The Flying Gaylords

Racing’s version of the Mannings

Mac Demere / autoMedia.com

When 14-year-old Tripp Gaylord needed a fire-resistant driver’s suit for his stock-car racing debut, he opened the closet in his family’s Colorado home. Hanging there were racing suits worn by grandpa Les, father Scott and big-brother Ryan. Unfortunately, there were all too big for the still-growing Tripp. Fortunately, far in the back was one that fit Tripp—a suit that had been worn by his mother, Donna. Since 1951, a Gaylord has been racing something. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the streak continue past 2151.

Scott Gaylord

Tripp’s grandfather raced until he was 80. His mother was a racing champion who didn’t quit until giving birth to her first child. His father makes occasional appearances in the NASCAR Nationwide series. (His father first asked his mother for a date over the car-to-car radio during a caution period.) Both Tripp and his 20-year-old brother are race-winning stock car drivers. The Gaylords just might become auto racing’s version of football’s Manning family—Archie, Peyton and Eli.

Grandfather Les first raced in a 1951 street-circuit race in Aspen, Colorado. His wife rode along as a passenger, but the reason is unclear. Over a 50-plus year career, Les won so many SCCA National and Regional races that he long ago lost track. Les raced until he was 80 and quit only because a serious accident forced his retirement. After Les quit racing, he took up something safer: skydiving.

On the Track

Scott is the currently the best known of the Racing Gaylords. At age 50 he makes regular appearances in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series and shows no signs of slowing down. If his father is any indication, look for Scott’s name in race results in the 2039. For a dozen years, Scott was a fixture on NASCAR’s Winston West (later called the Camping World West) Series. In the West series, running against drivers such as Kevin Harvick and Ron Hornaday, Scott earned six pole positions and scored more than two-dozen top-five finishes. A pair of Seconds was his best finishes. He was twice named the series Most Popular Driver. In addition, Scott made four NASCAR Winston (now Sprint) Cup appearances, all at Sears Point.

Previously, Scott was an extremely successful road racer. He regularly competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona, won championships in both SCCA and IMSA and scored no less than 60 victories. Today, Scott runs Gaylord’s Garage in Lakewood, Colorado when he’s not racing. (Full disclosure, this writer co-drove with, and raced against, Gaylord in the SCCA Escort Endurance Championship.)

Family Affair

Gaylord met his future wife while both were competing for the same team in the Escort series. Scott first asked Donna for a date over the car-to-car radio while they were circulating—in separate cars—behind the pace car during a caution period. The then Donna Sue Landon won numerous races, including an SCCA Divisional Championship and a victory in an Escort Endurance race. Donna continued to race until just before second-child Chase was born. Today, Donna acts as a spotter for whichever of her relatives is racing and also works at the garage.

Ryan is a 20-year-old college student who will be racing an IMCA dirt modified this summer. In an auspicious debut, he won his first modified race. He’s also raced on pavement and, since the family is from Colorado, ice. When not driving, he works as an over-the-wall pit crewman for his father. While in high school, Ryan helped his team make it to the state semi-finals in soccer. (More full disclosure: This writer and his wife once babysat Ryan while the infant’s father was racing and his mother spotting. I sincerely hope he wins the NASCAR Cup Series title, so I can say I changed the champ’s diaper.)

After a successful run in karts, Tripp moved up to stock cars as a 14-year-old eighth grader. He scored a fourth-place finish in his debut. In 2009, he’ll be running a full season at I-76 Speedway in Ft. Morgan, Colorado. Like the rest of the family, when he’s not racing he’s helping the others’ racing effort. In his spare time, he’s a soccer player like his older brother. While the Gaylords have a long way to go before equaling the Mannings’ accomplishments, remember the names Ryan and Tripp.

About the Author

Mac Demere is an auto journalist, vehicle tester and race driver who competed in the NASCAR Southwest Tour and Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona.