View George Gillett
George N. Gillett Jr.
Brief Bio by Gregg Leary
Category:NASCAR -> Sprint Cup
DOB: 10-22-38 (69)
Grew Up:Racine, WI
Lives: Vail, CO
Majority Owner Gillett Evernham Motorsports 2007
Owner: NHL Montreal Canadiens 2001
Co-Owner of Liverpool English Premier Football (Soccer) Team 2007
Has owned a percentage of the Miami Dolphins 1967
The Harlem Globetrotters (They were 10,354-1) 1968
His friend Red Klotz called Gillett after his team had beaten the Globetrotters
100-99 in overtime to end a 2,495 game winning streak
They called a press conference and got more PR out of the loss than any of the wins
(Taking a lemon and making lemonade?)
Put Vail, CO on the worldwide skiing map
Used to ski the Vail resorts at Christmas…dressed as Santa Claus and passing out money. (Does Ray Evernham see him in this role?)
Racing Background:
As a teenager his dad owned part of a Lincoln-Mercury Dealership
George delivered Bill Stroppe prepared USAC stock cars to the Milwaukee Mile when just 14…he was told what RPM’s to run on the street to get the cars there.
Used to race at Slinger, WI
“I didn’t race worth a ####. I was probably the best crasher in history.”
Did a little drag racing.
“Gasoline flows in our blood.”
“In our family...discussion at the dinner table is bore and stroke and horsepower..”
Was Chairman of the Board of the Grand Prix of Denver Champ Car race
Sponsor on Buddy Lazier’s 1996 Indy 500 winning Car
Sponsored Larry Detjens (Scott Wimmer’s uncle) on Midwest short tracks against Dick Trickle and Alan Kulwicki
“The Frances and I go way back…(NASCAR) we talked about doing something together as early as 1976.” (He doesn’t say what)
Began three and a half years ago looking to invest in a NASCAR team
“We weren’t interested in just coming in and bringing money.”