Mike Beam has had a storied career in the racing world. He got his start in 1972 as a sophomore in high school working at the concession stands at Hickory Motor Speedway, not too far from where he grew up. His friend Rick Townsend was able to pull a few strings and get both himself and Mike on Hickory native Morgan Shepherd’s team.

From there, Mike’s career took off. After high school, Mike moved to Greenville, South Carolina to work for car builder Mike Laughlin, and later Butch Lindley in 1975. Working with Butch gave the young man experience in the business and a hunger to win. His passion and love for racing had turned into a career with Lindley, and Beam was part of a team that was winning races and national championships.

His work with Butch Lindley and later, the legendary Harry Gant, gave Mike a drive and purpose, but things changed for him when he met his wife, Nancy. As much as he loved the life on a racing team, he loved her more and left the world of racing in November of 1978. Finding work in a tire store, the competition was gone and Mike was happy. However, while Mike was done with racing, racing was not done with him.

Within a year of settling into domestic life, Mike was tracked down and given the chance of a lifetime: working as an engine tuner for Maurice Petty. It was an opportunity that was hard to resist and three weeks into the job, he was named crew chief for Kyle Petty. In 1985, he joined Mike Curb’s team and became the crew chief for Richard Petty.

Mike’s resume as a Cup Series crew chief is extensive. He holds the distinction of having won in all three NASCAR national series as a crew chief while working for the following drivers:
• Michael Waltrip
• Bill Elliott (for Harry Melling and Junior Johnson)
• Sterling Marlin (Junior Johnson)
• Elliott Sadler (Wood Brothers)
• Ricky Craven (Cal Wells)
• Steve Park (Dale Earnhardt, Inc.)

In 2004, Mike began working for Jack Roush in the Truck Series. After a season with Roush, Mike moved on to work with several other racing teams. He scored some major wins in 2006 (with Mark Martin), 2007 (with Travis Kvapil), and 2009 (with Colin Braun).

By 2011, he was working in the Xfinity Series with Carl Edwards, eventually winning eight races that season and the owner’s championship. The following season, he worked for Kyle Busch Motorsports and helped build the organization’s Xfinity Series team.

Mike eventually returned to the Truck Series with Red Horse Racing in 2013 and in December of 2014, joined GMS Racing as competitor director. In 2018, he was named GMS team president, overseeing the organization’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck and Cup Series (Petty GMS) programs.

From a young age, Mike had a love affair with racing. Over the course of 50 years, he has come a long way in the sport and is now one of NASCAR’s most well-known and accomplished figures.