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The Art of Motor Racing

Artist Roger Warrick with his original painting commissioned by Sebring International Raceway, on display this weekend at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.  [photo by Jack Webster]

Among the pleasures of going to events like the Rolex 24 at Daytona, it is nice to walk through the vendor area at the track and see the variety of items offered for sale by the wide array of vendors who have set up in the infield. Aside from the usual hats and tee shirts, you can often find things created by true artists who have a real passion for the sport.

Roger Warrick of Burlington, Kentucky is just such an artist, and his works are on display this weekend at the Rolex 24. Roger is an automotive artist of extraordinary talent, who has become internationally known for his outstanding motorsport artwork.

He is the son of another famous artist, whom many of you are familiar with (particularly those from the Midwest, where his works have become iconic landmarks on the highways of America). You know his works, but probably not his name, as his works are the Mail Pouch Tobacco barns, and his name was Harley Warrick.

His son, Roger, got his start in art working as an apprentice for his father back in the 1980’s, traveling the back roads of Ohio and West Virginia helping to letter and paint Mail Pouch barns. Roger even got his first exposure to motor racing back in those days as well, as in addition to painting barns, Harley helped local stock car teams with lettering and numbers for their cars (hand painted, of course, well before the days of computers and die cut vinyl lettering).

Roger pursued his interest in art, graduating in 1989 from the Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, OH. While going to school there, he had his first opportunity to see IMSA racing at the Columbus 500 street race, held for three years just down the block from the art school.

Roger Warrick's painting of last year's Rolex 24 winning car, which he will do again this year at the track during the race.

Roger Warrick’s painting of last year’s Rolex 24 winning car, which he will do again this year at the track during the race.

Roger Warrick's artwork as used by Sebring in 2011. 2014 marks his 10th year of producing the official Sebring artwork.

Roger Warrick’s artwork as used by Sebring in 2011. 2014 marks his 10th year of producing the official Sebring artwork.

One thing led to another, and Roger began painting scenes of sports car races. He got hooked up with an art dealer, started traveling to sports car races around the country and the rest if history.

Of particular note is Roger’s relationship with Sebring International Raceway, where for the past 10 years he has produced the official artwork for both the 12 Hours of Sebring poster and program cover. Now that Grand Am has merged with American Le Mans and Sebring is part of the new series, Roger is able to introduce to the world here this weekend at Daytona the new artwork that will be used for the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship 12 Hours of Sebring program and poster this year.

In addition to doing artwork for venues like Sebring and race teams, Roger accepts commissions for original artwork from the public, so if you have something you would like to get done by an outstanding artist, be sure to contact him. You can see some of his artwork on his website: rogerwarrick.com or you can contact him via email at roger@rogerwarrick.com

If you are at Daytona this weekend, be sure and stop by and say hello to Roger. As is his normal practice, he will be producing an original painting of the winning car from this year’s Rolex 24 as the race progresses and have it finished by the end of the race. It is an interesting process to watch.

 

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