Payne

Born and raised in Spokane, Washington. I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing? I’ve been raised on hot rods and drag racing my entire life. I came home from the hospital in a 1934 Ford Tudor Sedan, and have been around cars ever since. Most of my childhood memories involve something automotive. I've tried to get away from hot rods and drag racing over the years, but I've come to realize that the automotive bug is in my blood, and its here to stay. My friends are all second generation gear heads, like myself. Most of them I’ve known my entire life, I grew up going to picnics at their garages and seeing them at car shows. A decade ago a few of us started a car club together called Thee Inland Emperors. The intent was to be a club that didn’t take the club politics seriously, to enjoy going to car shows and swap meets together, and hang out in the garage helping each other build our latest projects. I’ve since moved on from the club and found another outlet for my automotive addiction, drag racing and even more addicting narcotic then chrome, nitromethane. I’m lucky enough to be apart of the crew for Jason Rupert’s two-time championship winning Nostalgia Funny Car. In addition, to being a volunteer crew member for Steve Chrisman’s Top Fuel dragster, and helping drag racing legend Gary Densham around the shop on his “Teacher’s Pet Nostalgia Funny Car and “Big Show” nitro funny car.