CHAMPION OWNER: Bill McAnally
Just five years after winning his fifth championship, McAnally finds himself once again celebrating a championship at the end of the season.
“It’s amazing,” said McAnally. “I never thought I’d have six championships. It’s the pinnacle of a racing program, it means we’re the best of the best. It’s very rewarding to be able to share and experience this with everyone.”
This season celebrated Bill McAnally Racing’s 25th year in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. In that time, Bill McAnally Racing (BMR) has earned more than 60 wins and six championship title in the series.
Throughout the years, Bill McAnally Racing has fielded many successful drivers such as Cole Custer, three-time K&N West champion Eric Holmes and Brendan Gaughan. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver, Clint Bowyer, even made two starts for McAnally prior to his NASCAR XFINITY debut.
“Our team is 100 percent all about the people,” said McAnally. “We find the right people for the right positions and that’s why we have success.”
CHAMPION: CHRIS EGGLESTON | CHAMPION CREW CHIEF: ROGER BRACKEN
It’s been quite the ride for McAnally. He started racing in 1986 as a hobby while he was working at a utility company. In 1990, he won the Winston West championship and continued to run select races until 1998, it was then he began to think about retiring from racing. It was when he was approached by a driver and his father about preparing a car for them he found a new path: a car owner.
After a successful test, he talked with his longtime sponsor and partner, NAPA and got them in a car. The gamble paid off when they won their first race later that year. The following season, McAnally decided to field a full-time ride and earned two wins and captured his first championship as an owner.
“From there, everything kicked off and we’ve continued our success,” McAnally said. “We won three consecutive championships from 1999-2001 with Sean Woodside and Gaughan and we were able to work our way into a two car team in 2001.”
With McAnally every step of the way was his longtime sponsor NAPA. This season also marked the 25th anniversary of NAPA Auto Parts sponsorship of Bill McAnally Racing. NAPA and their various NAPA family counterparts have all contributed to the team’s success in one way or another throughout the years.
“We couldn’t have done any of it without NAPA,” said McAnally. They’ve supported me since I started racing and have stayed with me. Our relationship as truly grown into something great.”
Sources: Brooke Franceschini, NASCAR