Jeff Perley leaves KB Racing LLC, Enters private business
At Monday's NHRA POWERade Awards Ceremony, Ken Black, team owner of
the KB Racing LLC team, made official the resignation of Jeff Perley,
co-crew chief for the two Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stock Pontiac GTOs
driven by Greg Anderson and Jason Line.
Perley, who joined KB Racing LLC prior to the 2003 season, will enter
the business world as owner of an 8-bay Goodyear Tire and Service
Center, in downtown Charlotte (N.C.), on Eastway at Central, which
will handle light and medium (cooling systems, transmissions, brakes,
suspensions, etc.) duty repairs and, of course, tires.
"Jeff has been a valued employee and friend," said Black. "I personally
hate to see him leave. Jeff has been a major part of our success. I wish
him well in his new endeavor and know that if he continues the effort he
gave our team he will be a success with Goodyear.
"I can't wait to visit Jeff now that he is on the other side of the
fence. He will no longer be the employee and now must face the life of
employer. It's a whole different world. At least now I know where to go
when we need a good deal on Goodyear tires."
Jeff knows it will be different. "When you go from being a hired hand
to being responsible for making the payments at the end of the month,
that's different," he said with a laugh. "I'll now be more in touch
with what goes on financially. At KB Racing, Ken took care of all
the financial obligations and paid the bills, now that falls on my
shoulders.
"Leaving KB Racing was one of the hardest decisions I had to make.
Racing has been my career for my entire adult life. Also, to work as
hard as this team works and achieve the success we've reached, it's hard
to turn it off. Those two reasons alone really made the decision to go
in a different direction tough.
"Something was going to be sacrificed. It was either my family, with
two small children, or it was that I wasn't going to be able to put the
time with the team that it takes to a championship caliber contender.
At this time in my life I opted to spend more time with my family. Both
jobs are time consuming but being home allows me greater flexibility to
accomplish the things necessary to run a business and spend time with
the family."
The drivers of the KB Racing LLC, Summit Racing Pontiacs also expressed
their appreciation for Parley's dedication to his job while at KB
Racing.
"Jeff has been an instrumental part of the four consecutive POWERade
championships that KB Racing has earned over the past four seasons,"
said Anderson. "He has been an asset to both Jason and me during his
time here. I, like everyone on this team, hate to see him leave but we
all wish him success with the new business."
Line echoed Anderson's thoughts. "Jeff is as good as they come and along
with all the team at KB Racing saw to it that Greg and I had the cars
that were capable of winning -- and win they did. Jeff you'll be missed,
but good luck as you move on down the road. Best to you and the family,"
said Line.
-credit: kbr
