Ray Evernham Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday Facts
Explore Ray Evernham net worth, relationships, age/birthdate and birthday in this detailed profile of the NASCAR legend and team-building innovator.
Ray Evernham Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday
Ray Evernham is a championship-winning NASCAR crew chief turned team owner and media personality, best known for revolutionizing pit-stop strategy and leading the “Rainbow Warriors” to dominance.
Introduction
Ray Evernham (born August 26, 1957) emerged from modest short-track racing roots to become one of the most influential figures in NASCAR. Across his multi-faceted career he accrued an estimated net worth of $30 million, according to public estimations. Currently married to former driver Erin Crocker, Evernham’s professional and personal journeys intertwine in the high-octane world of motorsports, making his story both rich and compelling.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Raymond Donald Evernham Jr. |
| Age/Birthdate | August 26, 1957 |
| Birthday | August 26 |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Crew chief, Team owner, Consultant, Media personality |
| Estimated Net Worth | $30 million |
| Relationship Status | Married to Erin Crocker (married August 26, 2009) |
| Known For | Modernizing pit-stop strategy; three NASCAR Cup Series championships with Jeff Gordon; founding Evernham Motorsports |
Forging a Champion’s Mindset
Raised in Hazlet, New Jersey, Evernham discovered racing by wrenching and driving in local modified circuits. The formative years instilled in him the mechanical instincts and competitive hunger that would define his brand. At 26, he broke into the upper echelon of motorsports as a chassis specialist in the International Race of Champions (IROC) series, working alongside legends such as Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt.
Following a brief stint with Alan Kulwicki’s team, Evernham was tapped by Jeff Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports to become his crew chief. The pairing proved iconic: Evernham reorganized the pit crew into trained athletes, leveraged data-driven setups and built the so-called “Rainbow Warriors” alongside Gordon. Together they captured three NASCAR Cup Series titles and 47 race wins.
Defining moments in Ray Evernham’s journey include:
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Introducing specialized pit-crew training and reducing 4-tire stop times substantially.
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Taking control as crew chief for Jeff Gordon and engineering championship runs.
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Founding Evernham Motorsports (2000–2010) and spearheading Dodge’s return to NASCAR’s top tier.
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Earning induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame (Class of 2018) and later the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.
The Core Pillars of Ray Evernham’s Wealth
The engine behind Evernham’s financial success is multi-layered, combining racing triumphs, team ownership, media activities and brand partnerships.
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Crew-chief earnings & bonus payouts: Champion crew-chief contracts and performance bonuses during his peak with Hendrick Motorsports.
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Evernham Motorsports ownership & sale: Building a winning team, aligning with Dodge, then eventually selling his stake.
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Media & consultancy roles: Analyst roles for ESPN, NBC and executive producing series like AmeriCARna.
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Brand partnerships & speaking engagements: Leveraging his motorsports reputation into long-term ambassador roles.
Relationships & Personal Life
Evernham’s personal life has drawn as much attention as his professional one, especially his marriage to Erin Crocker, a former development driver for his team. They married on his birthday, August 26, 2009. Together they welcomed a daughter, Cate Susan Evernham.
Key insights into Ray Evernham’s relationships and personal life:
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He and Erin Crocker had a professional start (team owner and driver) before the relationship evolved.
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The couple maintain a relatively private personal life, with selective public exposure of family milestones.
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Evernham has spoken openly about balancing his commitment to racing with his role as husband and father in interviews.
Lifestyle, Assets & Interests
Beyond career success, Ray Evernham leads a lifestyle that reflects both passion and purpose, including:
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A well-regarded collection of high-performance cars and vintage race cars, reflecting his lifelong love of automobiles.
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Ownership of his media and consulting business ventures tied to the automotive industry.
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Philanthropic engagement via the Evernham Family — Racing for a Reason Foundation, supporting young adults with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.
Net Worth Breakdown & Analysis
Estimating public-figure net worth always carries some uncertainty, but multiple sources converge around a rough figure of $30 million.
| Category | Estimated Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Business Ventures (team ownership, motorsports consulting) | ~$20 million | CelebrityNetWorth & RichestLifestyle estimates |
| Brand Deals & Partnerships | ~$5 million | Based on his long-term ambassador roles and public speaking income |
| Investments & Assets | ~$5 million | Derived residually from collection and media roles |
Although the exact breakdown is not publicly audited, what is clear is that Evernham’s a la carte approach — shifting from driving to crew chief to team owner to media consultant — enabled diversification. His sale of the Evernham Motorsports stake, while involving legal complexities, was a major inflection point financially.
Public Image, Legacy & Influence
On the public stage, Ray Evernham is viewed as a pioneering figure in American motorsports. His “pit-crew as athletes” model and close partnership with Jeff Gordon changed the competitive landscape of NASCAR. The media narrative casts him as equal parts technician and showman — a behind-the-scenes strategist who stepped into the spotlight as a broadcaster and entrepreneur.
His legacy includes:
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A lasting imprint on how NASCAR teams operate and train.
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Strong credibility in automotive media, with TV shows and consulting roles that extend beyond racing.
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Influence in charitable work and industry speaking engagements, where he communicates leadership, innovation and teamwork lessons gleaned from motorsports.
Conclusion
Ray Evernham’s trajectory from a young racer in New Jersey to a key figure in NASCAR history illustrates the power of technical ingenuity, strategic risk-taking and personal reinvention. His net worth of roughly $30 million, his marriage to Erin Crocker, and his birthdate of August 26, 1957 all weave together into a story of ambition, collaboration and enduring impact. His birthday serves as a yearly reminder of where his journey began — and how far he has steered that journey through speed, precision and perseverance.
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