Mike Garvey is a racer. He’s been involved in racing all his life, beginning as a mechanic for his father’s Late Model team when he was 11 years old. At the age of 16, he went to work at Port City Racing and started driving race cars in 1980 at the age of 18, and continues to race today.
Garvey, who has made numerous starts in all three of NASCAR’s top tours, was perhaps most successful in the original American Speed Association during the 1990’s and early 2000’s. The Georgia racer won 21 times in the ASA National Series, his first-career ASA win coming on May 4, 1997 at Five Flags (Fla.) Speedway.
“I feel like I won so many big ASA races, it hard to pick just one that stands out,” Garvey admitted. “But the Pensacola win was certainly one of the most important wins of my career.”
Garvey’s win at Pensacola came in just his second ASA start since joining Gerry Gunderman’s team. Matt Kenseth drove the No. 8 Pontiac in the first three races of the 1997 season before being hired by Robbie Reiser to drive in what was then called the NASCAR Busch Series. Garvey finished 15th in his first race with Gunderman at the now defunct Peach State Speedway the week before the Five Flags Speedway ASA National Series debut in ’97.
“The opportunity to step in when Matt got hired by Reiser was a milestone in my career,” Garvey continued. “Looking back, I really wish I could have started racing ASA sooner in my career. Who knows how successful we could have been.”
Before running ASA, Garvey was the NASCAR All American Challenge Series champion in 1990, a predecessor to the NASCAR Southeast Tour Series that began the following season. The Michigan native has wins in the All-Pro Super Series, X-1R Pro Cup Series, NASCAR Southeast Series, ARTGO Challenge Series, and USAR Hooters Late Model Series to name just a few. He has two victories in the prestigious All American 400 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway (Tenn.) and multiple big event wins.
Garvey’s ASA career was spectacular, though he did not win a championship. He scored the most season wins on three occasions, and from 1999 to the series close in 2004 Garvey never finished worse than sixth in the championship standings, finishing third in that final season. Along with Scott Hansen, Garvey may have been the best driver to never win a title.
“ASA was the prefect series for me and a lot of guys,” Garvey continued. “Everywhere I go, most of the people I see at the track just want to talk about the old ASA.”
Garvey is still very much involved in short track racing, helping numerous drivers as a consultant and driver coach; and occasionally he still gets behind the wheel. Racing is in his blood, and you can see the sparkle in his eye when he gets to talking about the sport.
“I grew up in Michigan, ASA was everything to me. Mike Eddy and Bob Senneker were my heroes. Them and Butch Miller and Ed Howe. Getting the chance to race against my heroes is amazing.”
Garvey will get to see and visit with many of the former ASA racers he competed against on July 15 during the 50th Anniversary ASA Racers Reunion at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway. The reunion event is scheduled as part of the 57th Annual Greg Hubler Automotive Group Redbud 400, part of the ASA STARS National Tour season.
“Lisa and I wouldn’t miss this for the world.” Garvey concluded.
The Redbud 400 will be broadcast live by SPEED SPORT affiliate MidwestTour.tv.