What Was NASCAR's Richest Owner Roger Penske's First Job?

Roger Penske has witnessed success from the inside of a cockpit as well as from the outside. Needless to say, he preferred the latter one. With a net worth of 3.2 billion USD (as per Celebrity Net Worth), this 87-year-old car connoisseur is the owner of one of the pioneer, championship-winning racing teams in the arena of NASCAR, which has over 56,000 worldwide employees working for it. However, almost six decades ago, when Penske walked up to his dad asking for a $50,000 loan to finalise a deal, little did he know that it was the beginning of greatness in his life.

But Penske's career started as a driver in races organized by the Sports Car Club of America back in 1958. In 1961, his driving prowess brought him the prestigious SCCA National D Modified championship, which in turn, got him the title of Sports Illustrated’s SCCA Driver of the Year. The following year, Penske emerged victorious in a United States Auto Club championship and this time too, he bagged the Driver of the Year honors, conferred upon him by the New York Times.

He continued his winning ways and drove his 1963 Pontiac to the victory lane again in the Riverside 250. Interestingly, that same car was used as an exhibit when he was inducted into the 2019 class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. By then, he had amassed 44 national championships, including 17 in the IndyCar category.

It was at this point that Penske realised that driving cars all his life would make him a successful driver indeed, but he intended to soar higher in the racing horizon. And for that to happen, he needed to embrace the business side of things.

Roger Penske’s first job

In an interview, the legend himself admitted, “I had to make a decision that was either going to be stay as a race driver or be in business. And I had an opportunity to go to work for a Chevrolet dealer in Philadelphia, George McKean. When I went there, I said, ‘Look, I’d like to own this business in a couple of years.’ And I knew at the time that would take place, I’d have to make that decision.”

However, the banks were not willing to loan him the entire amount that he needed to finalise the deal. Therefore, he approached his father for that additional $50,000, who readily withdrew the money from his savings account and gave it to his son.

By the end of the 1980s, the Penske-Chevrolet duo earned a big name in the world of the Indianapolis 500; thanks to Rick Mears’ 1988 Indy 500 victory. GM president Lloyd Reuss knew that Penske was the best man to craft that race-winning engine and surely, he wasn't wrong.

That victory brought Penske the first taste of success as a car dealer. In his own words, “The best moment I had with Chevrolet was winning that first one, the first Indy 500 with the Chevy motor with Rick Mears in 1988.”

Penske made his NASCAR debut as an owner in 1972, the same year he won his first Indy 500 victory with Mark Donohue behind the wheel. Penske's brightest moment in the NASCAR alley is perhaps winning the 2012 Cup Series championship through the hands of Brad Keselowski.