INDIANAPOLIS — As the long shadows descended across the infield at Indianapolis Raceway Park on Oct. 15, teams were dutifully loading their gear. The stands were empty and the PA speakers had fallen silent, drawing the 500 Sprint Tour season to a close.
Brian Gerster rolled slowly across the pit area, his truck and trailer headed toward the exit. He looked over at his dad Bill, his longtime crew chief and racing partner. They had wrapped up yet another outing with the Davis-Gerster No. 27, a car long familiar to Midwestern sprint car fans.
“You know,” Brian said reflectively, “I’m good with that. That’s enough.”
After 30-plus years of banging up and down the road and chasing a lifelong passion for motorsports, Gerster’s career has finally reached a crossroad. He has made the decision to sell his equipment and is making plans for the next chapter of his life.
It’s been a great ride by any measure.
Gerster began racing USAC midgets in the early 1990s and was among an exciting class of young racers that included Tony Stewart, Kenny Irwin Jr. and Tracy Hines. As his career progressed, he balanced racing with a successful career in manufacturing, driving his own car at the Little 500 for many years along with a long and successful run in winged sprinters owned by Michigan’s Dick Myers.
In due course Gerster experienced the same evolution as countless other racers as he reached his mid-50s. After three decades of sweat, work and travel, where do you go from here?
“I’ve been thinking about this moment for a while,” he admitted. “Owning my own stuff, that’s not an easy way to race. You pour a lot of time and money and energy into something and after a while that kind of takes a toll.
“There are a lot of things I still want to experience and do, and it’s time to end this chapter and start working on the next one.”
In the weeks following the October season finale, Gerster began selling pieces and parts of his racing operation. His longtime partner in the team, Dan Davis of Winchester Furniture Showroom, is on the same page when it comes to the closure of their chapter together.
“Dan and I talked through this, and after many years together this is a great way to wind everything down,” Gerster noted. “We talked about keeping things going and maybe hiring another driver, but that didn’t appeal much to either one of us.
“So it just makes sense to sell everything off and call it a career.”
Lots of racers have “retired” and then had second thoughts. Gerster smiles when he is asked if he’s serious about his decision, and if it will stick.
“Sure, it’s hard to step away from something you love,” he said. “There is no doubt that I’m going to miss driving a race car. I don’t think I’ll miss owning a car; that’s a different thing.
“So, yes, I’ve still got my helmet. It’s possible that somebody will be looking for a 54-year-old race driver to put in their car. But I’m a realistic person. I figure this is the right time for me to make a clean break, and that’s what I’m looking to happen.”
When he says he is looking to the future with excitement, Gerster isn’t kidding. He’s got a full agenda of things he’s wanted to do for many years, things that are now within his reach. He’s even bought a go-kart to tinker with.
“I’ve always been fascinated by drag racing, so I’m looking to go to the Frank Hawley Drag Racing school, just because I’ve wanted to for years,” Gerster said. “And I bought two tickets for the 2024 Indianapolis 500 … I’ve never been able to get there because we’ve always ran the Little 500 or IRP that weekend.
“I can’t do those things if I still own a race car because there isn’t room. And (wife) Kelly and I are looking forward to doing some new things together.”
Almost 40 years of racing have provided lots of ups and downs for Gerster. The downs involved injuries and surgeries and recovery, while the ups include his induction into the Little 500 Hall of Fame.
It’s been a good ride all the way, he says.
“I’ve been very fortunate,” he insisted. “I’ve been able to pursue my dream and enjoyed some success in this deal. At the same time, I’ve got a great family and a job I enjoy. So you won’t hear any gripes from me. None.
“One of the things I’m really grateful for is that my dad and I have raced together since the beginning. My mom has also been right there with us, and my wife Kelly and our daughters as well. A lot of people never have that kind of experience with their family. We’ve had countless hours working together and I wouldn’t trade a minute of it.”
Gerster is one of the good guys in racing, a genuine and grounded person who has made the scene better wherever he appeared. He’s something of an “old soul,” with a passionate interest in racing history and the people who came before.
He’s earned his stripes and he’s earned the right to follow the path of his choosing. But it’s never the same when a guy like Gerster steps away from the sport.
Maybe we can encourage him to maintain his presence in racing, in a new role. He’s got some experience in broadcasting and is a natural color commentator. He’d be a phenomenal coach for an aspiring young racer. He’d even be a good official, if you could talk him into it.
Either way, he’s earned this moment. Bravo, my friend. Well done.
