C&R Racing

Established in 1988

Established in December 1988, C&R Racing, Inc. is the leading manufacturer of cooling systems and drivetrain components for the motorsports industry. Chris Paulsen, former IndyCar Series chief mechanic, started the company as a custom machine shop and metal fabrication business serving the IndyCar industry. Since 1988, the company has grown to be the leading manufacturer of components and equipment for high performance applications, complete cooling systems, chassis and drivetrain components, and wind tunnel models. C&R is the largest and preferred supplier of custom all-aluminum radiators to NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Camping World Series. C&R is also the preferred supplier to the IndyCar Series and various other off-road, open wheel and late model series.

“The racing knowledge of our staff is unmatched by few, if any, of our competitors,” states Chris Paulsen, President of C&R Racing, Inc. “We’ve experienced winning and losing; knowing what makes both of those happen allows us to build quality, high performance products.”

In addition to Chris, the team is led by George Huening. George, also a former IndyCar chief mechanic, exemplifies over 25 years experience in the motorsports industry. Also on staff is Chris Jaynes, Production Manager of the machine and fabrication shop and Jeff Tutino and Jeff “Fuzzy” Horton managing the team at the C&R South location in Mooresville, NC. With over 100 years combined racing experience, motorsports is the only industry many of the staff has ever known. The expertise gained from the collaborative efforts has made C&R the top choice for teams and builders for any high performance racing application.

Paulsen continues, “We are innovative, do not copy ideas and have strong relationships with our customers. Our commitment to not cut corners has allowed us to establish our mark in the racing industry.”

C&R’s fabrication and machine shop is equipped with the latest in CNC machine tools, metal fabrication equipment, and CAD/CAM technology. Dedicated personnel provide a high tech “job shop” for professional racers worldwide; products include chassis related machine and fabrication parts, 40% and 50% wind tunnel models, complete cooling systems with all-aluminum radiators and furnace brazed cores (no epoxy), and suspension components. C&R’s performance division, located on-site, supplies an elite line of plumbing hardware, heatshield products, safety equipment, and specialty lubricants for the motorsports industry.

January 1, 2005 C&R opened C&R Racing South. C&R South, located in Mooresville, NC manufactures and distributes drivetrain components (including the CR1, CR1V2, & CR2), Dynotech driveshafts, Xtrac Ford 9” Racing Gear Sets, and current C&R products.

C&R contributes to the winning formula of championship race teams across all venues of motorsports – from NASCAR to Late Model, Motorcycles to Road Racers, Karts to IndyCars, Off-Road and many more. C&R is comprised of C&R Racing, Inc., C&R Racing Performance, C&R Racing Radiators, and C&R Racing South. C&R gets the job done every race weekend.

Chris Paulsen Bio

Chris Paulsen began working on sprint cars and supermodifieds at the age of 13. He was too young to work in the pits in the Midwest so he traveled throughout the West working on various racecars and teams until 1978. In 1978, now old enough, he moved back to the Midwest to work with top sprint car teams and ran drivers Rich Vogler, Billy Vukovich, and George Snider. In 1979, Chris experienced his first exposure to IndyCars and the Indianapolis 500. He worked for a “shoe string” team and did not make the show the first year. The Indy entrant was outlaw sprint car driver Roger Rager and in 1980, when they returned, they were successful in qualifying for the Indianapolis 500. The car was stock block powered and contained the famous used school bus engine. That same year Chris went to Nance Speed Equipment in Wichita, KS with outlaw sprint car driver Sammy Swindell. While at Nance, one of the nation’s leading fabricators and suppliers of sprint car chassis and components, Chris built and designed the cars that house driver Sammy used to win two World of Outlaw Championships. 1982 began Chris’s full-time career in Indycar Racing, he signed as Chief Mechanic for Alex Morales Autosports with Johnny Capels, Team Manager. Throughout Chris’s full-time career, he continued to crew top drivers including Al Hobert, Pancho Carter, and 3-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford. In 1985, Chris took a year off to race his sprint car.

After the 1988 season, Chris left Alex Morales Autosports and started C&R Racing, Inc. C&R, located in a small 2,500 sq foot building on Gasoline Alley, was a custom machine shop and metal fabrication company specializing in IndyCars. The reputation and knowledge built throughout the years allowed Chris to continue to Crew Chief select “Indy only” rides for several drivers: Kevin Cogan, Didier Theys, Gordon Johncock, Billy Boat and Donnie Beechler. This also allowed additional revenue to grow a young start-up business to the current 35,000 sq foot facility – C&R manufacturers and distributes parts and equipment for all forms of racing. C&R is the largest and preferred supplier of custom-built radiators for NASCAR, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series. C&R is also the preferred supplier to IRL IndyCar Series, Champ Car and various other off-road, open wheel and late model series. C&R utilizes the latest in CNC machine tools, metal fabrication equipment, and CAD/CAM technology. Chris also opened a South division in January of 2005. The South division manufacturers, sells and leases drivetrain components, and gearboxes. C&R South stocks a full line of C&R Performance Products except custom-built radiators, radiators will continue to be manufactured at the North location.

In 1998, Chris was inducted into the Indianapolis 500 Old-Timers Club. He is on the nominating committee for the Indy 500 Hall of Fame. Knowing the hard work and dedication it takes to run a race team Chris created the “True Grit” award. The award honors a dedicated mechanic or crew chief for both the Indianapolis 500 and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. The $10,000 award is given to honor a colleague who exemplifies the honor and dedication it takes to run a winning team. Chris is also President of the Indiana Motorsports Association (IMA).