Charlie Fegan, setting up the timing display, has been running and promoting racetracks for 20 years. Recently he took over the lease at NAPA Speedway, where he has made a 24/7 commitment. (PAT VASQUEZ-CUNNINGHAM/JOURNAL)

There has been a friendly changing of the guard at NAPA Speedway, with veteran racing enthusiast Charlie Fegan of Bosque Farms taking over the lease at the Southwest Albuquerque facility from the Duke City’s Jim Guthrie.

Fegan, 53, a 1977 Eldorado High School grad and a three-time world champion drag boat owner/driver in the Top Fuel class, promises to bring a gusto to the job that few can muster.

“When I wake up every day, this is what I do for a living,” said Fegan, who also was president of the International Hot Boat Association from 1998-2010. “I promote races; I write rules; I run races; I run racetracks. And I’ve been doing it for 20 years.”

In June, he masterminded the Dirt 300 Nitro Nationals, a sand-drag event at Albuquerque Dragway. He offered about $30,000 in payouts and said he attracted 80 out-of-town race teams.

Fegan said he’s a perfect fit for this job.

“When Jim Guthrie wakes up in the morning, he’s got the nicest body shop in the country — and it’s a monster. That’s his forte.

“Jim loves racing and has a lot to bring to the table, but this racetrack is very difficult to run. Running the racetrack and running Car Crafters, that’s where you’re going to run out of time.”

Charlie Fegan, who guided last year’s Dirt 300 at Albuquerque Dragway, says NAPA Speedway is now his baby.

NAPA Speedway not only has half-mile and quarter-mile asphalt ovals, but includes a three-eighths mile dirt track, quarter-midget layout and remote-control car track. Fegan is also moving his sand drag layout to the speedway.

The lease transaction was finalized last month.

Guthrie, 51, a former driver in the Indy Racing League, chuckled that Fegan caught him on a good day when making his pitch.

“I said, ‘Come down and let’s talk,’ ” said Guthrie, who still enjoys driving. “We worked out a deal that’s good for me. He’s the one who can take (the track) to the next level. And his wife (Nancy) is helping him. This is good for Albuquerque.”

“The speedway is better served by someone who can work at it 24/7. And, obviously, I don’t make my livelihood like that.”

That 24/7 reference isn’t too far off.

“It’s more than 80 hours a week,” Fegan said matter-of-factly of his seven-days-a-week work schedule. “I’m up every day at 5 o’clock, and I’m usually out by 7. But if you’ve done it your whole life there are always little rewards.

“We try to go out there (to the track) Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. That’s the most fun you can have out playing on a tractor. That’s your release, because during the week it’s unbelievably stressful. That’s my thing. I can’t wait to go out to the track. The hard part’s selling. I get to go move dirt, clean up a wall and cut weeds and make the racetrack look nicer. That’s winning for me.”

It’s not like Guthrie is walking away from the operation. He remains a vice president for the speedway’s board of directors and said he is a fairly large shareholder.

“So, obviously, I’d love to see him be successful,” Guthrie said, “because that means I’ll be refunded my investment.”

Fegan said Guthrie gave him a rousing head start.

“Last year Jim added about 3,000 seats between the dirt and the pavement (tracks),” Fegan said. “He spent a couple hundred thousand dollars on equipment and bleachers and that sort of stuff. And he had to put together a deal with me on those to not bankrupt me. … Our relationship goes way back. I had a Top Fuel drag boat that Jim sponsored.”

And Fegan is also is bringing the bleachers over from the old Dirt 300, so the seating for the entire facility is going to take a step up.

“Jim, in making this happen, had to work with me and stick his neck out,” Fegan said. “He’s really done that.”

Guthrie admits he’ll probably have regrets down the road over giving up day-to-day operations of the facility.

“Yeah, I’m sure I’m going to,” he said. “I’m a racer at heart, so I didn’t get into this to make a living. I did it to give back to racing what racing has given me.”

This season racing is scheduled to commence in April.

“This NAPA Speedway is my baby,” Fegan said. “I hope to die there. Hopefully it’s not tomorrow.”
— This article appeared on page B1 of the Albuquerque Journal