Kenny DeGuisto is a South Garland High School graduate whose career dream came true. He has always loved cars and racing and has known since his dad took him to drag races when he was young, that his career would involve race cars.
DeGuisto played football at SGHS but spent all his free time at the races and working on his car. He began drag racing in 1995 but said that it didn’t take long to realize that he was a better mechanic than race car driver.
He was fortunate to get a job where he could increase his skills and he met Kevin Hargett who became a good friend and mentor.
“He [Hargett] had a race car and actually let me work on it. He always pushed me to be better and I’m really grateful to him,” DeGuisto said.
In 1999, he moved to North Carolina where he continued to hone his skills and in 2005, he landed a job on the Roush Fenway NASCAR team. Since 2005, he has worked with three race car drivers, Carl Edwards, then Dave Regan, and since 2011, he has been with Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
DeGuisto is the underneath mechanic which means that he is responsible for everything from the firewall and back.
“At the track, you have to use every minute wisely so even though each guy can work on the whole car, each is responsible for certain parts,” he said. “There’s a guy who does just front end one just does engine work, one for tires, one for interior and so on. We all have our specialty.”
The job requires an extraordinary amount of travel but DeGuisto doesn’t mind it, though it can be difficult being away from his family.
“Traveling was cool and fun at first, but once you’re married and have kids you want to be at home,” DeGuisto said.
He added that his wife can accompany him on some trips and he is also off work for the month of December, which makes it easier.
During the season, which is roughly February – November, he gets three weekends off. Each week, the team has Mondays off, then works in the shop Tuesdays and Wednesdays. They travel Thursdays and are at the track Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
“If you love what you do, it doesn’t seem like work,” DeGuisto said.
As he has gotten older, different aspects of his job are more important to him.
“When I was young, I liked the speed and being able to say I worked on race cars,” DeGuisto said. “Now I like it because it’s a great place to work and it takes good care of my family and me.”
De Guisto didn’t have formal training but said that he was lucky to find people who would work with him and teach him. He added that the best way to learn is to work with local racers and let them teach you.
“If you want to be good at it, you’ll be good at it — if you are willing to put in the time and the work.”