Ron Otto Named BAM Racing Crew Chief
Ohio native has rookie experience
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Ron Otto, an experienced leader who has worked with
some of the top names in motorsports, has been named crew chief for the
#49 BAM Racing Dodge of rookie driver Brent Sherman. Otto was promoted
from car chief.
"We are very excited that Ron Otto will be leading our race team in
2006, and working with Brent Sherman," said Beth Ann Morgenthau, who
owns BAM Racing along with her husband, Tony.
"Brent's potential as a driver and Ron's experience in working with
rookie drivers, not to mention his talents and skills mechanically and as
an organizational leader, will lead to a great year for our race team,"
Ms. Morgenthau said.
The 41-year-old Otto is a native of Gahanna, Ohio, just outside of
Columbus, but has been working in NASCAR racing since he began has a
fabricator for Bobby Dotter. Otto is a former car chief for Richard
Childress Racing, where he worked with Dale Earnhardt, and has worked
with Terry Labonte and Mike Skinner in the past. As crew chief for the
startup of Tommy Baldwin Racing in the 2004 NASCAR Busch Series, Otto
began a team with just four people, competed with seven different drivers
-- including two rookies who had never been in a Busch car -- in a single
season.
"Yeah, that was an experience," Otto laughed, "but one that could help
in working with Brent this year. If nothing else, I have an idea of what
to expect and areas where I can be the most help. All indications are he
has a tremendous amount of potential, and I like the fact he wants to
race hard.
"This is a great opportunity for me and I really appreciate Beth Ann,
Tony and (General Manager) Eddie Jones having the faith in me to do
this," he continued. "I've watched this team grow and improve over the
years, and I know they are solid and headed in the right direction. I
know I am not the only one here looking forward to a really bright
future."
Otto is engaged to Renee Sanders, and has two sons, R.J. and Kacey.
Otto will have a strong driver behind the wheel. Runnerup only to the
legendary Frank Kimmel for the 2004 ARCA championship, Sherman exhibited
the consistency necessary for success in the major leagues of stock car
racing. That came after his first full season in ARCA, when Sherman
finished fourth in the final national standings. This past season, he has
competed in 25 NASCAR Busch Series events with a pair of different teams.
The 31-year-old Sherman is a native of North Barrington, Ill., on the
northwest side of Chicago.
The team is owned by the Morgenthaus, investors from Coral Gables, Fla.
Ms. Morgenthau, whose initials make up the name of the team -- BAM Racing
-- is the only female car owner in motorsports to become involved without
prior family connections. General manager Eddie Jones is a veteran of
the NASCAR Nextel Cup wars, enjoying a championship career as a crew
chief, mechanic and team leader.
-bam-
