Richard "Toby" Tobias Jr. (born June 16, 1966) is an American racing driver and chassis builder. He has competed in the United States Auto Club and NASCAR national series.
Racing career Tobias began racing modifieds in his late teens on the short tracks of Central Pennsylvania, including Big Diamond, Nazareth, Williams Grove and Grandview Speedways. In the mid-1990s, Tobias competed in the NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Busch North Series, yet also won a number of high-level dirt races in New York and Pennsylvania. In 1999, he began racing with the USAC Silver Crown Series, eventually appearing in 73 events over his career and claiming a win at Illinois State Fairgrounds in Du Quoin.
Speedway Entertainment Tobias also maintained the family business, Tobias Speed Equipment Inc., and in 1999 developed the Slingshot cars for use at local dirt tracks. In 2002, production of the Slingshot was transferred to a separate company, Speedway Entertainment, and in 2008 the SpeedSTR was introduced.
The Slingshot is a four-coil vehicle with a 58-inch wheelbase, designed to look like a northeast dirt modified and powered by a 600cc Briggs & Stratton Vanguard engine capable of speeds near 100 MPH.
The SpeedSTR is a 1,250-pound open wheel car with a 72-inch wheelbase—essentially a self-starting Midget. Originally powered by a 250 horsepower Dodge Neon engine, the division has transitioned to the K20 C1 Honda Turbo.
Action Track USA In 2013, Tobias and former racer Doug Rose acquired the quarter-mile clay raceway in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, from the Meitzler family and gave the raceway a new name: Action Track USA. The track features the SpeedSTR, wingless 600cc micro sprints, 270 micro sprints and Slingshots during the racing season.
Personal life Tobias is the son of the former NASCAR driver Toby Tobias Sr. Tobias Jr. followed his father, brothers Ronnie and Scott, and brother-in-law Paul Lotier into racing. Tobias Sr. was fatally injured in a USAC sprint car race, Scott and Paul were severely and permanently injured in racing accidents, and Ronnie died of a heart attack while racing. Nephew Paul Lotier Jr. later became the third generation involved in racing as co-owner of a sprint car.
In 2017, Tobias was honored by the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame for his engineering and car building leadership.
Motorsports career results NASCAR (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Busch Series NASCAR Busch Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Pts Ref 1994 50 Ford DAY CAR RCH ATL MAR DAR HCY BRI ROU NHA NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW SBO TAL HCY IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT MAR CAR 102nd 49 1995 Tobias Racing 58 Ford DAY CAR RCH ATL NSV DAR BRI HCY NHA NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL SBO IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR HOM 87th 110
Busch North Series NASCAR Busch North Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pts Ref 1994 Tobias Racing 50 Ford NHA NHA MND NAZ APL HOL GLN JEN EPP GLN NHA WSC STA TMP MND WMT RPK LEE NHA LRK 66th 139
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