Former Hirschi High Grad Makes Name for Himself in NASCAR
By: Chad Rodgers
Updated: November 5, 2012
While NASCAR drivers get the spot light most of them would not be successful if they did not have a great crew. KFDX Photojournalist Chad Rodgers headed out to Texas Motor Speedway for a closer look at one of those crew members who came from right here in Wichita Falls.
"I got to go out to red river and watch a little bit of that racing and even though it was on a lower level it was new to me and it was different i was always in to stick and ball sports"
Ryan Dextraze is a Hirschi High grad and former basketball standout but he says after spending so many nights at the Red River Raceway.He started to think about trading buckets and blocks for wrenches and gas cans.
" That was our every Friday deal for every since i was a sophomore in high school until I moved"
Declining offers to play college basketball Ryan opted to go to the ford mechanic school. There he honed his skills and became a master mechanic. Then in 2005 his training paid off when he was given a chance to chase his dream--and join a NASCAR team
" That's when I dropped everything i had and headed out to North Carolina and try to make it stick eventually it did"
"Going from small town Wichita Falls and now your working with mark martin working around all these big guys and it was a cool deal"
After a year with Martin Ryan made the switch to Gregg Biffle's team as the new gas man. This spring Ryan switched gears again and moved over to Richard Petty Motorsports where he now works for Marcos Ambrose's team. But no matter what team he's on-- Ryan says Texas Motor Speedway is his home town track
" so any time i can get near my family and friends when i come back here it's a good thing"
Ryan's brother chad made the drive from Wichita Falls to spend time with his big brother and show his support.
"Everyone's excited for him everyone's happy for him he's helping to put Wichita Falls on the map in a whole other way"
And with fans in the stands seeing him compete in an entirely different way Dextraze says he truly feels a since of accomplishment
"But then you'll catch them wearing the hats and shirts of the team i work for in support of me and that's special to me"
And while it may be special his brother says he never lets success go to his head.
"He doesn't have a big head real other than the one that's on his shoulder's haha"
Ryan plans to continue his career in NASCAR and says that for right now he doesn't want to leave the pit crew side but says some day he would like to become a Crew Chief
Ryan plans to continue his career in NASCAR and says that for right now he doesn't want to leave the pit crew side but says some day he would like to become a Crew Chief
