Meet the Madhouse: Tommy “The Tiger” Neal

By Chase Vaden

Welcome to the first edition of Meet the Madhouse, a series where we get to know the drivers of Bowman Gray, on and off the track. This week we’ll get to know the winner of the Whelen Sportsman 100 from this past Saturday at Bowman Gray, Tommy “The Tiger” Neal.

Tommy Neal began his career racing go-karts and later went on to be the crew chief for Michael Clifton. After being Clifton’s crew chief, Neal claims he “got the racing bug.”

As a younger driver, Neal enjoyed watching Jimmy Johnson and his style of racing. The domination of Johnson at the time, winning seven championships in the Sportsman Division at Bowman Gray, was something Neal really looked up to.

“I liked how smooth he was and how he carried himself,” Neal says of Johnson.

As Johnson dominated the on the track, Neal is looking to follow in his footsteps. Neal says he is working towards not only a Bowman Gray championship in the Sportsman Division but a National Title in Division II of the Whelen All-American Series.

When it comes to chasing a national championship, Bowman Gray is just one step in the process of gaining points. You must race at other tracks, race at them well, to earn more points for your title hopes.

“Besides Bowman Gray, my favorite track would have to be Hickory or Caraway,” Neal says.

Neal also mentioned his dream racing experience, driving in the Camping World Truck Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“I’d like to race with those guys because they seem really down to earth,” Neal says. “They’ve worked really hard to get to that level and it would be really tough competition.”

As far as Neal’s car goes, he chose the number 21 for his birthday, October 21.

The number 21 hasn’t changed on Neal’s cars for a while, but something else has. The technology involving racing is constantly changing and is putting a strain on drivers all over the world.

“Technology is the hardest thing to keep up with in racing,” Neal says. “I am blessed to have a lot of great sponsors who help give me the opportunity to do what I do.”

Once all the technology is settled and the car is put together, it’s time to go out and race.

“Before every race we do our normal prep, air pressure and all that stuff,” Neal says. “Then I always say a prayer with Philip Gossett of Gossett’s Landscape Nursery to keep me, and all of the other driver’s, safe.”

Prayer paid off for Tommy Neal and four other drivers, Jay Charles, Ronnie Barron, Taylor Branch, and Spider Kimel, on the night of August 13, 2005. Coming around turn four two cars were sitting idle on the front stretch when the pack zoomed by. The five drivers’ cars collided putting Neal’s car up in flames.

“I truly feel like my brother pulled me from that fire,” Neal says of his late brother Terry Neal. “I was able to walk away from the crash but I was ready to be done with racing.”

All five of the drivers survived the crash and the fire. Neal’s brother Terry played a huge role in getting him back in the car.

“My brother was more than just my brother, he was my best friend,” Neal says. “He always told me don’t let your fears overcome you.”

Neal says his brother’s words are what keep him racing to this day.

“I didn’t want to step away and wonder what could have been,” Neal says. “I love and I thank my brother for that.”

This article is written in loving memory of Terry Neal.

Photo by Chase Vaden

Tommy Neal driving down the front stretch during practice on May 28, 2016 at Bowman Gray Stadium before the Whelen Sportsman 100.

Photo from Tommy Neal

Tommy Neal’s first race car pictured with his late brother, Terry Neal.