Tim Bainey Jr, his Family, and the DelGrosso Team - What Racing is All About

Tim Bainey Jr. and his DelGrosso Racing Team have been busy the first few months of 2006.

On the track, Tim Jr. and the team had a win in their very first outing with the DelGrosso Racing #15 Ford Fusion at Jennerstown Speedway. The guys have also been spending a lot of time out on the USAR Hooter’s ProCup Series Tour, where Tim Jr. competes full time. It’s been an impressive schedule to keep, but what they have been doing off the Track is a Great Story all in its own.

The Bainey family has always been known for their involvement with charitable groups and kids organizations across the country. Tim Sr. started the family tradition through his own racing career, the family’s good-heartedness and compassion for helping others is widely recognized as the backbone of their racing organization.

This year has been no different, as the team has already participated in numerous benefits on behalf of groups like the Navasky Foundation, the Children’s Miracle Network, the Cancer Survivor’s Association, Boy Scouts of America, Make a Wish, and Dr. Seuss’s Read Across America.

“We are really fortunate to be able to do the things we do,” said Tim Jr. “To do what I do, with the family that I have, and the people that we have supporting us - it can be a lot of work sometimes, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Just 2 weeks ago Tim Jr. and his family spent a weekend at the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon hosted by DelGrosso’s Amusement Park in Tipton, PA.

“It was great,” Tim Jr. said with a smile. “We got to meet a lot of great people. It was a huge turnout, the kids that came out were amazing. The families we got to meet made us all smile. I don’t know the final tally, but we raised a lot of money for a really great organization.”

Tim Jr. and his team provided one of the day’s most popular attractions during the event with a new “Children’s Miracle Network” Hood that will be raced during one of their outings with a NASCAR Super Late Model at Jennerstown Speedway in a few weeks. “The best part was having the fans sign the hood,” said Tim Jr.

The new CMN hood was set up on display while Tim Jr. signed autographs that afternoon. Fans were invited to make a donation to CMN and in turn they would step up and sign their name on the actual CMN hood that Tim Jr. will race in a few weeks.

And that is just one of the many outings the family has participated in so far this year.

“Like I said, it is great, I just wish we had more time to do more of this stuff,” said Tim Jr. “We went through the local elementary schools a few weeks ago, visiting classrooms and reading to kids – I even put on one of those crazy “Cat in the Hat” hats for the day.”

“We’ve been to a few Pine Wood Derbies with different Boy Scout Groups here around home. We’ve had some great people join us for races as VIP Guests. We have a program set up with the Navasky Foundation where we bring cancer survivors and their families to some events with us.”

“I’m telling you, it is just great to be able to help people out like this. And you know I really have to thank my great sponsors for giving us the opportunity to be able to do this kind of stuff, because without them – we wouldn’t have the kind of pull it takes to put these events together.”

“I just smile when people tell me ‘you’re lucky’ or ‘I wish I could do that’. They always want to know how they can get to where our team is at, or to where I am, or how to become a driver, or some kind of advice. I always tell them the same thing – its something my parents have told me since I was little – Just keep doing what you think is right, do good things for good people as often as you can… and it will all work itself out.”

The more good things they do, the better it seems to get all the way around.

 

Last year while driving for his family owned team, Tim Jr. finished 10^th in the USAR Hooter’s ProCup Series Regular Season Point Standings. And although this year has started off with what Tim Jr. classifies as a “not what we were planning on” start – the team’s Primary sponsor in the series “Greased Lightning” is enjoying its status as arguably the most recognized brand in the Nationally Televised USAR Series.

It’s no secret Greased Lightning’s success has a lot to do with Tim Jr.’s likeability among the fans. “It helps when people like you,” said Tim Jr. “As a racer you want to run upfront and win a few races. But no matter what happens on the track, it really makes you feel good to hear people talk about our fans and our reputation with the people across the country.”

Last week during the pre-race autograph session at Jennerstown Speedway, his popularity with the USAR fans was clearly at the head of the field.

“The autograph sessions are great,” said Tim Jr. “Our sponsors understand the best way to gauge the success of our marketing program together is to look at the reaction we get from the fans. We try to be good people and the fans appreciate that. They always leave with a smile on their face.”

“Fans understand that we couldn’t do this without our sponsors, and it’s great when you see them show their support by taking pride in our sponsor’s products. I hear some great stories about – how much they really like the DelGrosso Sauce, or the Greased Lightning, or even visiting the amusement park with their families, and things like that – it makes you smile.”

“It’s like a big circle. Because it really does tie back into us being able to do the things we do with kids and the charities, and really anyone we can help out. The fans really take us and our sponsors to heart because they know that we care about doing good things and treating people right.”

“Like my parents always taught me - Just keep doing what you think is right, do good things for good people as often as you can… and it will all work itself out.”

So far it has seemed to work itself out pretty well for the young driver and his family operated Team. If you look at his fans, his following, his sponsors, his on the track success, and his reputation in the racing community… It might be some good advice for everyone!  

To keep up with the DelGrosso Racing Team and all of their action in the 2006 season visit the ALL NEW www.DelgrossoRacing.com. Take a look around, enjoy your visit, and make your plans to see Tim Bainey Jr. and the DelGrosso Racing Team in Action this Summer!

Bainey and DelGrosso - Its Family Tradition - Like No Other!