Paulie Harraka

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Paulie Harraka
Paulie Harraka Dover 2014.jpg
Harraka at Dover International Speedway in May 2014
BornPaul Peter Harraka
(1989-09-15) September 15, 1989 (age 32)
Wayne, New Jersey
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight165 lb (75 kg)
Achievements2008 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Champion
Awards2009 NASCAR Camping World West Series Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Cup Series career
1 race run over 1 year
2013 position75th
Best finish75th (2013)
First race2013 Toyota/Save Mart 350 (Sonoma)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
5 races run over 4 years
position64th
Best finish64th (2014)
First race2010 NAPA Auto Parts 200 (Montreal)
Last race2014 Buckle Up 200 (Dover)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career
11 races run over 1 year
2012 position28th
Best finish28th (2012)
First race2012 NextEra Energy Resources 250 (Daytona)
Last race2012 Pocono Mountains 125 (Pocono)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
Statistics current as of May 31, 2014.

Paul Peter "Paulie" Harraka (born September 15, 1989) is an American professional stock car racing driver and entrepreneur. He is a graduate of Duke University and a former representative of NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program.

Personal life[]

Harraka was born in Wayne, New Jersey, the first and only son of parents Paul Harraka and Donna Dikdan. His parents separated during his infancy, and later divorced, but held joint custody of Harraka throughout his childhood and adolescence. Harraka's mother remarried, and Harraka has two sisters[1] from his mother and stepfather. Harraka attended Wayne Valley High School from his freshman through junior years, but spent his senior year at Lake Norman High School to be closer to NASCAR team Joe Gibbs Racing, where he worked as an engineering and research and development intern.[2] During this time, Harraka lived with Kenny Francis, crew chief for Kasey Kahne.[1]

After graduating from high school with a 4.38 GPA. Harraka opted to attend Duke University, stating “I think that in the modern age of racing, knowing all aspects of the business is crucial to being successful."[3] After beginning his studies in Mechanical Engineering, Harraka transferred to Duke's Trinity School of Arts and Sciences, where he studied Markets and Management, Sociology, and History.[4] Harraka is one of only two NASCAR drivers with University degrees, the other being Ryan Newman.[5]

Racing career[]

Early career[]

Harraka first sat behind the wheel when he received a backyard fun kart from his family and started driving it around abandoned buildings. Harraka entered his first race on June 1, 1997 at Flemington Speedway, and despite being underage (Harraka was 7 and New Jersey law required that drivers be at least 8 years old), Harraka won.[6] In a karting career that spanned from 1997 to 2005, Harraka amassed a World Karting Association Triple Crown, the Holley Future Star Award, 13 National Championships, and 6 World Championships, and 158 total wins in go-karts. In 2005 he moved from kart to legends car racing, where he won multiple races.[7]

Harraka also won a popular karting event at Mark Dismore's karting facility in Indiana, the RoboPong 200 (now known as the Dan Wheldon Cup after the 2005 winner was killed in October 2011) karting event, teamed with on-sabbatical NASCAR driver Ricky Rudd.

NASCAR[]

Harraka qualifying at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in 2010

Harraka was invited to the Drive for Diversity Combine in the fall of 2006, where he impressed team owner BIll McAnally. McAnally hired Harraka to compete for his California-based team, despite Harraka still being in high school in New Jersey. Harraka traveled back and forth between New Jersey and California every weekend, and ultimately finished second in the All American Series in Roseville, California that year, winning the Rookie of the Year title. Harraka returned to the team in 2008, this time holding the duties of both driver and crew chief. The team would win 11 out of 23 races as well as the NASCAR Championship.[8]

At the end of 2008, McAnally elected to move Harraka up to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series for the final two races of the season as preparation for a full run in 2009. In the last race of the season, second race for the team, he qualified on the pole and led 40 laps.[9]

Over the next two seasons, Harraka competed full-time for McAnally, first under the NAPA Autocare banner, then with NAPA Filters sponsorship, with crew chief Duane Knorr. The team has won 3 races and has 15 top 5 finishes in 30 total races.[10] They finished 4th and 3rd in the series championship in 2009 and 2010, respectively, with Harraka winning Rookie of the Year in 2009 and Move of the Race in 2010.

Harraka took 2011 off from racing to further his studies, but did run the K&N Pro Series West race at Infineon Raceway. For 2012, Harraka competed in the Camping World Truck Series, running for Rookie of the Year driving for Wauters Motorsports.[11] Midway through the season, Harraka left Wauters Motorsports after numerous poor finishes.[12]

In September 2012, Harraka drove for Go Green Racing in the Nationwide Series at Richmond International Raceway.[13]

Harraka after crashing on pit road in the 2013 Toyota/Save Mart 350

Returning to Go Green for selected races in 2013, Harraka made his Sprint Cup Series debut at Sonoma Raceway in the team's No. 52 Ford.[14] Unfortunately, he was involved in a strange accident with Alex Kennedy on pit road prior to the start of the race, causing damage to both cars. The team spent the first 21 laps of the race making repairs, but were able to get back on the track and finished 39th.

Entrepreneurship[]

Paulie Harraka LLC[]

In 2011 Harraka sought out a group of Fortune 500 CEOs, venture capitalists, and professional sports executives as a partner to launch innovative technology platforms that challenge conventional approaches to the sport and business of NASCAR. The investor group, Paulie Harraka LLC, both supports Harraka's NASCAR racing activities and entrepreneurial business ventures disruptive to NASCAR.[15] In November 2013, Harraka delivered a talk chronicling his entrepreneurial ventures at TEDxBeaconStreet in Boston, making Harraka the only NASCAR driver ever to deliver a TED presentation.[16]

Motorsports career results[]

NASCAR[]

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Sprint Cup Series[]

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 NSCC Pts Ref
2013 Go Green Racing 52 Ford DAY PHO LVS BRI CAL MAR TEX KAN RCH TAL DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON
39 		KEN DAY NHA IND POC GLN MCH BRI ATL RCH CHI NHA DOV KAN CLT TAL MAR TEX PHO HOM 75th 01 [17]

Nationwide Series[]

NASCAR Nationwide Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 NNSC Pts Ref
2010 NEMCO Motorsports 87 Chevy DAY CAL LVS BRI NSH PHO TEX TAL RCH DAR DOV CLT NSH KEN ROA NHA DAY CHI GTY IRP IOW GLN MCH BRI CGV
29 		ATL RCH DOV KAN CAL CLT GTY TEX PHO HOM 124th 76 [18]
2011 Randy Hill Racing 08 Ford DAY PHO LVS BRI CAL TEX TAL NSH RCH DAR DOV IOW CLT CHI MCH ROA DAY KEN NHA NSH IRP IOW GLN CGV BRI ATL RCH
25 		CHI DOV KAN CLT TEX PHO
21 		HOM 130th 01 [19]
2013 Go Green Racing 79 Ford DAY PHO LVS BRI CAL
35 		TEX RCH TAL DAR CHA DOV IOW MCH ROA KEN DAY NHA CHI IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ATL RCH CHI KEN DOV KAN CHA TEX PHO HOM 85th 9 [20]
2014 TriStar Motorsports 44 Toyota DAY PHO LVS BRI CAL TEX DAR RCH TAL IOW CLT DOV
19 		MCH ROA KEN DAY NHA CHI IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ATL RCH CHI KEN DOV KAN CLT TEX PHO HOM 64th 25 [21]

Camping World Truck Series[]

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 NCWTC Pts Ref
2012 Wauters Motorsports 5 Ford DAY
19 		MAR
22 		CAR
26 		KAN
27 		CLT
30 		DOV
17 		TEX
28 		KEN
17 		IOW
33 		CHI
19 		POC
24 		MCH BRI ATL IOW KEN LVS TAL MAR TEX PHO HOM 28th 223 [22]

1 Ineligible for series points

K&N Pro Series West[]

NASCAR K&N Pro Series West results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 NKNPSWC Pts Ref
2008 Paul Harraka 04 Chevy AAS PHO IOW CNS SON IRW DCS EVG MMP
26 		IRW 29th 382 [23]
Bill McAnally Racing 12 Toyota AMP
8 		AAS
6
2009
17 		AAS
3 		PHO
8
4 		IOW
2 		DCS
13 		SON
14 		IRW
3 		PIR
16 		MMP
2 		CNS
1 		IOW
12 		AAS
1* 		4th 1951 [24]
AAS
1* 		PHO
29 		IOW
18 		DCS
5 		SON
2 		IRW
13 		PIR
3 		MRP
11 		CNS
2 		MMP
3 		AAS
4 		PHO
25 		3rd 1707 [25]
PHO AAS MMP IOW LVS SON
12 		IRW EVG PIR CNS MRP SRP AAS PHO 77th 132 [26]
2013 Bill McAnally Racing 20 Toyota PHO BIR IOW I44 SON
5 		CNS IOW EVG SRP MMP SMP AAS KCR PHO 50th 39 [27]

ARCA Racing Series[]

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Racing Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 ARSC Pts Ref
2012 Venturini Motorsports 55 Toyota DAY
26 		MOB SLM TAL TOL ELK POC MCH IOW CHI IRP BLN ISF SLM DSF KAN 128th 100 [28]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Senior Writer. "Paul Harraka: NASCAR Drive for Diversity Ace and Master Juggler". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  2. ^ http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/RG/111212.html
  3. ^ Merritt, Richard. "NASCAR Winner | Duke Engineering News". Den.pratt.duke.edu. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  4. ^ Bridget Booher (May 9, 2012). "Paul Harraka: Pursuing the Pole Position | Duke Today". Today.duke.edu. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  5. ^ Senior Writer (October 25, 2008). "Paul Harraka NASCAR's Next Martin Truex, Jr.?". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  6. ^ Caldwell, Dave (August 9, 2008). "From Go-Karts to Nascar, and Now Heading to College". The New York Times.
  7. ^ "Motorsports Seminars by Victory Marketing Team - Guest Speakers - Paulie Harraka". Victorymarketingteam.com. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  8. ^ Thursday Sep 11 2008 (September 11, 2008). "Harraka wins track championship in final week | The Press Tribune Newspaper". Thepresstribune.com. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  9. ^ Cunningham, Jason (October 25, 2008). "Qualifying: Harraka Earns 1st Pole | NASCAR Home Tracks". Hometracks.nascar.com. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  10. ^ "Paulie Harraka Career Statistics". Racing-Reference.info. September 15, 1989. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  11. ^ "Wauters Joins Team Ownership Ranks". SPEEDtv.com. Fox Sports. January 26, 2012. Archived from the original on January 28, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  12. ^ "Paulie Harraka and Wauters Motorsports Part Ways Effective Immediately". YardBarker. Fox Sports. August 30, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  13. ^ Adamczyk, Jay (September 3, 2012). "Harraka to drive for Go Green at Richmond". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
  14. ^ Spencer, Lee (June 12, 2013). "D4D driver gets Sprint Cup chance". Fox Sports. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  15. ^ "The NASCAR dreams of Paulie Harraka - Magazine". The Boston Globe. June 23, 2013. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  16. ^ Welch, Maura (November 13, 2013). "An Independently Organized TED Event | NASCAR Confidential". TEDxBeaconStreet. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  17. ^ "Paulie Harraka – 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  18. ^ "Paulie Harraka – 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  19. ^ "Paulie Harraka – 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  20. ^ "Paulie Harraka – 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  21. ^ "Paulie Harraka – 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  22. ^ "Paulie Harraka – 2012 NASCAR Camping World Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  23. ^ "Paulie Harraka – 2008 NASCAR Camping World West Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  24. ^ "Paulie Harraka – 2009 NASCAR Camping World West Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  25. ^ "Paulie Harraka – 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  26. ^ "Paulie Harraka – 2011 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  27. ^ "Paulie Harraka – 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  28. ^ "Paulie Harraka – 2012 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 24, 2020.

External links[]

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