“RIP Mr. Roehrig”- News of Former Truck Team Owner’s Sudden Demise Has Fans Reminiscing About Dodge’s Glorious NASCAR Return

Kurt Roehrig’s contributions to the racing world are immeasurable. He was not just a motorsports engineer who revolutionized shock dynos, a team owner who brought Dodge to the NASCAR forefront, or a racer who competed in the IMSA GT Championship alongside his brother James Roehrig. His biggest contribution to the racing community was his unmatched dedication and integrity, that has reshaped the racing world for a better future.

After an extended illness, Kurt Roehrig, 67, passed away at Heritage Greens on July 22, 2024, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to influence racers, engineers, fans, and team owners for generations to come.

How Roehrig brought Dodge to the forefront once again

Kurt Roehrig had experienced all the highs and lows that the racing world has to offer. He began Roehrig Motorsports to be a part of the NASCAR Truck Series in 1995, with driver Johnny Benson Jr finishing 10th at the season opener. However, things took a turn for the worse quickly when sponsor Pennzoil pulled back, which meant Roehrig Motorsports was on the brink of bankruptcy by December 1996.

This forced Kurt Roehrig to pivot, switching to two Dodge trucks and signing Dana Corp. as a sponsor. Such was Roehrig’s business acumen that he went from two Chevy trucks and two Chevy motors in mid-December of 1996 to four new Dodge trucks and 22 employees by 19th January 1997. “We were having a hard time. We had a truck that no one wanted to sponsor,” Roehrig said. “Dodge approached us with their package and, working with one of their largest suppliers, Dana, they made a deal to run the Dana-backed Dodge.”

What followed was a huge upturn in form. The team went on to secure their first win at the Western Auto/Parts America 200 and Tony Raines won three races the following season. Fans were ecstatic, as Kurt Roehrig had brought Dodge to the forefront of NASCAR once again, while the team aimed for its first Cup Series start in 1998.

In his career as a racer, Kurt Roehrig was not as fortunate. Partnering with his brother James Roehrig, the duo finished in 18th place after beginning the race in 43rd position in the 20th Annual Daytona Fire Cracker 400. However, he finished in 10th place at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1981, after joining Kent Racing alongside Walt Bohren and Jim Mullen. He also entered several single-seater races in an attempt to promote Roehrig Engineering, finishing 12th in standings at the inaugural Barber Saab Pro Series in 1986.

The reason why fans will remember Kurt Roehrig fondly is because he was never afraid to take chances. Whether it was in his career as a racer, engineer, or team owner, his intelligence combined with his risk-taking appetite helped Roehrig make his mark on the racing community. This is why it should come as no surprise that fans took to social media to pay their respects to the former team owner, after hearing of his passing.

The racing community pays tribute to the legendary Kurt Roehrig

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It didn’t take long for fans to pay their respects to Kurt Roehrig, after hearing about his passing. Reflecting on his many contributions to NASCAR, one fan simply wrote, “RIP Mr. Roehrig!”, expressing his condolences on social media. Another fan fondly remembered Roehrig Motorsports’ first victory in a Dodge Truck at O’Reilly Auto Parts 200 at I-70 Speedway in 1997. Writing on Reddit, the fan said, “Was the owner of the truck that got Dodge their first win in their return to NASCAR. Driver was Tony Raines.”

For NASCAR old-timers, watching the Roehrig Motorsports No. 19 Pennzoil truck in the 1990s brought about fond memories of the early Truck Series days. A fan wrote, “Loved that #19 Pennzoil truck” while another fan echoed that sentiment by saying, “19 Yellow Freight Busch Series car was pretty good looking too. Very 90’s.”

During Roehrig Motorsports’ first Cup Series season, the team failed to qualify on its debut at the 1998 Las Vegas 400. Remembering their qualifying struggles in the late 90s, one fan wrote, “The days of the comers and goers. The team went all in forsure with a qualifying setup. The team had a handful of DNQs in 98 and 99.”

Kurt Roehrig was responsible for bringing Shock Dyno to the market, which changed the way cars were tuned before races by using shock absorbers. His contributions meant Roehrig Engineering soon became a global leader in the category. Remembering his immense contribution to the racing world, a fan wrote, “I learned to build shocks on one of his dynos, graphed the full hysteresis instead of just one direction. Key to helping me learn what’s really going on on the track.”