Our Team – Battle Scarred Motorsports (2024)

Co-Founder,Vice-President - Board of Directors,Texas Chapter Lead

Brian started his love for things mechanical at a young age working on his bicycles which as he grew older transitioned to automobiles. Brian served our great Nation from 1997 thru 2003 in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves as an Anti-tank Missile Gunner. His unit was Headquarters and Service, 4th Tank Battalion, 4th MarDiv in Amarillo, Texas. After completing the BGM-71 Tube-launched, Optically tracked Wire-guided (TOW) School in 1997 he bought his first Mustang. Since then he has owned 17 different Mustangs and currently owns one of the quickest 4-cylinder Mustangs in the world named TexasGrunt. A fellow 24hrs of Lemons racer needed help with his 4-cylinder powered machine which introduced Brian to endurance racing and soon to Battle Scarred Motorsports. Brian worked for Saturn and Ford as a technician while not training in the USMC Reserves. At the young age of 28, he bought Kyle Automotive Service Center in Kyle, Texas, in 2006 and still operates that business today. As Battle Scarred Motorsport’s COO he works tirelessly to ensure our yearly schedules are packed and keeps our machines performing at their best like no other can.

Webmaster, Secretary - Board of Directors

Wes retired from the Marine Corps in 2007 with 20 years of service. He enlisted in 1987 and served 6 years as an EAF Equipment tech MOS 7011 then as a Marine Embassy Security Guard in Zagreb, Yugoslavia and Pretoria South Africa before being selected for the MECEP Program. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1994 and after commissioning served the next 14 years in the Military Police. His last assignment was Provost Marshal of MCAGCC, 29 Palms, CA. A background of service as a Marine and a law enforcement first responder gives Wes a unique connection and understanding of those we seek to serve at BSM. He was previously the Captain of an independent race team but after racing against BSM teams for several years, and developing solid friendships along the way, he and Fran Baker decided to partner with us in 2022 as part of our Texas Chapter and add the “Wildcat” to our fleet of cars.

Treasurer - Board of Directors

Derek grew up with a passion for anything with a motor. Starting at a young age he spent many winters riding and fixing snowmobiles. This developed into a love for cars and motorsport. In 2012 Derek enlisted in the United States Air Force as an air traffic controller, he served for 6 years at Vance Air Force base in Oklahoma. After getting out of the military Derek continued his air traffic control career with the Federal Aviation Administration. He is currently a controller at the Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center in the beautiful state of Florida. Derek's first race with Battle Scarred Motorsports was in 2019 at Carolina Motorsports Park. He immediately knew he was home, as the camaraderie of the team was something impossible to replicate anywhere else. Derek continued to race with the team every chance he could get and in 2023 joined the organization as the Chief Financial Officer.

Co-Founder, Executive Staff

With a U.S. Marine Corps career spanning nearly two decades of active service, Brian has seen his fair share of strife. He has stood at more funerals of friends who lost the battle to the demons within rather than to the enemies on the battlefield. To him, it became apparent something needed to change. That somehow, these heroes – our Nations’s finest – needed help. Yet looking around, there were few options for those who had the itch for adrenaline. He founded Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children Racing (a name that would later be changed to Battle Scarred Motorsports) to fulfill that purpose. Under his charge, he leads the way in getting past and present Military and First Responders to participate in actual endurance events. Brian’s vision has borne fruit he never thought possible and has become his passion, his second family. Truly driven to give back to those who have given so much to help them fight against depression, loneliness, anxiety, and suicide by getting his brothers and sisters in his three races cars, fighting for track position, quick pit stops for fuel, and driver swaps, and ending each day with home-cooked meals. He has created a family that brings back the trust once had amongst comrades, be it on patrol in a war zone, stacked up on a door serving a warrant, or racing to a three-alarm fire. His loving wife somehow continues to go along with the “race car life” while his four kids love the roar as the cars go by the checkered flag.

Executive Staff, Louisiana Chapter Lead

Daniel Johnson has grown his love for racing and working on cars since he was a young child, racing with his father. Daniel joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2001. He served two tours in Iraq with 1st battalion 2nd Marines Charlie Company. He fought in the historic battle on March 23, 2003, in Nasiriyah with the task force, Tarawa. He served as a 0311, infantryman. Upon his completion of two (2) tours, Daniel Johnson came home to Covington, LA, and assisted with the recovery efforts caused by Hurricane Katrina. In 2007, he started Over the Horizon Demolition Company. He continues to enjoy working and racing cars and spending time with his two children, Catherine and Zachery, who also have a passion for racing. Daniel joined the Battle Scarred Motorsports Team shortly after driving Wild Boar! During the 2020 NOLA Motorsports Lemons he was asked to be our General Manager & Secretary, as he continues to bring enthusiasm, sponsors, and his mechanical expertise while building our fleet

Indiana Chapter Lead

Mitch’s passion for racing began at a young age outside of Salt Lake City, with occasional trips to the drag races and oval tracks. Weekends were spent on a dirtbike trying to keep up with bigger bikes in the desert, fueling his desire for adrenaline. After moving to Indiana, Mitch’s passion for cars grew stronger. Living close to the biggest racing names in NHRA and within earshot of the US Nationals, he spent most open racing nights at the track watching amateur drag racers. Mitch served in the Air Force for just over 5 years as an aircraft engine mechanic in Japan and Kansas, with one non-combat tour to Kuwait. During his time in Japan, he purchased his 1992 Nissan Silvia, modifying it extensively to make it faster on the mountains outside the base. In Kansas, Mitch attended open race nights at the local track and occasionally raced his Harley. After leaving the service and obtaining a degree in machine tool operation, he got a job as a machine and facility mechanic. At Battle Scarred Motorsports’ Indy Chapter launch party, Mitch met the team and offered his jack of all trades skill set. He has been a valuable member ever since. When not working at a local brewery, Mitch can be found working on his truck, Honda 1000, his sons’ Lancer, or his wife’s two Mazdas. As a proud veteran, Mitch’s love for all things racing and adrenaline-fueled continues to drive him forward.

Georgia Chapter Lead

Kenny Clark is a lifelong motorsports enthusiast and began his racing career on a go-cart track and from there to dirt track oval with his fully-built Acura RDX. Kenny won several awards and trophies through the years and developed a reputation as a soft-spoken but fierce competitor on the track. He also delved into racing side-by-sides and winning the first race he ever entered. Upon learning about Battle Scarred Motorsports, Kenny was immediately drawn to the organization's mission by starting as a racer then donating his time and racing his own personal race car “Mako” for BSM. Although he never served in the military, Kenny has a long history of family members in the military. He has always had great respect and admiration for our men and women in uniform. Currently, Kenny is the Georgia Chapter Lead and oversees the care and prep of both Mako and Hacksaw (both Miata's) and brought home BSM's first-place win at Carolina Motorsports Park and consistently brings home podiums for the BSM fleet. We look forward to seeing him continue to help BSM achieve its mission by providing adrenaline therapy to our nation's heroes.

Team Chef

John joined almost 3 years ago thinking it was going to be a one-time deal. “I remember putting the weekend menu together and wondering “I hope they eat all this”! Sunday rolls around after cooking nearly 85 lbs of food with 2 smoked pork butts on the smoker at 6 am nearly finished for the afternoon last lunch. I sat and made about 35 or so pancakes that morning with about 4 lbs of sausage links. Every bit was eaten that cool morning in South Carolina and the 20 racers suited up for the afternoons racing.” Racing paused at noon and the pork butts were ready with the smoked beans. Every bit was again eaten, and the race came to an end, however, I felt that I served more than food that weekend. I felt the guys really enjoyed having 3 meals a day and were able to relax and be part of the newfound racing therapy group however not having to be hungry or eating fast food all weekend. I have now traveled to 6 races and logged nearly 7000 miles. My smoker and cook tops have had nearly 700 lbs of meat and about 300dozen eggs for the Saturday morning breakfast tacos. I have meet some, now awesome friends and learned that I made an awesome decision answering that weird FB request. “Cook Needed”

Racing Event Coordinator

Charlie is a proud 4th generation United States Navy Sailor. He served on active duty from 1988, two months after graduating high school, to 1993. His first fleet assignment was onboard the USS Barbey (FF-1088) out of San Diego and he completed his enlistment aboard the USS Comte De Grasse (DD-974) out of Norfolk, Virginia.

In early 2020, he joined Battle Scarred Motorsports and raced with the team at Circuit of the Americas(COTA). What started as a way to get some track time in a real race car on a real race track turned into a mission to serve our veteran and first responder communities.

Charlie continues to be awed and inspired by the love Battle Scarred Motorsports has shown to our veterans and first responders and is beyond grateful to be part of this family and is looking forward to the adventures waiting for us in the future.