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Matt Todd Racing is celebrating 5 seasons of racing in 2011! It will be participating primarily in the
Michigan Legends Series, as
well as some other regional Legends races.
Matt Todd Racing is owned and operated by Matt and Alison Todd out of Canton, Michigan.
![552330776_QrMpZ-L[1].jpg](about_files/image006.jpg)
Matt Todd Racing is led by the driver/owner, Matt Todd. Matt was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama
with "racing in his blood," as the old saying goes. He and his father, Martin Todd, would
spend most weekends during the year traveling to various short tracks
around the Southeast to watch late model stock car racing. He watched some of today's biggest stars,
such as Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, Jeremy
Mayfield, Jeff Green, and Joe Nemechek, cut their
teeth on the short tracks against the likes of such legends as Jody Ridley,
Mike Alexander, Gary Balough, Freddy Fryar and Bobby Gill.
While driving is what most kids want to do, Matt always wanted to be
a crew chief because he respected the leadership skills and technical depth
required of the crew chief. Kirk Shelmerdine and Alan Kulwicki
both served as role models for him when he was young.
Growing up in racing and longing to be a crew chief someday
led Matt to Auburn
University's Mechanical Engineering program to learn all things
mechanical. After a short 4 years, he accepted a product development
position with Ford Motor Company 8
months before graduating with honors from Auburn.
Shortly after he started at Ford Motor Company, he was able to spend
some time working with Ford Racing
Technology and the NASCAR engine engineering team. Working with the legendary Mose Nowland and several
other up and coming race engineers, the team spearheaded the development of
the Ford D3 cylinder head, which has been a big success in the NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series. Working in that
environment with that team was a dream come true for Matt. While working at Ford Motor Company, he
also obtained his Master of Science in Engineering Management degree from
the University of Michigan Dearborn. His current job, 4X4 and AWD systems
development, has given him the opportunity to take part in vehicle
development and learn about driving vehicles at their limit and how to
provide feedback on how the vehicle handles.
All the schooling and working over the previous 10 years had
given Matt little opportunity to pursue his burning desire to race. Finishing school and settling into his
current job at Ford has allowed him to find the time and resources to
pursue his dream of racing. All the
vehicle development work at Ford Motor Company has led him to attempt his
hand at driving, and the Legend car racing and the Michigan Legends Series
offers the perfect opportunity for that.
Matt is approaching the 2011 season with renewed vigor and
drive after not running the for the MLS season championship in 2010. After 4 wins in the first 9 MLS races in
2010, Matt hopes to remain a top 5 threat and contend for MLS feature wins
week in and week out in 2011. With
all the successful, young Michigan Legends drivers and seasoned veterans
returning, it should be a great season for MTR and the Michigan Legends
Series.
Check the 2011 Schedule page to find where the next race is
going to be, and we'll see you at the track!
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