Factory Stock No.
26
Photo courtesy of JAF Racing Photo
Terry Mumaugh
Terry
Mumaugh likes to live life on the edge. Maybe that explains why
he is a street cop and a race car driver. He’s been shot at; he’s been
in brawls; he’s been hurt; and he rolled his race car at the Arizona
State Fairgrounds figure 8 race on October 17, 2004. With his feet
planted in two dangerous worlds, he can honestly say, “I’m living life
to the fullest.”
The Pekin, Illinois native was born on June 26, 1954, to George Mumaugh and Willadean Christopher, both natives of Missouri. His Mumaugh grandparents immigrated to the United States from Germany while the Christophers “have been here forever.” Terry’s mother is a “sweet Southerner,” with the accent and easy-going manners that go with that moniker, while his father was a construction worker, a physically imposing man who loved to have a good time. His philosophy of do it today because tomorrow may not come has been passed on to his son. Terry says, “I have tried to live my life that way.”
By the time Terry was six years old, he was living in a single parent household with his mother and older brother in Peoria, Illinois. He grew to be a big, lanky kid of 6’2”. Mumaugh says he was skinny and fast and played football and track in high school. Today he is a solid 210 pounds, a fact he is proud of at 50 years of age. Growing up in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s he became a member of the “flower child movement,” which led him to participate in a couple of sit-ins striving for student rights. His attitude in those days was “I’m not taking any crap from anybody,” perhaps a gift of his Missouri heritage from both sides of his family.
Mumaugh has always had an independent bent. He acted on it at age 15 by moving out of his home into his own apartment. He made it work by always having a job, even during his school years. “I pumped gas and bagged groceries,” said Terry. “My dad and my brother were hard workers, too. I have got to stay busy. I believe if you have something to do, you go do it.”
Terry was just a kid when he married his high school sweetheart. He realized that he had no real job skills, so two days after turning 17, he volunteered for the United States Army. “It was an opportunity for me to find a way to make a living. I have good memories of the U. S. Army because they take boys, including me, and turn them into men. I learned responsibility, discipline, and a trade. I was a soldier in the 101st Airborne Division working as a wheel and truck mechanic. I worked on big trucks, tanks, everything, rising to buck sergeant.”
Terry began his racing career in Freidberg, Germany racing Volkswagen stock cars. His commanding officer was an enterprising colonel who had a passion for stock car racing. The Colonel had his men build a quarter mile dirt track and told them to build VW bug race cars. Terry’s first race car was a 1961 VW bug. Terry said, “All of us would load our cars into the U. S. Army’s big five ton trucks and haul them to the track. The Americans and Germans loved the races. I have loved stock car racing since that first day.”
At the end of military service in 1976, Mumaugh returned to his family in Peoria, Illinois and went to work for Caterpillar, building transmissions for the big Cats. About this same time he began racing factory stocks at the Peoria Speedway. “I raced for five years at Peoria,” said Terry. “My first car was a 1971 Ford Mustang. The competition in Peoria was tough, just like it is at Manzanita Speedway. By the end of my career there, we were running 110 cars on race night and the grandstands were packed. I was in the top five my last two years.”
Mumaugh’s life hit the wall in 1985; he was laid off his job at Caterpillar and went through a divorce. “I decided to start my life over,” says Mumaugh. “I was tired of the cold weather, and some friends recommended Arizona. I didn’t know anyone in Arizona, but I loaded all my stuff into my car and headed west.” He landed a job working security. He had worked security in the past on a part-time basis, even working as a bodyguard for Jerry Lee Lewis. Ultimately, Terry was working two jobs, which was typical for him. As he says, “I had child support to pay, and I always have to be busy.”
Opportunity knocked in 1987 when Terry was hired as a Maricopa County Sheriff’s Deputy; in 1988 he was hired by the Mesa Police Department where he works to this day. Terry says, “I am going to work until I have 20 years service, then I’ll retire.” When asked what he will do to occupy himself after retirement, he replied emphatically, “I’m going racing!”
Arizona has been good to Terry Mumaugh. Good fortune smiled again shortly after he went to work for the Mesa Police Department. During a routine traffic stop at Main Street and Lesueur in Mesa, the rookie reported his location as “Leisure” and Main. The dispatcher responded, “No, officer. You’re at Lesueur and Main.” “No, I’m at “Leisure” and Main. I’m looking at the street sign,” said Mumaugh. Then he signed off. Later, in the break room at the police department, Mumaugh encountered the dispatcher, Chris Finell. Chris asked him, “You’re Mumaugh, right?” “Uh huh.” “You’re new here, so let me explain how to pronounce “Lesueur.” Instead of being offended at being corrected by a female officer, Mumaugh probably did the most intelligent thing he had ever done in his life, and said, “Thanks, I appreciate that.” He followed up his conversational brilliance by taking Chris to “choir practice.” If you have seen the movie you know what that means. If you don’t, please do the research.
Chris Finell is a native of Mesa, Arizona, graduating from Mesa High School. Her family has been here since about 1900. She turned out to be the perfect woman for Terry. They enjoy a deep, committed marriage, working as partners in all aspects of their lives. Today, Chris is the supervising dispatcher for the Mesa Police Department.
Terry is a street cop; he’s a sergeant, supervising nine officers. “I love it,” says Terry. If you have integrity, it’s a great job. We take all calls, even homicides. Everyday is different, you never know what going to happen, and that makes it exciting. I think cops are the good guys; we clean up the mess that some people make. I really enjoy helping people.”
The years slipped by. Terry had not raced since 1985. He was always busy, what with chasing the bad guys and working part-time at this or that. Surprisingly, he even did a seven year stint working three nights a week as the lead singer and guitar player in a country-western band called, “Country Nights.” His favorite song, which he wrote, is entitled, “Country Nights.” Perhaps Manzanita Speedway will put that on the speaker some night in 2005.
Racing called again in 1999. Manzanita Speedway conducted a memorial race for two local police officers killed in the line of duty. Mumaugh volunteered to participate. He borrowed a car and fire suit from Cindy Meredith; fortunately, she’s almost as tall as Terry. The adrenaline rush grabbed him again. A month later Terry and Chris returned to Manzanita as spectators, and Terry said to Chris, “I can do this. Actually, it’s something we could do together. You can be the car owner, run the pit crew, and I’ll drive.” Terry chuckled, and said, “I knew what we were getting into; Chris had no idea.”
The Mumaughs began racing at Manzanita in 2000. The partnership has worked well; Terry finished ninth that year and sixth in 2001. Since then he has finished in the top five each year including a second place finish in 2002. Terry led the field most of the year in 2004, but a series of mechanical breakdowns in the second half ruined his chances, resulting in a fourth place finish. When asked about his racing secrets, he replied with a laugh, “I have some, but I’m not giving them away. They’re in my little black book.” But then he volunteered, “You have to have good equipment and check it every week. I don’t think about my car; I’m focused on the track and my competitors. You must know the track as it is changing all the time. It’s tough to win at Manzanita because lots of guys are tough, and they’re getting better all the time. Anthony Madrid, Larry Price, Bob Taylor, Ron Funk, Paul Arseneau, and Tony Steele are always tough to beat. The big racing secret? “It’s called seat time.”
Mumaugh’s only regret is that he did not stick with racing in his youth. He always wanted to race at a higher level. But his Manzanita competitors cannot take comfort from that as Terry still wants to win a championship, not only in the Factory Stock Division, but in the Super Stock Division as well. The competition may wish he would get out of his race car and go to singing “Country Nights” again.
The Pekin, Illinois native was born on June 26, 1954, to George Mumaugh and Willadean Christopher, both natives of Missouri. His Mumaugh grandparents immigrated to the United States from Germany while the Christophers “have been here forever.” Terry’s mother is a “sweet Southerner,” with the accent and easy-going manners that go with that moniker, while his father was a construction worker, a physically imposing man who loved to have a good time. His philosophy of do it today because tomorrow may not come has been passed on to his son. Terry says, “I have tried to live my life that way.”
By the time Terry was six years old, he was living in a single parent household with his mother and older brother in Peoria, Illinois. He grew to be a big, lanky kid of 6’2”. Mumaugh says he was skinny and fast and played football and track in high school. Today he is a solid 210 pounds, a fact he is proud of at 50 years of age. Growing up in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s he became a member of the “flower child movement,” which led him to participate in a couple of sit-ins striving for student rights. His attitude in those days was “I’m not taking any crap from anybody,” perhaps a gift of his Missouri heritage from both sides of his family.
Mumaugh has always had an independent bent. He acted on it at age 15 by moving out of his home into his own apartment. He made it work by always having a job, even during his school years. “I pumped gas and bagged groceries,” said Terry. “My dad and my brother were hard workers, too. I have got to stay busy. I believe if you have something to do, you go do it.”
Terry was just a kid when he married his high school sweetheart. He realized that he had no real job skills, so two days after turning 17, he volunteered for the United States Army. “It was an opportunity for me to find a way to make a living. I have good memories of the U. S. Army because they take boys, including me, and turn them into men. I learned responsibility, discipline, and a trade. I was a soldier in the 101st Airborne Division working as a wheel and truck mechanic. I worked on big trucks, tanks, everything, rising to buck sergeant.”
Terry began his racing career in Freidberg, Germany racing Volkswagen stock cars. His commanding officer was an enterprising colonel who had a passion for stock car racing. The Colonel had his men build a quarter mile dirt track and told them to build VW bug race cars. Terry’s first race car was a 1961 VW bug. Terry said, “All of us would load our cars into the U. S. Army’s big five ton trucks and haul them to the track. The Americans and Germans loved the races. I have loved stock car racing since that first day.”
At the end of military service in 1976, Mumaugh returned to his family in Peoria, Illinois and went to work for Caterpillar, building transmissions for the big Cats. About this same time he began racing factory stocks at the Peoria Speedway. “I raced for five years at Peoria,” said Terry. “My first car was a 1971 Ford Mustang. The competition in Peoria was tough, just like it is at Manzanita Speedway. By the end of my career there, we were running 110 cars on race night and the grandstands were packed. I was in the top five my last two years.”
Mumaugh’s life hit the wall in 1985; he was laid off his job at Caterpillar and went through a divorce. “I decided to start my life over,” says Mumaugh. “I was tired of the cold weather, and some friends recommended Arizona. I didn’t know anyone in Arizona, but I loaded all my stuff into my car and headed west.” He landed a job working security. He had worked security in the past on a part-time basis, even working as a bodyguard for Jerry Lee Lewis. Ultimately, Terry was working two jobs, which was typical for him. As he says, “I had child support to pay, and I always have to be busy.”
Opportunity knocked in 1987 when Terry was hired as a Maricopa County Sheriff’s Deputy; in 1988 he was hired by the Mesa Police Department where he works to this day. Terry says, “I am going to work until I have 20 years service, then I’ll retire.” When asked what he will do to occupy himself after retirement, he replied emphatically, “I’m going racing!”
Arizona has been good to Terry Mumaugh. Good fortune smiled again shortly after he went to work for the Mesa Police Department. During a routine traffic stop at Main Street and Lesueur in Mesa, the rookie reported his location as “Leisure” and Main. The dispatcher responded, “No, officer. You’re at Lesueur and Main.” “No, I’m at “Leisure” and Main. I’m looking at the street sign,” said Mumaugh. Then he signed off. Later, in the break room at the police department, Mumaugh encountered the dispatcher, Chris Finell. Chris asked him, “You’re Mumaugh, right?” “Uh huh.” “You’re new here, so let me explain how to pronounce “Lesueur.” Instead of being offended at being corrected by a female officer, Mumaugh probably did the most intelligent thing he had ever done in his life, and said, “Thanks, I appreciate that.” He followed up his conversational brilliance by taking Chris to “choir practice.” If you have seen the movie you know what that means. If you don’t, please do the research.
Chris Finell is a native of Mesa, Arizona, graduating from Mesa High School. Her family has been here since about 1900. She turned out to be the perfect woman for Terry. They enjoy a deep, committed marriage, working as partners in all aspects of their lives. Today, Chris is the supervising dispatcher for the Mesa Police Department.
Terry is a street cop; he’s a sergeant, supervising nine officers. “I love it,” says Terry. If you have integrity, it’s a great job. We take all calls, even homicides. Everyday is different, you never know what going to happen, and that makes it exciting. I think cops are the good guys; we clean up the mess that some people make. I really enjoy helping people.”
The years slipped by. Terry had not raced since 1985. He was always busy, what with chasing the bad guys and working part-time at this or that. Surprisingly, he even did a seven year stint working three nights a week as the lead singer and guitar player in a country-western band called, “Country Nights.” His favorite song, which he wrote, is entitled, “Country Nights.” Perhaps Manzanita Speedway will put that on the speaker some night in 2005.
Racing called again in 1999. Manzanita Speedway conducted a memorial race for two local police officers killed in the line of duty. Mumaugh volunteered to participate. He borrowed a car and fire suit from Cindy Meredith; fortunately, she’s almost as tall as Terry. The adrenaline rush grabbed him again. A month later Terry and Chris returned to Manzanita as spectators, and Terry said to Chris, “I can do this. Actually, it’s something we could do together. You can be the car owner, run the pit crew, and I’ll drive.” Terry chuckled, and said, “I knew what we were getting into; Chris had no idea.”
The Mumaughs began racing at Manzanita in 2000. The partnership has worked well; Terry finished ninth that year and sixth in 2001. Since then he has finished in the top five each year including a second place finish in 2002. Terry led the field most of the year in 2004, but a series of mechanical breakdowns in the second half ruined his chances, resulting in a fourth place finish. When asked about his racing secrets, he replied with a laugh, “I have some, but I’m not giving them away. They’re in my little black book.” But then he volunteered, “You have to have good equipment and check it every week. I don’t think about my car; I’m focused on the track and my competitors. You must know the track as it is changing all the time. It’s tough to win at Manzanita because lots of guys are tough, and they’re getting better all the time. Anthony Madrid, Larry Price, Bob Taylor, Ron Funk, Paul Arseneau, and Tony Steele are always tough to beat. The big racing secret? “It’s called seat time.”
Mumaugh’s only regret is that he did not stick with racing in his youth. He always wanted to race at a higher level. But his Manzanita competitors cannot take comfort from that as Terry still wants to win a championship, not only in the Factory Stock Division, but in the Super Stock Division as well. The competition may wish he would get out of his race car and go to singing “Country Nights” again.