New business executive at GEM focused on winning (cont'd)

"This is another step in our plan toward build a winning organization," said Evernham when Reddin was named CEO. "Tom is a world-class business executive who brings a wealth of experience to Gillett Evernham Motorsports. His management style will enable this organization to maximize its production off the track so the competition side has the resources to win races and contend for championships."

Reddin has a philosophy about business that echoes that competitive spirit.

Ray at the mike

GEM co-owner Ray Evernham has joined ESPN as an analyst for its NASCAR coverage.

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"First of all, you have to have a relentless focus on winning as a team, and you need to win on the track and off the track," Reddin said. "We feel like we have the platform here and the people and all the pieces to win races. It's the same team here today that won a record number of races year before last. We feel like we're putting the pieces back in alignment. We kind of view it as Rubik's Cube. We took the pieces apart for a while and now we're putting them back together.

"We have a brilliant head of competition in Mark McArdle, who has brought some processes and discipline to the competition side of the business. Ray sits next door to me. He is a close advisor for me and Mark, and we have an outstanding group here in the shop. Yes, it's a smaller group here at the shop than it is as a sponsor, but if you focus on winning and you're relentless about that, you get there."

Reddin is also aware that NASCAR is not the same group he broke ground with back in the late 1980s with Bobby Hamilton and Country Time.

"NASCAR is changing," he said. "These race teams now are top flight businesses that have to be as good off the track in the business community as they are on the track. I have grown and built businesses my entire career. To succeed in this sport in the coming years, you are going to have to have a business plan that provides a major win for your business partners, your drivers, and your employees.

"Success will center on people, process and technology. You have to excel in all three dimensions."

Just like any other racer, Reddin is playing to win. The playing field -- or track surface in this case -- is just a little different.

"We're playing to win at Gillett Evernham Motorsports," Reddin said. "Our plan is to significantly expand the scope of the business, exceed our business partners' expectations, and enjoy many trips back to Victory Lane as we chase toward a championship."

As for getting the racing bug again, Reddin was pretty adamant that would never happen, even on a road course.

"I'm smart enough to keep my day job," he cracked.