The Man Who Sponsored Earnhardt and Brought Ronald Reagan To NASCAR

Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits down with a legendary figure behind the scenes of motorsports, longtime car owner and sponsor, Mike Curb. After falling in love with motorsports at an early age through the magazine pages of Motor Trend and National Speed Sport News, Mike made the acquaintance of race promoter Cary Agajanian at an early age and began taking in races at the famed Ascot Park. Mike pursued an interest in music and when a song he wrote became a jingle for Honda, he dropped out of college and pursued commercial soundtracking full-time. Mike simultaneously developed a recording company, Sidewalk Records, and a career in politics at the suggestion of Ronald Reagan, but his love for auto racing remained tried and true. He entered business with Agajanian owning local sprint cars, and the Curb-Agajanian Performance Group was born.

Mike’s entry into involvement in NASCAR is a fascinating tale that stems from longtime NASCAR executive Les Richter serving as a chairman on his campaign for Lieutenant Governor of California. At Les’ request, Mike and his wife attended the 1980 Cup season opener at Riverside International Raceway as Grand Marshall and it was there that he was propositioned with the idea of becoming one of the first-ever sponsors for Dale Earnhardt. Mike also explains the events that led to Curb Racing fielding a car for Richard Petty in 1984 and how the famed picture of Ronald Reagan landing at the Daytona came to be. The interview covers Mike’s vast involvement in racing today, which includes co-ownership of 2024 NASCAR Truck championship winner Ty Majeski, his relationship with Ronald Reagan, and his career in the music industry.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Mike Curb and His Legacy
02:18 The Journey of Curb Records
06:33 From Jingles to Film Scores
12:41 The Intersection of Music and Motorsports
18:50 Early Influences and Passion for Racing
25:00 Involvement in Dale Earnhardt's Career
31:42 Political Career and Connection to Ronald Reagan
38:22 Political Journey and California Politics
41:43 Acting Governor and Responsibilities
43:12 Transition to Washington and Reagan's Influence
46:40 Reagan's Presidency and Personal Insights
50:01 The Intersection of Politics and Motorsports
58:46 Richard Petty and Team Dynamics
01:01:36 Dale Earnhardt's Career Decisions
01:07:17 Bringing Teams Together for Success
01:12:07 Reagan at Daytona: A Historic Moment
01:16:59 A Memorable Encounter with Ronald Reagan
01:19:53 Building Legacies: Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt
01:22:18 Opportunities and Miracles in Life
01:26:32 The Drive to Keep Going
01:30:48 The Discovery of Music and Talent
01:41:14 The Importance of Partnerships
01:43:38 Reflections on a Fascinating Life

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