Getting to know Travis Mack, front-end mechanic for the No. 88 Chevrolet
CONCORD, N.C. - Although he grew up racing, Travis Mack originally planned to be a doctor and work in surgery. Still the rush of racing was too strong, and when he realized he could have a future in NASCAR, he chose that route. Meet Travis:
Full name: Travis Steven Mack
Nickname: TMACK.
Hometown: Louisville, Ky.
Education: Louisville Male High School Graduate; spent two years at the University of Louisville.
Team/Job duties: Front-end mechanic for the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet.
Time at current job: Six years.
Years in racing: My entire life.
First racing job: I was a mechanic on Frank Kimmel's ARCA team. We won three championships while I was with the team.
First job overall: Cutting grass, bagging groceries.
If I wasn't in racing I would be: I actually was going to school to be a doctor. I really wanted to work in surgery. I worked at the hospital as a surgical tech while I was in school. I loved all the fast-paced ER stuff.
Best racing memory: My last race at Salem Speedway in Indiana. I started the Halloween 200. They start every car that shows up, and there were about 110 cars starting three-wide. I was on the second row inside, and I wrecked coming to the green flag. I flipped over and was pushed all the way into Turns 1 and 2. I got out safely and packed up and moved to Charlotte, N.C., to start my career as a mechanic and no longer be a driver.
Favorite track: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.
Favorite Hendrick Motorsports win: Jeff Gordon’s win at Chicagoland Speedway in 2006 when we spun [Matt] Kenseth to win the race. Gordon’s No. 24 car was awesome.
Hobbies outside of racing: Basketball, working out and golf.
Favorite sport other than racing: University of Kentucky college basketball.
On an offweekend you can find me: At the beach or on the lake.
Favorite vacation spot: Mexico.
Pet: Bristol, who is Morkie (half-Maltese, half-Yorkie). Bristol is a 200-pound dog stuck in 10-pound dog’s body.
Favorite movie: “Old School.”
Favorite book: The Bible.
Favorite music: Country and hip hop.
Best concert you’ve ever been to: Kenny Chesney with Keith Urban, Tim McGraw and Montgomery Gentry
What you’ll find on my iPod: Old school rap.
Favorite phone app: Calorie Counter.
My current car is: 2009 Chevy Silverado. My very first car was a 1987 Chevrolet IROC-Z Camaro.
Dream car: A 1968 Chevrolet SS Camaro.
If I could meet anyone, I’d meet: Muhammad Ali.
Favorite food: Big Daddy’s Buffalo Burger.
If I ran NASCAR, I’d: Give myself a raise.
One thing people don’t know about me: I am a future championship crew chief for Hendrick Motorsports.
Before the race, I always: Eat a lot of food, usually peanut butter, because I need something to hold me over for about five to six hours.
I knew I wanted a job in NASCAR when: I realized I could get paid to go racing.
Best part of your job: Meeting all the neat people on weekends at the tracks.
Favorite Hendrick Motorsports paint scheme: Chip Foose’s 24 paint scheme from 2006 – the No. 24 No. 24 DuPont Hot Hues Heat Waves and Flames Chevrolet. That car was awesome.