Life in Pit Lane: Odenville’s Kerry Ferris
One St. Clair County resident talks about his role on the NASCAR circuit
Working on cars has always been a part of Kerry Ferris’ life. Growing up, he spent a significant amount of his time with his father in the family’s garage. That was where he learned about the mechanics and the makeup of vehicles. It’s also where he developed a love of cars that would later lead him to a career with a NASCAR team.
His exposure to the industry came from his childhood best friend, whose father worked in racing. This connection led Ferris to his first job in the field. He began working on engines for a team in New York in 2004, which led him into a career based off of his hands-on experience working with cars.
In 2011, Ferris made a move to North Carolina to work for Joe Gibbs racing. He continued working on racecar engines and worked with the team engineers to develop new parts and features.
Last year, Ferris began working for Carl Edwards, on the No. 19 car team. He is a Tire Specialist for the team, working with other members to constantly make improvements on the tires, as well as the car overall.
During the off-season, team members work to improve the cars in preparation for racing season. Time away from the track is spent developing new pieces of equipment and focusing on general maintenance of the vehicle and parts.
“It is our job to work to make things easy to use on race day,” Ferris said. “We do all we can to make everything run smoothly during the season.”
The highlights from his career in the racing industry are mainly focused on the people he has encountered, not just the cars. One of those people is his wife, Alisa, who he met at a restaurant in Anniston while he was traveling with the team.
“Ever since I got her number that night, we haven’t gone a day without texting or calling each other,” Ferris said. “Meeting her is the highlight of my career.”
Alisa lives in Odenville, which is where Ferris made his home after they got married. Even though the majority of his time is spent away from home, he still takes every chance he gets to come back to St. Clair County.
His life on the road is made easier by the team he works with. The a-team, that he is a part of, travels together to the races and is there throughout the entire event. There are around 15 people who make up this team.
“The team is great,” Ferris said. “We all have a common goal and we all know what it’s like to be on the road all the time and having that understanding goes a long way in keeping us working as a unit.”
On race days, the atmosphere surrounding the team is like a calm before a storm. Everyone is focused on staying relaxed before the race begins. Once the engines are started, Ferris is down in the pit, fully focused on tires. He is responsible for checking the tires for wear, gauging tire pressure and keeping records on how the tires are holding up throughout the laps. He reports this information to the Crew Chief, keeping him informed throughout the duration of the race. All facets of the team come together in the pit on race day, to ensure the best possible outcome for the team.
In the future, Ferris would like to return to Odenville permanently. He wants to spend time at home with his wife and less time on the road. Until then, he plans on soaking up every moment of his exciting career in racing.
“This job and the life we live is completely crazy,” Ferris said. “But, I love the team and I love racing. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”