Putting the Pieces in Place

Since Jay Frye’s been aboard, Red Bull Racing Team has gone from NASCAR newcomer to a fifth-year organization that in 2009 qualified for the Chase for the Sprint Cup and now fights weekly for wins and top-five finishes.

In 2008, Frye’s first year running the show, Red Bull Racing Team won the Sprint Showdown at Charlotte, launched its in-house chassis program, finished a team-best second at Pocono, earned its first pole at Michigan and placed the Nos. 82 and 83 in the top 35 in car owner points. A year later came two monumental achievements — a berth in the Chase and the team’s first victory when Brian Vickers drove the No. 83 into the winner’s circle at Michigan. And in August 2010, he helped secure the services of driver Kasey Kahne for the 2011 season.

As general manager and vice president, Frye helps lead nearly 200 employees at Red Bull Racing Team, some on the road and others at the race shop in Mooresville, N.C.

He’s Good in the Boardroom

For 12 years, Frye served as chief executive officer and general manager of Ginn Racing — formerly MB2 Motorsports. He started there in 1996 when he was 31 years old and became a partner in 2004, watching it grow from a single-car team of 10 employees laboring in a tiny shop to a multi-car organization with more than 200 workers in a facility that was, well, much larger.

MB2 expanded in July 2000, and Frye negotiated a sponsorship/ownership deal with The Valvoline Company. Valvoline became the first consumer products company to double as primary sponsor and owner with a 50-percent stake in the team.

The majority sale of MB2 went to Bobby Ginn in the summer of 2006, and Frye lured veteran Mark Martin to the driver roster. Then he initiated the merger between Ginn Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. in July 2007.

Before MB2 and Ginn, Frye worked for Valvoline Racing from 1992-1996 as manager of the Cup program.

Put Me in, Coach

Specializing in marketing education, Frye graduated from the University of Missouri in 1987. He was a football player there, too. For four seasons (1983-1986), he fought off pass rushers as a tight end and offensive tackle with the Tigers. It’s no coincidence that his at-track motor home carries the black and gold colors of Mizzou.

After college Frye landed at Anheuser-Busch for four years, where he held several positions — most notably district sales manager.

He and his wife, Danielle, a reporter for the Motor Racing Network, spend their days in Mooresville with their two daughters, Addison Rece and Emerson Daye.