Rush McCloud

Jeffery Daniel McCloud (born May 9, 1982 in San Francisco, California), better known as Rush McCloud, is an American stock car driver, crew chief, spotter and businessman, who partnered with TM Master Cup Series driver Packer Carroll in 2002 to form Gravity Racing, Inc. He is currently the spotter of Packer and the #2 MaiaSoft Volpi for the Volpi Racing Team in the TM Master Cup Series. He is married to Formula Overdrive competitor Regina McCloud. His ability to perform extremely well in one-off events has earned him the nickname "the Moonlighter".

Beginning of a Partnership
In 2001, Rush met future TM Master Cup Series competitor Packer Carroll while Packer was competiting in the California Extreme Street Racing Championship Series, from which McCloud established his name in the racing world, literally. The two became fast friends, and formed Gravity Racing, Inc., or GRI, the next racing season. They racked up 128 race wins, 171 podiums, and 8 championships in the CESRCS series.

2009 Season, Rough Beginnings
In 2009, Rush and Packer moved their team up to the ARLA Elite Series, acquiring sponsorship from Shiny Wax, and manufacturer backing from Gasnier. At the same time, McCloud was hired to drive the #189 Volpi in the TM Junior Series for Bjorn Green Racing. It was a rough season for both Packer and Rush, although Packer managed a victory at Boston. McCloud's highlight was a Q-Race victory at Twin Ring Motegi. He qualified for just 9 of the 16 events, and scored just 2 top 10 finishes, with a best of 3rd at VIR, his first career TM podium. He finished 35th in the final standings.

2010 Season, Triumph at Rockford
"I... I can't believe I'm here right now. I... I don't know what to say, honestly. I've never experienced anything like this before. It's incredible."

- Rush McCloud after his victory in the 2010 Rockford 200

In 2010, McCloud moved over to the new CRL Modified Division team for GRI, and began to show some promise. He qualified for his debut race at Irwindale Speedway, and scored his first top 10 finish. At New Hampshire Motor Speedway, he scored his first career CRL podium with a third place finish, vaulting him up to 7th in the points standings. However, he struggled for much of the rest of the season. He eventually finished 23rd in the final standings.

However, all those shortcomings were vastly overshadowed by McCloud's greatest racing triumph. He was entered as a one-off driver in the 2010 Rockford 200, driving the #171 Sub-Zero Energy Drink Gasnier for GRI. He finished 5th in his heat race, and then qualified for the A-Main by finishing 2nd in his qualifying race. Packer was already locked in due to his position in the points standings.

After starting 17th, Rush struggled to find his footing, but would eventually begin to work his way forward. In the meantime, his teammate, Packer, didn't take very long to find the front of the field. After starting in 11th, Packer's car was very fast in the early going as he found his way into 3rd by Lap 10. But after the first caution, Packer was shoved to the high side and was freight trained by the rest of the field. In the meantime, by the 1/4 mark of the race, Rush had made his way into 2nd, but was unable to challenge Jason Bates for the lead at the time.

Then, after the second caution which saw Bobby Porteau taken out of the race by Aaron Cruise, Packer's hopes for victory were shattered when he was black-flagged for passing on the left before the start/finish line. Zach Gott, Packer's temporary crew chief for the Rockford 200, argued that Jeb Klinger, the driver that Packer passed, checked up for some reason on the restart and that Packer was avoiding rear-ending the #66 car. But the officials ruled otherwise, and Packer had to make a stop and go penalty. He eventually went a lap down and never recovered. He finished 2 laps down in 13th, but managed to finish 4th in the final points standings, his second top 5 finish after he finished 5th in the TMJS points last week at Decatur.

This meant that Gravity Racing, Inc.'s last hope for a win in 2010 rested on Rush McCloud's shoulders, but his #171 Gasnier had proven to be a very reliable car. But on Lap 85, his great run nearly went up in smoke. Going into turn 3, he attempted to pass the #33 of Raibeart Scott, when the #63 of Kevin Monroe charged up the inside and knocked Rush into Scott. The #33 spun down the frontstretch, but nobody hit him, and Rush was able to get by. He was apologetic on his radio, saying he didn't see the #63 coming up the inside.

At the halfway point, the fifth caution saw Kevin Monroe turned hard into the turn 4 wall by Scott Wuelen, and spun right in Rush's path, but Rush was once again able to dodge the wreck.

After the restart, McCloud was able to hang inside the top 5 for the next portion of the race, but after the sixth caution, began falling back after being forced up to the high side.

The 7th caution came out when Packer hit Jim Hayes going into turn 3 on Lap 183. The final restart saw Rush just outside the top 5, but his car suddenly found some grip in his heat-cycled tires, and charged up to the front. With 7 laps to go, Rush passed Amy Harrison for the lead and led his first lap in ARLA competition. The race's final caution occured on Lap 195, when Jim Hayes spun Scott Wuelen in turn 3. With Rush leading under caution, everyone was wondering if there would be a 1-lap shootout for the win, which would not have been good for Rush. All weekend long, the leader seemed to be very vulnerable on restarts, skating up the track in turn 1, allowing the second place car to take the lead off turn 2. If the race restarted, the advantage would've been in Amy Harrison's favor. Regina McCloud, typically the #3's crew chief, was the crew chief for her husband in this race, and was hoping and praying that the race would not restart as Packer listened in on the radio. As the pace car crossed the line, the lights stayed on, meaning the race would end under caution, giving ARLA's most prestigious race to Rush McCloud. After learning that the race would end under yellow, Regina jumped off the pit box and began celebrating with the crew, with the #71 team joining them. It was obvious listening on the radio that Rush was celebrating inside the car as well.

After he took a well-deserved victory lap, Rush stopped his car at the start/finish line, where the victory lane celebrations took place at Rockford. He climbed from the car, checkered flag in hand and climbed on top of the car, arms raised in victory as the crowd roared it's approval. Rush was joined on top of the car by Packer, who enveloped him in a bear hug, obviously proud of his friend's accomplishment.

2011 Season, Not Much To Talk About
After his monumental victory, McCloud's 2011 season was not very active. The CRL combined the end of 2010 and beginning of 2011 together for one season, but then took the rest of 2011 off for restructuring. This left Rush with just his crew chief duties for the #71 team in ARLA. He subbed for Packer at Alaska while Packer was in Germany for the TM Master Cup Series race there. Rush finished 15th. His other start came in the 2011 Rockford 200 when he came back in the #171 car to defend his title, now sponsored by Uncle Chunky's Milk. He finished 3rd in his qualifying race and 11th in his B-Main.

2012 Season, Ready For A World Tour
When Packer was moved to drive for the Volpi Racing Team full-time in TMMC in 2012, Rush was moved up to be his crew chief. At the same time, he will be ready to run the 2012 CRL Modified Division season in the #71 car.

The 2012 CRL Modified Division season kicked off with the Pizza Hut 150 @ Irwindale, something of a home race for Rush, where he finished 15th.

Rush qualified for the 2012 Mini Indy 500, but relinquished his spot to Eric Jackson, due to Jackson being in the hunt for the championship at the time.

Midway through the 2012 TM Master Cup season, Rush was replaced by David Stoyanoff as crew chief of the #2 Volpi Racing Team machine driven by Packer, and Rush was not very happy with the decision. "If Volpi had even bothered to check what's happened this year, he'd know that we've actually been running really good this year, but we've just had horrible luck. The last two weeks are certainly indicative of that. But I think he was just mad because I spoke my mind about the Volpi engine's reliability problems. Well, it's the truth, because Divina's had her fair share of mechanical problems as well. You know, I once thought that this deal with Volpi was a big deal for the both of our teams, but now, I'm not so sure anymore. Not after this decision."

After GRI's CRL operations were shut down, as they were preparing to move to the FARCE series, Rush was confirmed to be moving to the Formula Overdrive team, which will be renamed Hailstorm-McCloud Racing in FO, as they will be using their own engine package, the JLC Hailstorm. He will be teaming with wife Regina in 2013. In preparation for his transition to FO, Rush will replace Packer in the Hanmore World Championships, as Packer is focusing on his Rookie of the Year campaign in the TM Master Cup Series.

Career Statistics
TM Junior Series

CRL Modified Series

ARLA Elite Series

Rush's Fiery Comments
Another thing Rush is known for, other than his comedic personality toward his friends, is his fiery temper. Whenever another driver sends a derogatory remark toward Packer, himself, or his wife Regina, Rush responds with his own rage-filled comment, defending his friends while at the same time sending a curse-filled response back at the driver who made the comment. Rush has said in the past, "Sometimes, it's just a heat of the moment kind of thing."

Some of Rush's Quotes
"That jerk has a lot of nerve calling Packer out. Considering how much of wrecker he is, he's in no position to be talking! Maybe he's just jealous of the fact that Packer has his own team in ARLA, has a TM Junior Series ride, and is in line for a full-time ride in the TM Master Cup Series in 2011. Maybe Sendack needs to worry about his own problems and mind his own f***ing business! And what is this saying about him "sending Packer packing really quickly"?! Now you've crossed a line, Sendack! If you've got a problem with us, why don't you drag your sorry a** down here if you've got the guts and say it directly to our faces!"

- Rush's response to Brian Sendack's comments at the 2009 Round of Decatur.

"Just disgusting what happened out there today. First, Leslie Riggs wrecks Leigh Gruell, and who gets caught up in the wreck? Oh, yeah, Packer did. What the hell was she thinking? Maybe that concussion hurt her thinking ability somewhat, because that was just plain stupid. And as if that weren't bad enough, Brenda Riggs wrecks Bruce on the frontstretch for no freaking reason, and Allie Riggs plows into the back of him! Did the Riggs family lose some IQ points recently or what, because that was just stupid on all of their parts. Not to mention that Gary DeSouza was acting like a tool holding Packer up, which put him back there to begin with. Honestly, I think ARLA could do without Mosport."

- Rush after the 2011 Mosport 175.

"Typical Team Saar USA bitching. Kevin Dwyer thinks Packer ran him into the wall. So he thinks wrecking him is justified? Please. That guy only got to where he is because of his last name, but I'll tell you this: He's not his father. Compared to what Packer has done the last three years, Kevin hasn't done jack squat. In my opinion, he's just an overrated piece of dog shit."

- Rush McCloud in response to Kevin Dwyer's comments after the 2012 Round of Las Vegas.

"Are these officials blind as bats? Packer did not come across Cooper's nose on purpose. He thought he had him cleared and was setting up for the Hawthrone Bend, and not only that, but the incident between Delgado and Griffith may have also played a part in Packer's early move, as he probably reacted to what was going on in front of him and instinctively moved to the left, as the incident was on the right side of the track. Now, if it was an incident like what happened between Camphausen and Plissken or Devereux and Johaanes, then I can see where the officials make their point. But in this case, they overstepped their boundaries big time, and quite frankly, it's ridiculous. And besides that, Packer apologized and accepted blame for what happened, but apparently, that's not good enough for them, and that makes them pretty damn ignorant, in my opinion."

- Rush after Packer was penalized at the 2012 Round of England.

"Go figure. Packer admits fault for the accident, and Ian Cooper and his crew chief still act like a couple of prissy little b**tches. I mean seriously, the man owned up to the incident, and yet the two of you act like a couple of prickhorns running home to daddy. Chicken move, my a**. Seriously, you two need to grow the f**k up."

- Rush's response to Ian Cooper's comments after the 2012 Round of England.

"Man, I haven't seen Packer lose his cool that often in the time I've known him, which is going on 15 years. Personally, Packer was just racing for position inside the top 10, and Kingston looks like he lost control of the car. Of course, running Packer into the grass wasn't very sportsmanlike either, so he should've gotten an ATP, but that's what you get when you have short-sighted officials. Dwyer's just a raging overrated cunt, and Mullen and Camphausen are loudmouth assclowns, and that's all I've got to say about that."

- Rush after the 2012 Round of France.

"I think it's pretty pathetic that only 8 drivers are gonna score points, especially when one of those drivers, the points leader, won the race, so now he has a huge lead over everyone else. The fact that ARLA's not awarding points to the drivers that made it to segment 2 and 3 is absolutely retarded. In my opinion, what should've happened in a race of this length is that if a driver made it to segment 2, they get at least a 1/4 of the points if they DNF, and if they make it to segment 3, they get at least half points, but no. ARLA decides that it doesn't matter how far a driver goes. If they DNF, they get 0 points, and for that reason, it makes this race a complete and total farce. Not to mention, the way some of the drivers were driving out there makes you wonder why they're in this series to begin with. I honestly believe ARLA majorly dropped the ball on this occasion. I'm actually glad I didn't run this race."

- Rush's response to the 2012 Mini Indy 500.

"If Volpi had even bothered to check what's happened this year, he'd know that we've actually been running really good this year, but we've just had horrible luck. The last two weeks are certainly indicative of that. But I think he was just mad because I spoke my mind about the Volpi engine's reliability problems. Well, it's the truth, because Divina's had her fair share of mechanical problems as well. You know, I once thought that this deal with Volpi was a big deal for the both of our teams, but now, I'm not so sure anymore. Not after this decision."

- Rush's response to Cyril Volpi's decision to replace him with David Stoyanoff as crew chief of the #2 VRT team.