Bryan Reffner
Encyclopedia
Bryan Reffner is a veteran of the NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series
. He was also a champion in the American Speed Association
.
. He was named the ARTGO
Series (now NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest Series
) rookie-of-the-year in 1983. Reffner won three track championships in 1989 and 1990.
Reffner moved to the American Speed Association in 1994, and became the 1995 ASA champion.
for Mark Simo
. He finished the year with 3 top fives, 9 top tens, and three poles, finishing ninth in the points. He continued to run full-time in 1997
, posting two top-tens for Dale Phelon. In 1998, he started the year with Phelon, but was released, and spent the rest of the season running with Liberty Racing
and MB Motorsports
. He had eight top-tens and finished 22nd in points.
1999 turned out to be a short year for him, as he ran only 13 races. He started the year signed to drive for a new two-truck operation, Ridge Gate Motion Sports, owned by Mike Clark and Dominic Dobson
. However, he left the team early in the season as he felt the team had not lived up to its obligations, and spent the year with Conely Racing, running thirteen races. In 2000 however, he had a breakthrough year, driving for Team Menard
. He won his first career race at Texas Motor Speedway
, (a race that unfortunately marked the death
of Tony Roper
) and having 16 top tens, finishing 9th in the points. Four races into 2001 however, Team Menard suspended operations, and Reffner ran just a handful of races, for Conely and TKO Motorsports. He had three top-tens during that season. He ran three races in 2002, his best finish a thirteenth at Michigan. He also made his Busch Series
debut at Michigan. Driving the #0 for Conely, he started 25th and finished 29th. In 2003
, he made his last two CTS starts to date, driving his self-owned #80 at Richmond and Homestead, which he was involved in an accident with Brendan Gaughan
, which cost Gaughan the championship.
In 2003 he returned to the American Speed Association, and finished sixth in points.
In 2005
, Reffner made two starts for Smith Bros. Racing, but failed to finish higher than 35th. He also made a failed attempt at qualifying for the NEXTEL Cup
Phoenix race with Competitive Edge Motorsports
. He also was leading the points in the American Stockcar League series going into the final 3 races of 2005 and was declared the ASL Champion when the final races were canceled.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
. He was also a champion in the American Speed Association
American Speed Association
The American Speed Association is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana and currently is headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. ASA was most famous for a national touring series which began in 1973 but was...
.
Career prior to NASCAR
Reffner began racing at age 16. Reffner became a regular competitor in the late model division at Madison International SpeedwayMadison International Speedway
The Madison International Speedway is a stock car racing oval in the town of Rutland in rural Oregon, Wisconsin a short distance off of Wisconsin Highway 138. The track is billed as "The Track of Champions" and "Wisconsin's Fastest Half Mile." The weekly program at the track runs on Friday...
. He was named the ARTGO
ARTGO
The ARTGO Challenge Series was a United States midwest late model short track racing series that ran from 1975 until 1998. Many race car drivers have used the ARTGO series as a stepping stone to get into ASA, ARCA, and NASCAR. A guy by the name of Art Frigo created the series with the help of Bob...
Series (now NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest Series
NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest Series
The AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest Series is a defunct racing league that operated from 1998 to 2006 under the direction of NASCAR. The series raced light-weight late model race cars....
) rookie-of-the-year in 1983. Reffner won three track championships in 1989 and 1990.
Reffner moved to the American Speed Association in 1994, and became the 1995 ASA champion.
NASCAR career
Reffner made his Craftsman Truck Series debut in 1996, winning Rookie of the Year, driving the #44 1-800-COLLECT FordFord Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
for Mark Simo
Mark Simo
Mark Simo is an American race car driver and entrepreneur. He is the twin brother of racer Brian Simo. Currently, he is the CEO of No Fear, and is a co-owner of No Fear Racing....
. He finished the year with 3 top fives, 9 top tens, and three poles, finishing ninth in the points. He continued to run full-time in 1997
1997 in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
The 1997 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Season began on January 19 and ended on November 19. Jack Sprague of Hendrick Motorsports won the title.See also: 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 1997 NASCAR Busch Series- 1997 Team Chart :- Chevy Trucks Challenge :...
, posting two top-tens for Dale Phelon. In 1998, he started the year with Phelon, but was released, and spent the rest of the season running with Liberty Racing
Liberty Racing
Liberty Racing was a American auto racing team co-owned by former Cleveland Cavaliers player Brad Daugherty. The team ran a single Ford in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series between 1997 and 1999...
and MB Motorsports
MB Motorsports
MB Motorsports is a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team based in Foristell, Missouri owned by Mike Mittler. The team is one of few to field entries every year since the Series' inception in 1995...
. He had eight top-tens and finished 22nd in points.
1999 turned out to be a short year for him, as he ran only 13 races. He started the year signed to drive for a new two-truck operation, Ridge Gate Motion Sports, owned by Mike Clark and Dominic Dobson
Dominic Dobson
Dominic Dobson is a German-born former CART and Craftsman Truck Series driver who made 7 starts in the Indianapolis 500 with a best finish of 12th in 1992, over 60 starts in the CART , with a best finish of 3rd at the Michigan 500 in 1994...
. However, he left the team early in the season as he felt the team had not lived up to its obligations, and spent the year with Conely Racing, running thirteen races. In 2000 however, he had a breakthrough year, driving for Team Menard
Team Menard
Team Menard was an auto racing team in the Indianapolis 500 and Indy Racing League owned by John Menard. From 1991 to 1996 they modified their own Buick V6 engines for racing. This combination won pole for the 500 with Scott Brayton in 1995 and 1996; Tony Stewart used this combination for the first...
. He won his first career race at Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas....
, (a race that unfortunately marked the death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
of Tony Roper
Tony Roper
Anthony Dean "Tony" Roper was a NASCAR driver. He was born in Springfield, Missouri, to Dean Roper and Shirley Medley. Growing up his family was heavily involved in auto racing. Roper started racing in 1986. For the next six years Tony raced in IMCA Modifieds and late models on Midwest dirt and...
) and having 16 top tens, finishing 9th in the points. Four races into 2001 however, Team Menard suspended operations, and Reffner ran just a handful of races, for Conely and TKO Motorsports. He had three top-tens during that season. He ran three races in 2002, his best finish a thirteenth at Michigan. He also made his Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
debut at Michigan. Driving the #0 for Conely, he started 25th and finished 29th. In 2003
2003 in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
The 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season was the ninth season of the third highest stock car racing in the United States. The season included twenty-five races, beginning with the Florida Dodge Dealers 250 at Daytona International Speedway and ending with the Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway...
, he made his last two CTS starts to date, driving his self-owned #80 at Richmond and Homestead, which he was involved in an accident with Brendan Gaughan
Brendan Gaughan
Brendan Gaughan is an American stock car driver. Gaughan is the grandson of Vegas gaming pioneer Jackie Gaughan and son of Michael Gaughan, a hotel and casino magnate. Gaughan currently drives the #62 South Point Hotel & Casino Toyota Tundra for Germain Racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck...
, which cost Gaughan the championship.
In 2003 he returned to the American Speed Association, and finished sixth in points.
In 2005
2005 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 2005 season of the NASCAR Busch Series began with the Hershey's Take 5 300 at Daytona International Speedway and concluded with the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Martin Truex Jr...
, Reffner made two starts for Smith Bros. Racing, but failed to finish higher than 35th. He also made a failed attempt at qualifying for the NEXTEL Cup
NEXTEL Cup
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the top racing series of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing . The series was originally known as the Strictly Stock Series and Grand National Series . While leasing its naming rights to R. J...
Phoenix race with Competitive Edge Motorsports
Competitive Edge Motorsports
Competitive Edge Motorsports is a former NASCAR Nextel Cup Series team. It fielded the #51 Marathon Oil Chevrolet. Its principal owner was former NFL player Joe Auer....
. He also was leading the points in the American Stockcar League series going into the final 3 races of 2005 and was declared the ASL Champion when the final races were canceled.