594 - Mike Curb: The Name On Earnhardt's Car

Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits down with a legendary figure behind the scenes of motorsports, longtime car owner and sponsor Mike Curb. After falling in love with motorsports at an early age through the pages of Motor Trend and National Speed Sport News, Mike made the acquaintance of Cary Agajanian at an early age and began taking in races at the famed Ascot Park. Mike pursued an interest in music and when a song he wrote became a jingle for Honda, he dropped out of college and pursued commercial soundtracking full time. Mike simultaneously developed a recording company and a career in politics at the suggestion of Ronald Reagan, but his love for auto racing remained tried and true. He entered business with Agajanian owning local sprint cars, and the Curb-Agajanian Performance Group was born.

Mike’s entry into involvement in NASCAR is a fascinating tale that stems from longtime NASCAR executive Les Richter serving as a chairman on his campaign for Lieutenant Governor of California. At Les’ request, Mike and his wife attended the 1980 Cup season opener at Riverside as Grand Marshall and it was there that he was propositioned with the idea of becoming a sponsor for Dale Earnhardt. Mike also explains the events that lead to Curb Racing fielding a car for Richard Petty in 1984 and how the famed picture of Ronald Reagan landing at the Daytona 500 came to be. The interview covers Mike’s vast involvement in racing today, which includes co-ownership of NASCAR Truck championship winner Ty Majeski, his relationship with Ronald Reagan and his career in the music industry.