Jack Roush

Jack Roush, born Jackson Earnest Roush on April 19, 1942, is an American motorsports icon and entrepreneur whose career spans over five decades. Known as "The Cat in the Hat" for his signature Panama hat, Roush has achieved success as a drag racer, road racer, and NASCAR team owner. He graduated with a mathematics degree from Berea College and a master's in scientific mathematics from Eastern Michigan University. After a brief stint at Ford Motor Company, Roush partnered with Wayne Gapp in 1970, achieving multiple championships in NHRA, IHRA, and AHRA Pro Stock drag racing.

In the 1980s, Roush transitioned to sports car racing, forming partnerships with Zakspeed and later creating Roush-Protofab. His teams dominated the SCCA Trans-Am and IMSA Camel GT series, securing 24 national championships and 119 race wins. A remarkable feat was the 10 consecutive class victories at the Rolex 24 At Daytona between 1985 and 1995. In 1988, Roush ventured into NASCAR, establishing Roush Racing, now known as Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing (RFK Racing).

RFK Racing has become one of NASCAR's most successful teams, claiming two NASCAR Cup Series championships (2003 with Matt Kenseth, 2004 with Kurt Busch), five Xfinity Series titles, and one Truck Series title. Roush's contributions extend beyond team ownership; he has played a vital role in driver development, nurturing the careers of several stars. His innovations, such as roof flaps to prevent rollovers, have also enhanced safety in stock car racing. Roush's achievements have earned him numerous accolades, including inductions into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the EAA Warbirds of America Hall of Fame, and the SEMA Hall of Fame. He was recently inducted into the Trans-Am Series Hall of Fame in 2025.