Fame. Began racing IMCA modifieds at age sixteen. At Kalamazoo (Mich.) Speedway, Terry earned NASCAR limited late model Rookie of the Year in 1996 and NASCAR super late model Rookie of the Year in 1997. Debuted in American Speed Association ASA in 1997. Competed in Kendall Indiana late model series throughout 1998. Toured with NASCAR RE/MAX series 1999. Competed in the NASCAR All-Pro series in 2000. Attended driver development schools at Finish Line Racing School, Bob Bondurant High Performance Driving School, and Fast Track.

Career Highlights:

2001-Current: Employed with the Richard Petty Driving Experience as the Head Driving Instructor for the Southern Region. Through out the years he has logged thousands of miles driving NEXTEL Cup style stock cars on NEXTEL Cup and Busch tracks. These tracks include Daytona, Atlanta, Charlotte, Michigan, Texas, Chicagoland, Kansas, Homestead, Kentucky, St. Louis, Talladega, New Hampshire, Milwaukee Mile, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Richmond, Memphis, and the Walt Disney World Speedway.

2000: Competed in the NASCAR Slim Jim All-Pro series. Qualified on the
front row at Lakeland, Memphis, Myrtle Beach, Coastal Plains, and Lanier
where he won the pole by setting a new track record. He recorded 7 top ten
finishes throughout the 2000 season, including a second place finish at the
1.5 mile Kentucky Speedway.

1999: Raced in NASCAR RE/MAX Challenge Series at tracks throughout the Midwest including Pikes Peak and Gateway International. Attended the Fast Track driving school.
1998: Finished second in Rookie of the Year points championship in the Kendall Indiana Late Model Series. Set track record at Winchester Speedway.

1997: Named NASCAR Rookie of the Year at Kalamazoo (Mich.) Speedway in super late model division. Earned three feature wins, 11 top five finishes and 14 top ten finishes in 18 races. Six-time fast qualifier. Finished third in points. Made ASA debut at Jennerstown, Pa. and Kenly, N.C. finishing 20th and 16th respectively. Attended Bob Bondurant High Performance Driving School in Phoenix where he was rated ~Best in class". Received highest evaluation score ever awarded by school instructor.

1996: Named NASCAR Rookie of the Year at Kalamazoo Speedway in limited late model division. Earned seven feature wins, 18 top-five finishes and 21 top-ten finishes in 21 races. Two-time fast qualifier. Finished third in points. At South Bend Motor Speedway he was six-time fast qualifier, tenth in points.

1994-'95: Earned feature wins at South Bend, New Paris, Capital and Southwest Michigan Speedways. Named New Paris Speedway's "Sportsman of the Year". Competed at nine different tracks on the IMCA modified series. Attended Finish Line Racing School in Daytona. Honored for fast time in modified and late model cars.

1984-1993: Competed in quarter midgets. Achievements included: 1985 Eastern Grand National Champion. Won over 100 feature races. Drove for "Mr. Quarter Midget" John Saunders.



This 29-Year-Old Could Be The Future of NASCAR

Since he began driving quarter midgets at age six, Gary Terry has been programmed to succeed on and off the track in NASCAR.

Now the 29-year-old just needs a chance to climb the ladder.

“NEXEL Cup is my goal, but for now I am focusing on the Sunbelt and Bright House series. I'm not trying to rush anything, but I realize that the time for me to show my talent is running out. If given a chance I would not let any one down. It will take a lot of work, but I know that the NEXTEL Cup is where I belong.”

"I like what I'm racing now but I'd also love to drive a Craftsman truck or Busch car sometime soon. The tough part about this business is finding someone that will take a chance on you."

After being out of competitive racing for 6 years, Terry is back behind the wheel and ready to give it his all.

Back in 2000 Terry competed in both the NASCAR Slim Jim All-Pro series as well as the NASCAR Re/Max challenge series, Terry caught the attention of drivers, owners, and sponsors. Terry finished second at Kentucky Speedway, and qualified on the front row at Lakeland, Memphis, Myrtle Beach, Coastal Plains, and Lanier where he won the pole by setting a new track record. In his 3 Re/Max series starts, Terry recorded 2 top ten finishes including an eighth at Madison Internaional Speedway and a fifth at Gateway Raceway. He also finished 25th in the Southwest tour race in the Copper World Classic in Phoenix.

Terry is used to accolades. This member of the National Quarter Midget Hall of Fame has awards that include: late model and super late model rookie of the year at the Kalamazoo, Mich. race track as well as receiving the highest evaluation score ever awarded by school instructor at the Bondurant Driving School. But his most impressive award came in April of 2000 when he graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. Even his education was completed with an eye toward racing.

"The way racing has evolved, the driver has to understand what the sponsor is looking for when he comes into the sport," said Terry. "I thought if I had the knowledge that could help me understand the sponsor's needs, it would set me apart from all the other drivers.”

If Terry's success on and off the track continues he will have no trouble setting himself apart from the rest of the field.