After football, racing is perhaps the most popular sport in the South. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people flock to Daytona, Bristol, Talladega and other raceways to watch their favorite driver battle their way into Victory Lane. There are the regular fans. And then there’s Bobby Price. We recently spoke with Bobby Price about his particular way of expressing his devotion.
Interviews and News: Good evening, we’re really excited to have you here.
Bobby Price: Thank you. Great to be here.
Interviews and News: Do you follow NASCAR?
Bobby Price: I follow pretty much all racing. I’m not particular. I love it all.
Interviews and News: And you collect race memorabilia?
Bobby Price: So to speak. I have been collecting cars for over forty years and have acquired three different race cars over the last decade or so.
Interviews and News: Three?
Bobby Price: Yes, two stock cars and a Don “Big Daddy” Gartlits dragster.
Interviews and News: What’s the difference between a stock car and dragster?
Bobby Price: A stock car looks much like a car you’d see driving around town, minus the sponsor logos of course!
Interviews and News: And a drag car?
Bobby Price: A dragster is long and thin. Dragsters are built for short bursts of speed.
Interviews and News: I understand you have a car driven by Steve Wallace?
Bobby Price: Yes, the 5 Hour Energy car.
Interviews and News: As race cars go, would you say it’s a good one?
Bobby Price: Absolutely! She’s been driven at both Daytona and Talladega and consistently qualified in the top 20.
Interviews and News: What was the car’s best finish?
Bobby Price: In 2009, the 5 Hour Energy stock car competed at Daytona II, finishing 17th despite a 41st place qualification.
Interviews and News: That’s pretty impressive. Can you tell our readers a bit about the driver?
Bobby Price: Steve Wallace is the son of racing legend Rusty Wallace. In fact, the car was once owned by the Rusty Wallace Race Team.
Interviews and News: So how did you wind up with it?
Bobby Price: Rusty Wallace donated it to a charitable auction. It just so happened to be a sale that I am familiar with and attend frequently. The auction was held at the Cars of Dreams Museum.
Interviews and News: So you not only got the car of your dreams, the money you spent went toward a good cause?
Bobby Price: Yes, and that was the best part.
Interviews and News: You said you’re familiar with that particular auction. Have you purchased anything else from the Cars of Dreams Museum?
Bobby Price: I’ve picked up several cars from auctions held at the Museum including a 1935 Studebaker Commander, in 1971 Chevelle SS, the Don Gartlits dragster I told you about, and an M&M’s stock car.
Interviews and News: It sounds like you’re quite the automobile enthusiast.
Bobby Price: That would be an understatement. I’ve been around cars my entire life; it’s really all I know.
Interviews and News: You own a network of collision repair centers, is that right?
Bobby Price: Yes, Price’s Collision Centers. We are based out of Nashville and have 10 locations between Tennessee and Kentucky.
Interviews and News: Has Price’s done any of the restoration work on your vehicles?
Bobby Price: Of course! I am very proud of the work that my teams do. I even have many of my personal cars showcased in my Madison, Tennessee, location.
Interviews and News: So you have your own automobile museum?
Bobby Price: In a sense, yes. We have many vehicles on display to showcase the capabilities that we have at Price’s. It’s something that the customers asked for so I wanted to make sure they weren’t disappointed.
I don’t understand how people like Bobby Price have the patience to attend these auctions. They are all for such good causes but so busy and full of gawkers not really intending on buying anything. It’s very interesting that Bobby Price has bought two stock cars. That’s unique even among the most devoted fans.
Bobby Price and his teams do a good job on collision repair. When my wife accidentally backed into me, we had to drop both of our cars off at his new shop in Bowling Green. It was a very easy process and the store manager even helped us arrange a rental car and called a couple hours later to make sure we got home okay. I think Bobby Price does a wonderful job hiring people to represent his brand. Sorry, I know this has nothing to do with the article but that experiences all I can think about when I hear about Bobby Price.
I would argue that racing is the most popular sport in the South, followed by football. Race fans are a different breed as I’m sure Bobby Price knows all too well. I have followed racing my entire life and found the biggest difference between race fans and fans of other sports is that we have to really worry about whether our favorite competitor is going to survive this season or not. Bobby Price is one of those fans that prove my theory because I don’t know any football fans that own two different football teams.
Is that a Chevy SS I see?!?! To me, that’s even cooler than the race cars. Bobby Price is really lucky and I wish I could have just one old musclecar. Seeing stuff like this makes me really excited to start school at Lincoln Tech later this year after I graduate high school. I found this article after searching for Bobby Price online because I heard that he owned one of the big collision repair centers here in Nashville and that’s what I’m going to school for – auto body work.
I read somewhere else that Bobby Price not only has a couple stock cars & the dragster but he has a funny car, too. I think he might have the biggest private collection of historic and rare cars in Nashville. If he doesn’t, I think he probably will pretty soon. I love how laid-back Bobby Price looks in the picture with the Chevy. It’s like him and that car were made for each other.