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Alex Garcia (driver)
Encyclopedia
Alex García is a Venezuelan professional stock car driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He currently drives the 98 Dixien/OmniSource Chevrolet for Transnet Racing
, a team which García owns. Alex García made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in the 2007 Telcel Motorola Mexico 200 in Mexico City
, where he became the first Venezuela
n to race in one of NASCAR's top three series.
with his family in 1988 at the age of 11. He and his family settled in Marietta, Georgia
, where he still lives today.
At the age of 16, several years after his Argentine
uncle sparked his interest in racing, García drove his first race car. After that, García decided to embark on a career in professional racing.
An owner of his equipment from the beginning of his racing career, García formed Transnet Racing, which began with a single mechanic in his parents' garage, and has now grown into an established organization with a 10000 square feet (929 m²) shop in Morrow, GA, just south of Atlanta
.
. In 1994 Alex raced at the amateur level in SCCA Formula Vee
racing, scoring five top-five finishes in his first season. The following year García moved up to Formula Ford
racing, where multiple victories and eleven top-five finishes progressed his career from regional racing to success at the national level. By 1997 Alex was able to go pro, racing Formula Ford 2000. 1998 was a successful season in Formula Ford 2000, and García earned top-ten and top-five finishing and starting positions throughout the season.
By 2000 García developed a sponsorship deal with Dixien Automotive Stampings and OmniSource, relationships which still exist today, and this allowed García to begin full-time racing in Atlantic Championship.
In 2004, the Atlantic operation expanded to a two car team, and Transnet Racing began to experience tremendous success in the series, earning the first of the team’s podium finishes, with both cars consistently bringing home top-five's and top-ten's. Seeking to diversify his skills, García began to test other forms of auto racing, which led to experimentation with Daytona Prototype, and, ultimately, stock car racing.
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In 2005 García received an invitation to compete in the Six Hours of Bogotá, finishing second in a field of over 64 cars. That same year García tested his first stock car at Peach State Speedway, and made his official stock car debut at Music City Motorplex
in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division
. Participating in five races with Clyde Moody Enterprises, Alex earned several top-tens, as well as a POWERade Move of the Race award. Realizing his ultimate passion for full-bodied cars, García purchased his first stock car, and debuted in the ARCA RE/MAX Series
at Salem Speedway
in September 2006.
By December of the same year, Alex announced that Transnet Racing would run a partial NASCAR Nationwide Series season in 2007, focusing on road courses, at which he excelled.
In March 2007, Alex García made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Mexico, becoming the first Venezuelan to race in one of NASCAR's top three series. He competed in two other NASCAR Nationwide Series races that season, the inaugural NAPA Auto Parts 200
at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
in Montreal, Quebec, and the Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International
.
In 2008 García returned for the last NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Later that season, he competed at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which was a historic race in which teams competed in the rain for the first time in a NASCAR points event.
In 2009, Alex García plans to run his first full-time season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
Transnet Racing
Transnet Racing is a stock car racing team that currently competes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The team is a Minority Business Enterprise principally owned by Venezuelan driver Alex García....
, a team which García owns. Alex García made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in the 2007 Telcel Motorola Mexico 200 in Mexico City
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is a race track in Mexico City, Mexico, named for the famous racing drivers Ricardo and Pedro Rodríguez. The circuit got its name shortly after it opened when Ricardo Rodríguez died in practice for the non-Championship 1962 Mexican Grand Prix...
, where he became the first Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n to race in one of NASCAR's top three series.
Background
Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, García immigrated to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with his family in 1988 at the age of 11. He and his family settled in Marietta, Georgia
Marietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
, where he still lives today.
At the age of 16, several years after his Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
uncle sparked his interest in racing, García drove his first race car. After that, García decided to embark on a career in professional racing.
An owner of his equipment from the beginning of his racing career, García formed Transnet Racing, which began with a single mechanic in his parents' garage, and has now grown into an established organization with a 10000 square feet (929 m²) shop in Morrow, GA, just south of Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
Open Wheel career
Alex García began his racing career in open wheel racingOpen wheel car
Open-wheel car, formula car, or often single-seater car in British English, describes cars with the wheels outside the car's main body and, in most cases, one seat. Open-wheel cars contrast with street cars, sports cars, stock cars, and touring cars, which have their wheels below the body or fenders...
. In 1994 Alex raced at the amateur level in SCCA Formula Vee
Formula Vee
Formula Vee is a popular open wheel, single seater junior motor racing formula, with relatively low costs in comparison to Formula Ford or Formula BMW....
racing, scoring five top-five finishes in his first season. The following year García moved up to Formula Ford
Formula Ford
Formula Ford is a single seater, open wheel class in motorsport which exists in some form in many countries around the world. It is an entry-level series to motor racing....
racing, where multiple victories and eleven top-five finishes progressed his career from regional racing to success at the national level. By 1997 Alex was able to go pro, racing Formula Ford 2000. 1998 was a successful season in Formula Ford 2000, and García earned top-ten and top-five finishing and starting positions throughout the season.
By 2000 García developed a sponsorship deal with Dixien Automotive Stampings and OmniSource, relationships which still exist today, and this allowed García to begin full-time racing in Atlantic Championship.
In 2004, the Atlantic operation expanded to a two car team, and Transnet Racing began to experience tremendous success in the series, earning the first of the team’s podium finishes, with both cars consistently bringing home top-five's and top-ten's. Seeking to diversify his skills, García began to test other forms of auto racing, which led to experimentation with Daytona Prototype, and, ultimately, stock car racing.
Transition to stock cars
Music City Motorplex
Fairgrounds Speedway is a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racetrack located at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds near downtown Nashville, Tennessee. The track is one of the oldest tracks in the United States. The track held NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup races from 1958 to 1984...
in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division
NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series
The NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series was a NASCAR-sanctioned amateur/semi-pro racing series based in the Southeastern United States. The series was formerly known as the Slim Jim All Pro Series. The drivers who have graduated from this series include Shawna Robinson, Rick Crawford,...
. Participating in five races with Clyde Moody Enterprises, Alex earned several top-tens, as well as a POWERade Move of the Race award. Realizing his ultimate passion for full-bodied cars, García purchased his first stock car, and debuted in the ARCA RE/MAX Series
ARCA RE/MAX Series
-History:The series started as a local touring group. Led by John Marcum, the Midwest Association for Race Cars was formed with drivers like Iggy Katona and Nelson Stacy being early drivers.The series became a part of the Daytona Speedweeks in 1964...
at Salem Speedway
Salem Speedway
Salem Speedway is a .555 mile long paved oval motor racetrack in Washington Township, Washington County, near Salem, Indiana, approximately south of Indianapolis. It opened in 1947. Major auto racing series that run at Salem are ARCA, USAR and the USAC...
in September 2006.
By December of the same year, Alex announced that Transnet Racing would run a partial NASCAR Nationwide Series season in 2007, focusing on road courses, at which he excelled.
NASCAR career
NAPA Auto Parts 200
The NAPA Auto Parts 200 Presented by Dodge is a NASCAR Nationwide Series race that takes place at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec, Canada since 2007. It takes place in August, replacing the Champ Car World Series and Atlantic Championship Grand Prix of Montreal...
at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a motor racing circuit, venue for the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series....
in Montreal, Quebec, and the Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen International is an auto race track located near Watkins Glen, New York, at the southern tip of Seneca Lake. The facility is owned by International Speedway Corporation...
.
In 2008 García returned for the last NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Later that season, he competed at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which was a historic race in which teams competed in the rain for the first time in a NASCAR points event.
In 2009, Alex García plans to run his first full-time season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.