Ray Sorenson

Ray Sorenson, Team Manager for Blackdog Racing, began his career in motorsports in 1985 with C.S.K Sports as a mechanic and transport driver. After Tom Knapp won the Pro S-2000 Championship, Sorenson moved to Olsson Engineering in 1986. He worked as a mechanic and fabricator for three seasons of SCCA competition, and also worked with Steve Knapp in his run for SCCA Runoffs S-2000 Championship. In 1989 Sorenson became Chief Mechanic and Shop Manager for Elite Autosport where driver Dave Tenney won SCCA Spec Racer champion in both Central Division National

and The SCCA National Runoffs.
Sorenson moved to Newman/Haas Racing in 1990 where he was a transport driver, test team, lead mechanic, and fabricator, until 1998 when he became chief mechanic for Michael Andretti. Here he organized the crew and worked as a liaison between Andretti’s crew chief and engineer. His nine years with the team were highlighted by two CART Indy Car Championships (Michael Andretti in 1991 and Nigel Mansell in 1993), thirty one race wins, and thirty two pole positions.

In 1999 Sorenson worked as the chief mechanic and race team support for Team Xtreme at the Indianapolis 500 (IRL), and was test team chief mechanic and race team support for Patrick Racing (CART).

For the 2001 season, Sorenson returned to Team Xtreme as the Team Manager he also oversaw all racing related issues and personnel, and was in charge of logistics and travel of the team and cars.

Once again doing double duty, in 2002 Sorenson was the team manager and crew chief for Orbit Racing and their two car Porsche GT team in the ALMS, as well as chief mechanic for Groff Motorsports in the Baja 1000.

Sorenson has been with Blackdog Racing since 2003 and is the Team Manager, Engineer, and Crew Chief; he oversees the chassis development, all racing decisions, and the logistical issues of the team. Along with his work at Blackdog Racing, in 2004 Sorenson has worked with the Brumos Racing Team in the Grand-Am series, with drivers Hurley Haywood and J.C. France.