Brian Czech
Principle Founder & CEO
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.
Brian Fennell
Co-Founder, COO & 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. Contact Me
Daniel Johnson
Program Manager & 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
Drew Gentry
Chief Financial Officer
Drew is an Active Duty Marine Chief Warrant Officer with nearly 20 years of faithful service under his belt serving as a Bulk Fuels Officer. Racing motorcycles at the ripe old age of three, Drew grew up with racing in his blood. He could often be found monkeying around on his Uncles’ and Cousins’ race cars and was always trackside with them at the local circle track and eventually traveling with them as they moved up in series working on the pit crew. Enlisting in the Marine Corps in 2003, he has since deployed on two combat tours in Iraq and was a mean and lean Drill Instructor at Paris Island. Drew’s and Brian’s paths crossed when they were both selected for the Warrant Officer Program, and not too long afterward, Drew joined the Battle Scarred Motorsports Team. Drew is also an avid carpenter, turning simple wood pieces into extraordinary keepsakes with his side hustle that he created Southern Charm Woodworking. Drew is also a devoted husband of 12 years that has spawned two crazy offsprings.
Mitch Funk
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.
Jake Irvine
Race Day Director
Jacob spent most of his childhood at Dirt Tracks and the Local Drag Strip. As the son of a gearhead, he developed a mechanical aptitude and a passion for cars at a young age. Jacob joined the United States Marine Corps two weeks after high school graduation and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom as a helicopter mechanic. After the Corps Jacob spent even more time around automobiles, from builder to collector, to trader, and eventually a published freelance auto journalist. Jacob completed his first race with the organization in 2020 and immediately fell in love with the mission and Brian’s Passion for seeing it through. Jacob joined the organization as Race Director in 2022. Contact Me
Lesley Farner
Director of Marketing and Strategy
Lesley grew up in Canada just north of Toronto. Her love of cars began early, nurtured by her German-born and raised father who was passionate about all things Mercedes and, fortified in college when she worked part-time at an Acura dealership and fell in love with the NSX and Honda S2000. Once living in the US Lesley fulfilled a dream and owned a ’94 NSX and is proud of the 270,000 miles and counting odometer. She is lucky to be in a job that perfectly matches her professional interests with her abiding passion for cars at Openlane. Lesley is an active member of the local and national automotive community. Locally she has mentored both Indyhoodrats and the Fishers Car Club, she was a board member for Indy Cars and Coffee before joining BSM, volunteers annually for Rev Indy at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and has worked with the non-profit Wings & Wheels Foundation. Lesley is deeply passionate about her car family especially since they literally are her family here in the US and immediately desired to join the BSM family after participating in her first endurance race with them in SC.. Her favorite hashtag is #savethemanuals Contact Me
Brian Strack
Organizational Administrator
Brian is a retired Marine with over 20 years of service and deployments across the globe. During his last few years in the Corps, Brian started participating in Motorsports activities. After retirement this became a primary focus. While researching how to get into endurance racing, Brian came across USMA Racing (now Battle Scarred Motorsports). The first race with the team was Road Atlanta in 2019 and the rest is history. Brian has diversified into a wide range of motorsports activities: Endurance Racing, Time Trials, Autocross and Rallycross. he is always interested in opportunities to drive different cars and new tracks. Contact Me
Wes Prater
Social Media Coordinator & Webmaster
Wes retired from the Marine Corps as a Major 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. Contact Me
Steve Kisner
Volunteer Coordinator
Steve was Born and raised next to the Racing Capital of The World, so it was naturally fitting that he became involved in Motorsports early on. He has been actively involved in the racing scene since the early 90’s starting with dirt Sprint Car teams then transitioning to IndyCar and Indy Lights for the next 20 plus years. He’s been fortunate enough to have collected several Championships along the way and most recently in 2022 with TJ Speed in the FR Americas series. As founder of the Indianapolis Cars & Cruising group, he is completely immersed in the local “car culture” community and can be found at many of the weekly events the group host and enjoying one of his classics (1967 Ford F100 or 1972 Chevrolet Corvette). He is always looking for opportunities to help within and outside of the local community and has now found his way to Battle Scarred Motorsports cause. He enjoys his family first and foremost as well as many other activities such as cycling, hiking/camping, flying, cars and more car stuff… (photo info – Steve on the right, with his son Ryan) Contact Me
John Obernuefemann
Key Volunteer, 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”
Vacant
Director of Health and Wellness
Vacant
Military and First Responder Liaison
