Richard Perez fell for racing as a kid, watching open-wheel cars at a race. Before he ever turned a wrench professionally, he built his first car into a 400-horsepower street machine and found a brotherhood of people who lived for their machines.

Then came 13 years in the U.S. Navy, across the submarine force, special warfare support, the surface fleet and intelligence. That's where he learned discipline, precision and how to finish a mission.

In his last three years in uniform he started Sticky Vinylz. When he got out in 2022 he went all in on vinyl graphics and cars. Five Jeeps, from an old '98 Wrangler to a four-door JKU built into a rock crawler in Hawaii. A Mustang he drag raced in Jacksonville. And the Gladiator that now tows the race trailer.

In 2026 he bought a wrecked Spec Miata, cosmetically destroyed and mechanically bare, and started Centerline Racing. He rebuilt and wrapped it himself, by hand, in three months.

Next stop: Roebling Road, February 2027. Exactly where he always knew he'd end up. On the grid.