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Scott Shimp

A Team Penske employee for more than 30 years, Scott Shimp joined the team fresh out of high school in 1981 as a parts runner. Shimp literally grew up around Team Penske. His father worked for Penske Truck Leasing and he did body work on race cars at the team’s home in Reading, Penn., before Team Penske had its own body shop.

Shimp said after seeing how his dad enjoyed working for Roger Penske and his organization, there was never a doubt where his own career path was headed.

“(Penske) is the only guy I’ve ever wanted to work for,” Shimp said. “I come here every morning and I look it like, all right, how are we going to improve and what are we going to do for the boss to try to win this race? I think that’s my drive anyway. He’s done a lot for me and I’d do anything for him.”  

Shimp was working in the engine shop in Reading many years ago during the month of May, getting ready for the Indianapolis 500. The team was working 70-80 hours a week during the month as the race approached. After a dinner break one evening, the group returned to the shop to find a special visitor had arrived.

“We walked in and Roger was sitting there at the one bench waiting for us to come back. We were like ‘Hey, what are you doing here?’ and he was like ‘Well I came to check on you guys and make sure everybody was going all right and to see if you needed anything,’” recalled Shimp.”He took the time to fly back from Indy to check on us to make sure everybody was good. And we didn’t need anything.”
 

David Munari

David Munari first joined Team Penske in 1974 as he transported a NASCAR show car for the team. He worked on the organization’s early stock car program through 1977. When Team Penske returned to NASCAR competition in 1991, Munari rejoined the team as one of the first people to work on its developing program.

Munari said he’s learned a lot during his 33 years with Team Penske. Some of the most valuable lessons have been about leadership and Munari recalls how Penske’s vision has taken the team in new directions.

David Munari working on Team Penske's Miller Genuine Draft Cup Series car

He remembers when Team Penske made a transition in NASCAR manufacturers from Pontiac to Ford for the 1994 season. Munari recalls Penske announcing the switch at the team’s Holiday Party in December of 1993 – right after the group had won 10 Cup Series races with driver Rusty Wallace.

“I raised my hand and said ‘Boss we just won 10 races and lost the championship by 32 points,’” said Munari. “He said ‘next year you’ll win 12 races and you’ll win the championship.’ We went to work and in 1994 we won eight races.”

Munari said the latest example of Penske’s leadership has come during the past year when his steadying hand helped guide the organization through the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“What he’s done to keep everybody working and to keep us racing is impressive,” said Munari. “He’s like a second father to me. Roger taught me how to win, how to lose, how to address sponsors and how to live life. At 84 years old, most people are slowing down but he’s just getting started.”  
 

David Little

Like Munari, David Little was an original member of Team Penske’s return to NASCAR in 1991. Little was a fabricator who had previously worked with several NASCAR programs in the 1980s including teams run by RahMoc Enterprises, Junior Johnson, and the Stavola Brothers, where he was also a front-tire carrier during pit stops. Soon after he joined Team Penske, Little became the manager of the team’s fab shop.

Little said workplace environment and employee benefits are two other big factors for why people choose to build a career at Team Penske.

Team Penske's David Little next to the Borg Warner Trophy at the Indianapolis 500

“To me you couldn’t ask for a better place to work,” said Little. “I had worked for some teams before where you didn’t even get any insurance. Here you come to a team where you get insurance, 401k and you’ve got anything you need. The cars are beautiful, you run fast and everybody thinks so highly of (Roger Penske) and the whole operation. Why would you want to leave?”

Little added that Penske’s professionalism with a personal touch is genuine and something that has always built loyalty among team members.

“I had seen him at the racetrack before in the 70s when we had our car. Everything the team did was always did was first-class,” said Little.

“I had to go to Detroit once to work on RP1 (the nickname for the transporter Penske works out of while at the race track). When I walked in there, he came over to me and said, ‘Well I see they had to bring the big guns up, huh?’ That made me feel very good,” said Little. “At our Holiday Party he walked up and called myself and my wife by our first names and asked how we are doing. He knew all the spouses’ names. That’s impressive.”

And that’s true “Penske Material.”