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DELAWARE, Ohio (March 11) -- Series organizers of the JEGS ProMod Challenge have commissioned noted artist Dan Dreisbach and his company, Naked Sculpture of Baltimore, Ohio, to create trophies for the 10-race series. The breathtaking, handmade sculptures of brushed stainless steel will be awarded to each race winner in 2008.
"I take a lot of pride in my creations," Dreisbach said. "When it's in someone's hands, after they've won a race, I want them to say 'Wow, look at the precision, look at the craftsmanship of this piece.' I want it to be something they're very proud of having in their trophy case."
A fabricator by trade who has worked at Rahal-Letterman Racing since 1992, Dreisbach has created trophies and sculptures for a wide variety of clients over the years. He utilizes steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, brass, all hardwoods, carbon fiber, and titanium in his work and has made things as small as paperweights to large pieces like the seven-foot-long Indy car that is the centerpiece of an outdoor fountain at the entrance of the Honda Performance Development compound in Santa Clarita, Calif.
His pieces have become coveted items in the racing world and are sure to become a must-have item for Pro Modified racers on the JEGS ProMod Challenge tour.
"I've won two championships, lot's of individual races, including the U.S. Nationals in my Funny Car, and set plenty of records along the way, but when you look in my office the JEGS Crown trophy is front and center," Ashley said. "There're two reasons why; first, it represents an outstanding accomplishment, and secondly, the trophy itself is stunning.
"No matter how much money is on the line, we all race for the trophy. Money comes and goes but trophies carry a special and unique meaning that lasts a lifetime. I can't wait to compete this year for some of these spectacular new JEGS ProMod Challenge trophies."
Each trophy takes Dreisbach about eight hours to create by hand. When more than one trophy of the same kind is needed, as is the case with the JEGS ProMod Challenge, Dreisbach will use a laser-cutter to duplicate some of the bigger pieces to insure uniformity. The original designs mostly come from his own creative process.
"I usually sit down with the client to try and get an idea of what they want," said Dreisbach, who has made trophies for the IRL, AMA, and ALMS series as well as the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. "If there is a logo involved than I'll try to incorporate facets of the logo in the rest of the piece. For instance, the JEGS ProMod Challenge logo is angular so I kept that in mind when I made the rest of the trophy.
"I'm not very good at drawing things on paper so most of the time I'll make a rough trophy out of aluminum to see what it looks like and to show the client what I had in mind. Then we can fine-tune from there. It started as a hobby but this has grown to the point where it might become a full-time deal. It's something I really enjoy."
"Dan's a true artist," said Scott Woodruff, Director of Media and Motorsports for JEGS. "He created the JEGS Crown trophy for us a few years ago and we were just blown away. When we took over this series he was the first and only person I thought of to make a trophy for us. I knew his work would impress everyone and once the racers see these trophies in person and hold it in their hands, they'll want one for sure."
JEGS ProMod Challenge commissions renowned artist to make race trophies
DELAWARE, Ohio (March 11) -- Series organizers of the JEGS ProMod Challenge have commissioned noted artist Dan Dreisbach and his company, Naked Sculpture of Baltimore, Ohio, to create trophies for the 10-race series. The breathtaking, handmade sculptures of brushed stainless steel will be awarded to each race winner in 2008.
"I take a lot of pride in my creations," Dreisbach said. "When it's in someone's hands, after they've won a race, I want them to say 'Wow, look at the precision, look at the craftsmanship of this piece.' I want it to be something they're very proud of having in their trophy case."
A fabricator by trade who has worked at Rahal-Letterman Racing since 1992, Dreisbach has created trophies and sculptures for a wide variety of clients over the years. He utilizes steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, brass, all hardwoods, carbon fiber, and titanium in his work and has made things as small as paperweights to large pieces like the seven-foot-long Indy car that is the centerpiece of an outdoor fountain at the entrance of the Honda Performance Development compound in Santa Clarita, Calif.
His pieces have become coveted items in the racing world and are sure to become a must-have item for Pro Modified racers on the JEGS ProMod Challenge tour.
"I've won two championships, lot's of individual races, including the U.S. Nationals in my Funny Car, and set plenty of records along the way, but when you look in my office the JEGS Crown trophy is front and center," Ashley said. "There're two reasons why; first, it represents an outstanding accomplishment, and secondly, the trophy itself is stunning.
"No matter how much money is on the line, we all race for the trophy. Money comes and goes but trophies carry a special and unique meaning that lasts a lifetime. I can't wait to compete this year for some of these spectacular new JEGS ProMod Challenge trophies."
Each trophy takes Dreisbach about eight hours to create by hand. When more than one trophy of the same kind is needed, as is the case with the JEGS ProMod Challenge, Dreisbach will use a laser-cutter to duplicate some of the bigger pieces to insure uniformity. The original designs mostly come from his own creative process.
"I usually sit down with the client to try and get an idea of what they want," said Dreisbach, who has made trophies for the IRL, AMA, and ALMS series as well as the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. "If there is a logo involved than I'll try to incorporate facets of the logo in the rest of the piece. For instance, the JEGS ProMod Challenge logo is angular so I kept that in mind when I made the rest of the trophy.
"I'm not very good at drawing things on paper so most of the time I'll make a rough trophy out of aluminum to see what it looks like and to show the client what I had in mind. Then we can fine-tune from there. It started as a hobby but this has grown to the point where it might become a full-time deal. It's something I really enjoy."
"Dan's a true artist," said Scott Woodruff, Director of Media and Motorsports for JEGS. "He created the JEGS Crown trophy for us a few years ago and we were just blown away. When we took over this series he was the first and only person I thought of to make a trophy for us. I knew his work would impress everyone and once the racers see these trophies in person and hold it in their hands, they'll want one for sure."
