Bobby Erdman

BOBBY ERDMAN
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Bobby Erdman does not fit the traditional profile of a dirt track stock car champion.As a matter of fact, one would have to dub him the "unusual" champion in that he learned to build racecars and engines by reading books.Yet, during the 1990s, Erdman was one of the most dominant Factory Stock and Super Stock drivers at Manzanita Speedway, winning three championships in that era.

Bobby Erdman is the youngest of five children born to Marvin Erdman and Alma Holt Erdman and hails from Wausau, Wisconsin, the family's ancestral home of several generations.
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After a typical mid-western childhood and high school years, Bobby gave college a try by found that he was not ready to settle down.So he did what so many young men do, he worked in construction, as a Quality Control Technician.

After working in construction and moving from project to project for 10 years, Bob found himself in Memphis, Tennessee, and realized that he had to make a change if he was ever going to have the satisfaction and income he wanted.So, at age 31, he entered the University of Memphis, graduating in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.After graduation, he was recruited by Western Technologies in Phoenix, Arizona as a Civil Engineer.

After marrying Jeannie Groves in 1983, Bobby settled down to pursue his career in engineering.
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However, in 1988, Bobby and six buddies went to Manzanita Speedway and talked themselves into giving stock car racing a try.
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The problem was that Bobby was hooked and, as it turned out, had a knack for driving.Unbelievably, this partnership of friends lasted until 1991, when Bobby went on his own because he wanted to be an everyday driver.

In 1991 Bobby built a 1974 Chevrolet Malibu with a 305 cubic inch motor and ran in the middle of the pack.
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Bobby went on to win the championship in the Factory Stock Division that year.In 1992 Bobby built a 1978 Chevrolet Nova, won seven races and was second seven times in a 21 race season, and won another championship.

After listening to friends and competitors urge him to move up a class to Super Stocks, Bobby took their advice and endured three years of humility.Super Stocks taught Erdman the truth of the old adage, "more horsepower costs more money."Bobby did not win a race for three years, 1993, 1994, and 1995.This was a difficult period after being so dominant in the Factory Stock Division.Again, Bobby turned to Jeannie for advice.
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It took two years but Bobby reclaimed his winning ways and won the Super Stock championship in 1998.At that time, he decided to go out on top and retire as one of the oldest, winningest drivers at Manzanita Speedway.

Today, Bobby Erdman is an engineer for the Maricopa County Department of Transportation, mentor to two grown children, Jeff and Deborah, and two grandchildren, Stephen and Jordin.Sometimes he still dreams of his glory days at Manzanita Speedway, which were based on the textbook, "How to Rebuild Your Small-Block Chevy."

Bobby Erdman
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Smith honored John Craig, one of the founders of SCRA and a winner of three championships, Bobby Erdman, one of the most dominant drivers in both Factory Stocks and Super Stocks in the 1990's, winning three championships, and Kent Staley, who won a total of five championships between Albuquerque, New Mexico and SCRA.
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Bobby Erdman, the Factory Stock Division champion in 1991 and 1992 and the Super Stock Division champion in 1998, was the only nomination received this year.
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Erdman, an engineer for the Arizona Department of Transportation, joined SCRA in 1988.Erdman began racing that year, building a racecar with a group of friends who took turns driving.Ultimately, Bobby decided that he wanted more seat time and entered his own car into competition.Almost immediately after going solo, Erdman became the dominate factory stock driver at Manzanita Speedway, winning the championship in 1991 and following that up in 1992 with a dream season that saw him win seven times and finish second times in a 21 race season, concluding with another championship.Bobby moved to the Super Stock Division in 1993, spent more money, found humility at the higher level, and in 1998 won a third championship at Manzanita Speedway.He retired from racing while he was on top.Recently, however, Bobby Erdman reappeared at Manzanita Speedway in the Factory Stock Division with a new racecar.After nine years away from the track, he decided to give it another try.

Bobby is married to the former Jeannie Groves and has two grown children, Jeff and Deborah, along with two grandchildren, Stephen and Jordin.