Teams

Nobody Ups Chuck

Garage Headquarters: LaVergne, TN

Driver: TBD

Mechanics: Nathan Bryant, Luke Mann, Josh Sanders, Mike Schwartz, Jeremy Snell, Adam Wood

Nuts and Bolts:

The members of the Nobody Ups Chuck team fully understand that they can’t use fuel in a Red Bull Soapbox racer; and that’s OK with them, because they’re thoroughly preoccupied with fueling themselves. Mike Schwartz, the team captain, is a diabetic, so he carefully balances what he eats. Teammate Jeremy Snell has PKU (phenylketonuria), a genetic disorder that he controls through his diet. And their buddy Nathan Bryant has such a high metabolism that he has to eat – wait for it – 8,000 calories a day. Fortunately, these three don’t let those kinds of distractions keep them from participating in crazy downhill racing events. They know they can succeed. You might even say they have faith.

Mike (29 years of age) is the junior high youth minister at Lakeshore Christian Church in Nashville, Tennessee. He, Jeremy (32), Nathan (28), and fellow racing teammates Luke Mann (28), Josh Sanders (26), and Adam Wood (27) take part in a weekly small-group Bible study together. They’re men of peace, but they enjoy watching martial arts as much as anybody. And that explains why their racer (constructed from an old door frame) is tricked out with a fighting ring where a Chuck Norris look-alike will perform roundhouse kicks. When asked if their team will win, Nathan answered, “Mmrmph gllrrgg krsssssrh.” (As usual, his mouth was full.) So Mike stepped in as spokesperson. Sounding like a true man of sport, the man of God declared, “We aren’t competing to lose. Our biggest challenge will be keeping the other teams from crying.”