NASCAR community reacts to passing of team owner
Former (NASCAR Busch Series) NASCAR Xfinity Series team owner Randy Herzog passed away on August 25, 2021 at the age of 77.
Herzog Motorsports made their debut in 1999 with then ASA driver Jimmie Johnson. In his first full-time season, Johnson finished 3rd in rookie standings behind Ron Hornaday and Kevin Harvick.
Beyond wins, the team is possibly most known for a crash at Watkins Glen in 2000. Jimmie Johnson went into turn one without brakes. He jumped the sand trap and landed in a foam safety barrier. He famously jumped from his machine and stood on the roof with both arms in the air.
Herzog planned to operate a NASCAR Cup Series team for the 2002 season. However, Jimmie Johnson had already signed with Hendrick Motorsports. Where he went on to become a 7-time NASCAR Cup Series champion.
In 2003, a new co-owner bought into the Xfinity team, baseball player Reggie Jackson. The team was rebranded as Herzog-Jackson Motorsports ahead to the 2003 season.
Herzog Motorsports entered 104 NASCAR Xfinity Series races. The team collected 2 wins in the Busch Grand National Series. The first came in 2001 and the other came in 2002.
The team had four drivers over their five year history. Jimmie Johnson, Todd Bodine, Tim Fedewa and Andy Houston all drove for the team. Jimmie Johnson had the most starts at 69.
They collected 10 top-5 runs and 26 top-10s throughout the history of the organization.
Visitation is scheduled for Friday, August 27, 5:00AM – 8:00PM at Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory in Saint Joseph, MO.
NASCAR community comments
Multiple drivers for the team have commented:
Jimmie Johnson: “Randy Herzog will be missed and I’m forever grateful to the impact he had on my life.”
Todd Bodine: “Saddened to hear of the passing of Randy Herzog one of Busch Series Owners. Him and his brother Stan were two of the nicest men that I had the pleasure of driving for. They enjoyed racing of all forms. Stan passed a while back. These two will be missed greatly.”
