Elite Motorsports crafts custom wheelchair-accessible motorcoach for Darrell Gwynn
PARTNER PROFILE
DARRELL GWYNN ’ S NEW MOBILE HEADQUARTERS
Elite Motorsports crafts custom wheelchair-accessible motorcoach for Darrell Gwynn
BY KAYLA ZADEL
In a blend of innovation and compassion , Elite Motorsports , in collaboration with NRC Modifications , has crafted a custom wheelchair-accessible motorcoach for legendary drag racer Darrell Gwynn . This home on wheels , built on a Freightliner Cascadia chassis , is a testament to the spirit of inclusivity in motorsports .
The motorcoach , meticulously designed with Gwynn ’ s accessibility in mind , is a game-changer for the legendary racer . Gwynn , a titan of the drag racing world , expressed his excitement over the new coach , saying , “ My new coach is built by the best in the game : Elite Motorsports by NRC Modifications . Thanks to BraunAbility and their options on commercial-grade RV lifts , I ’ ll be able to get in and out with ease . The model I chose works best for me , but they have many excellent products available .”
The coach ’ s maiden voyage was a journey to the greatest spectacle in racing , the Indianapolis 500 , followed by the NHRA races in Bristol and Bowling Green . This journey marked a new chapter in Gwynn ’ s storied career , combining his passion for drag racing with his commitment to improving the lives of physically disabled individuals .
Scott “ Woody ” Woodruff , Elite Motorsports LLC Director of Branding & Motorsports , shared his thoughts on the project , saying , “ Darrell has been a longtime friend and has a very long history with Michael Brotherton [ former Top Fuel driver and now Elite sales rep ]. He came to us with an idea of wanting to have a place where he could help drive additional business that focuses on meeting the needs of physically disabled people like himself . He understands what ’ s important to have in a custom unit to make things as seamless as possible and can say , ‘ I understand what you need ,’ looking into someone ’ s eyes . At the end of the day , it ’ s all about trust from start to finish .”
Before his tragic 1990 accident , Gwynn was a force to be reckoned with on the dragstrip . He won an NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster world championship in 1983 , several race wins as a driver and team owner , and was voted one of
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF DARRELL GWYNN AND ELITE MOTORSPORTS
146 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 184