Here's a comprehensive compilation of the men who own Nascar's various “power teams”, and how they made their fortunes.
Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (1 & 42)Chip Ganassi (Majority Owner)—An ex-racer turned businessman, Chip's driving career ended in a 1984 IndyCar crash. He turned his attention toward team-ownership while taking a more-active role in his father's real-estate business. The Nascar portion of Ganassi's holdings were previously partnered with the remnants of Dale Earnhardt Inc. OTHER SPORTS—Chip's most-visible business holding is his IndyCar team, which he owns independently of his Nascar partners. He also owns a successful sports-car racing team, and was a minority owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Felix Sabates (Minority Owner)--A self-made millionaire, Felix arrived in the US from Cuba. Working his way up through the ranks, he wound up making a fortune through Top Sales Corporation, purveyor of such items as the Teddy Ruxpin doll. He started the team that became Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates in 1989. OTHER SPORTS—Felix was a part-owner of the Charlotte Checkers minor-league hockey team in the 1990's. He also played a pivotal role in bringing the Charlotte Hornets basketball team into being.
Team Penske (2 & 22)
Roger Penske (Sole Owner)--Roger's professional career started as a racer. However, he soon transitioned to new-car sales, building his company into one of the largest dealership groups in the country. He has also expanded into such fields as leasing, truck rental, and various interests in the greater Detroit area. The current team began as Penske Racing South, a partnership with Rusty Wallace and Don Miller (eventually joined by Michael Kranefuss and, later, Doug Bawel). OTHER SPORTS—Roger has an extensive history in open-wheel racing, with a dominant record in the Indy 500.
Richard Childress Racing (3, 27, 31)
Richard Childress (Sole Owner)--Richard Childress is one of the only current Nascar team-owners to have made his fortune almost solely through racing. Richard was a driver himself in the 1970's, racing as an independent (an owner-driver with little-to-no manufacturer support). In a deal brokered by Nascar and Winston executives, Richard retired, briefly turning his ride over to Dale Earnhardt Sr. After a two year run with Ricky Rudd (during which the team scored its first wins), Earnhardt returned, allowing Childress to build his team into juggernaut status. Outside of racing, Richard's most-prominent investment is in the Childress Winery, a vineyard in North Carolina. During the previous decade, there were investors in the team as silent partners, but they were bought out a few years ago.
Stewart-Haas Racing (4, 10, 14, 41)
Gene Haas (Co-Owner)--Gene Haas built his namesake company, Haas Automation, from the ground up. His firm makes CNC machines—automated industrial machines, typically for commercial customers. He spent a brief time in federal prison for tax evasion in 2008. His team began as Haas CNC Racing, a “spin-off” of Hendrick Motorsports.
Gene Haas (Co-Owner)--Gene Haas built his namesake company, Haas Automation, from the ground up. His firm makes CNC machines—automated industrial machines, typically for commercial customers. He spent a brief time in federal prison for tax evasion in 2008. His team began as Haas CNC Racing, a “spin-off” of Hendrick Motorsports.
Tony Stewart (Co-Owner)--“Smoke” came into Nascar with Joe Gibbs Racing. After JGR switched to Toyota, Stewart began seeking a way to return to a team with General Motors (Chevy) support. In exchange for joining Gene Haas's struggling race team—as well as bringing then-sponsors Office Depot and Old Spice—Tony was given 50% ownership of what then became Stewart-Haas Racing.
Hendrick Motorsports (5, 24, 48, 88)Rick Hendrick (Sole Owner)--Rick Hendrick took his new-car dealership to the top in the Carolinas, allowing him to start his race team (originally known as All-Star Racing). A scandal involving bribery claims between Hendrick and Honda resulted in Rick spending a period under house arrest in the 1990s. Driver Jeff Gordon is the “listed owner” of Jimmie Johnson's #48 car, but other than recommending the hire of Johnson, he has little to do with the 48 team's day-to-day operations.
Richard Petty Motorsports (9, 43)
Andrew Murstein (Majority Owner)--Murstein is the chief executive (and owner) of Medallion Financial, which actually owns the majority of RPM. Murstein's family company acquired its wealth through the purchase, renting, and trading of taxicab medallions—licenses granted in large cities (like New York) to control the number of taxicabs on the streets.
Andrew Murstein (Majority Owner)--Murstein is the chief executive (and owner) of Medallion Financial, which actually owns the majority of RPM. Murstein's family company acquired its wealth through the purchase, renting, and trading of taxicab medallions—licenses granted in large cities (like New York) to control the number of taxicabs on the streets.
Doug Bergeron (Minority Owner)--Bergeron is a longtime executive in the technology industry, particularly in the finance/transaction field with companies such as VeriFone.
Richard Petty (Minority/Listed Owner)--“The King” is a seven-time Cup Champion, having won each of those titles running for the family-owned Petty Enterprises. PE was actually started by Richard's father Lee, a three-time Cup Champion. Day-to-day operation of PE had passed to Richard's son Kyle (a fellow racer) when majority interest in the team was sold to the Boston Ventures investment group. After sponsorship issues resulted in BV nearly shutting down the team, Richard essentially left Petty Enterprises, taking his name (and a small ownership stake) to what was then Gillett-Evernham Racing, which was then renamed Richard Petty Motorsports. When George Gillett nearly went bankrupt, Petty brokered the sale of the majority interest in the team to Murstein.
Richard Petty (Minority/Listed Owner)--“The King” is a seven-time Cup Champion, having won each of those titles running for the family-owned Petty Enterprises. PE was actually started by Richard's father Lee, a three-time Cup Champion. Day-to-day operation of PE had passed to Richard's son Kyle (a fellow racer) when majority interest in the team was sold to the Boston Ventures investment group. After sponsorship issues resulted in BV nearly shutting down the team, Richard essentially left Petty Enterprises, taking his name (and a small ownership stake) to what was then Gillett-Evernham Racing, which was then renamed Richard Petty Motorsports. When George Gillett nearly went bankrupt, Petty brokered the sale of the majority interest in the team to Murstein.
Joe Gibbs Racing (11, 18, 20)
Joe Gibbs (Sole Owner)--Joe Gibbs grew up with an interest in drag racing, but made his mark as the head coach of the Washington Redskins, winning three Super Bowls in the process. In his final year of his first stint as coach, he started JGR with assistance from Rick Hendrick. Joe's son J.D. Gibbs has a major leadership role in the team. OTHER SPORTS—other than his time coaching the Redskins, “Coach” has had a variety of interests in sports ownership. In between coaching stints, he was a minority owner of the Atlanta Falcons. He also owned a successful NHRA Drag Racing team in the 1990's, and currently owns a Motocross motorcycle racing team run by his son Coy.
Michael Waltrip Racing (15, 55, 56)
Michael Waltrip (Co-Owner)--Michael Waltrip raced in the Nascar Cup Series for over 20 years, most-notably becoming a two-time winner of the Daytona 500. Waltrip transitioned to becoming a driver-owner in 2007, and has since maintained day-to-day control of the racing operations of the team.
Michael Waltrip (Co-Owner)--Michael Waltrip raced in the Nascar Cup Series for over 20 years, most-notably becoming a two-time winner of the Daytona 500. Waltrip transitioned to becoming a driver-owner in 2007, and has since maintained day-to-day control of the racing operations of the team.
Robert Kaufmann (Co-Owner)--Kaufmann is one of the founders of Fortress Investment Group, a firm with diversified interests ranging from ski resorts to railroad operations to assisted living facilities. He became a co-owner of MWR late in the team's first season. OTHER SPORTS—Kaufmann owns and operates RK Motors, a car restoration facility, and also races his own team in sports-car events.
Roush Fenway Racing (16, 17, 99)Jack Roush (Co-Owner)--Jack Roush has been involved in the automotive industry—specifically racing—since the 1960's. His wholly-owned Roush Performance is a longtime customizer of Ford vehicles. OTHER SPORTS—before devoting himself solely to Nascar, Roush-backed teams competed in drag racing and sports-car events.
John Henry (Co-Owner)--The “Fenway” of Roush Fenway Racing, John Henry made millions through his own John W. Henry & Co. investment firm. In recent years, his primary investments have been in the sports world, though he remains owner of the Boston Globe newspaper. OTHER SPORTS—Henry is the primary owner of the Boston Red Sox, as well as historic Fenway Park. Previously, he owned all or part of a number of teams, most-notably the Florida Marlins. He also is the principal owner of the Liverpool Football Club soccer team.