2006: Finished 9th in the SCCA Speed World Challenge Touring Car Series Points as a Member of RealTime Racing (2006 Manufacturer’s Champion) in an Acura RSX.  With six top ten finishes and a career best 7th place finish at Sebring.

Previously: Won the SCCA Central Division Regional Championship in 1993 and Milwaukee Region Rookie of the Year in the same year. He finished in the top 10 in points in the SCCA Central Division from 1994-95, and then improve to top-five finishes in points from 1996-2002 in the SCCA So Pac Division. Also, finished in the top 10 in final points in three seasons of Neon Challenge as well as scoring a top-three finish in final points for the 1999 NASA Touring Car Championship and winning the Tijauana Grand Prix. In 2002, ran two SPEED Touring Car races in an Acura Integra Type R. In 2003, competed in SCCA National Series finishing third in points in So Pac Division in the SSB class. Driving for RealTime Racing in 2004, finished fourth in Rookie of the Year points standings and 18th overall in Touring Car after running all 10 events for the first time in career. Best finish (15th) came at Portland after starting 21st. Also was the SCCA National Southern Pacific Champion in the T2 class racing a Mazda RX8. In 2005, his second full season with RealTime Racing, posted career-best eighth-place finish at Mosport after qualifying 14th. Including that race, earned the first four top-10 finishes of his career (St. Petersburg, Portland, Mosport and Laguna Seca). Finished 12th in the TC Drivers' Championship.

Personal: Born Nov. 7, 1967 and enjoys golf, music, politics and travel. He is married to Carrie Esayian and they have two sons Jake and Troy. They live in Encinitas, California.  Drives a 2006 M5 on the street.

Nick Esayian

“I always loved cars.  From when I was a little kid my life has been cars,” states Esayian.  “I would have loved to have gotten started earlier but I simply couldn’t afford to get started until I was twenty one when I started autocrossing.  Auto crossing is great. It’s a fun, inexpensive way to legally drive your car quickly and gave me a solid foundation.”

Coincidentally Esayian met future RealTime team owner Peter Cunningham back in 1990 as his first autocross.  Who would have guessed that his success in Speed World Challenge would be under the tutelage of Cunningham?

In 1993 Esayian began amateur sports car racing and took home the SCCA Central Division Regional Championship title and the Milwaukee Region Rookie of the Year. He finished in the top 10 in points in the SCCA Central Division from 1994-1995, and then improved to top five finished in points from 1996 -2002 in the SCCA Southern Pacific Division.

In 1995, he raced professionally in the Neon Challenge series where in three seasons he finished in the top 10 in final points. Esayian was second in final points for the 1999 NASA Touring Car Championship. In 2002, he ran two SPEED Touring car races in an Acura Integra Type R.

After 10 years of amateur grass roots racing and honing his skills Esayian was ready to turn pro. Using his marketing background, Esayian cleverly raised the funds needed to race professionally by enlisting the help of various sponsors. Nick’s ability to present an opportunity to potential sponsors helped land him the resources he needed to race as a pro. Exploring sponsorship avenues not traditionally taken, Esayian came up with the funding for his place on the world renowned factory Acura Team, RealTime Racing, and to build the car he needed to win. And it wasn’t just funding that secured his place, Nick’s natural ability and past accolades on a track secured his place among some of the top rookie drivers in the sport.

Today, Esayian’s tally includes 30 National SCCA wins and 50 podium finishes. Esayian is currently a member of the RealTime Acura team, which is lead by team owner and driver, Peter Cunningham. Cunningham was Esayian’s mentor in his early days of autocrossing and sportscar racing and helped Esayian build a winning foundation. Esayian was fortunate to cross paths with Cunningham who has the most wins in the history of professional sports car racing in the United States. They have now joined forces once again.

After a successful campaign finishing 18th of 59 in 2004 Speed World Challenge Touring Car and 12th of 60 in 2005 and 9th in 2006.  Esayian is gearing up for a top five season in 2007 and upgraded his steed to a 2007 Acura TSX A-Spec.

When he is not on the track, Esayian can be found in Carlsbad, California where he owns a successful marketing company. He, his wife Carrie and sons Jake and Troy reside in Encinitas, California. Esayian also enjoys golf, tennis, politics, computers, off road motorcycles and is an active member of in the San Diego Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue Team.

Q/A
Who are you favorite drivers?
Michael Schumacher is simply the most dominant driver in history. He is a machine.  I’ll miss watching him.

From a sportscar standpoint you can’t deny Peter Cunningham is one of the all time bests and a pretty sharp businessman.  Here is a guy that started with nothing and managed to navigate a very competitive sport to become one of its bests. It is a real treat to be part of the team and count him on my short list of close friends.

My favorite is probably Boris (Said). Here is a guy that started with nary a nickel, moved through club racing, professional sports car racing, and ultimately NASCAR.  He's an inspirational guy.

What is your most memorable moment?
Every win is memorable and in some cases the best drives don’t result in a win.  I have to say I still get a lump in my throat when the planes fly over and they play the National Anthem before each race.

Do you ever regret getting involved in this sport?
Every time I leave home and my two little guys look at me I wonder if I’m spending my time and resources in the right place.  My next thought is that I want those guys to understand goals and accomplishment.  I think they will be proud their dad dared to try and do something exceptional.

I’m not sure how much time and money I have spent on the sport. I’m sure I could have already retired but I don’t regret having committed myself. This is a great sport, with great people and I’m proud to be a part of its history.

How do you compare World Challenge to other types of racing?
SCCA Speed World Challenge is simply the best sports car racing in America.  It is 60 minutes of no holds barred chaos.  There are no tire or fuel strategies… No fatigue… You are either attacking or being attacked the entire time.

RealTime has won 10 World Challenge Championships, including two in the last two years.  Tell us about your teammates?
It is unusual for five competitive guys to get along so well but we have been the exception.  Everyone is talented, in fact all of us finished in the top ten in points in 2006.  Someone is always stepping up without stepping on the other four.  We would hang out even if we didn’t race together. 

The entire RealTime Team is professional yet personable.  We are like a big family.

You certainly learn a lot about guys when you spend this much time together.  I hope everyone can return for 2007.  I’m certain the competition disagrees with that.

Fill us in on the Special Operations Warrior Foundation?
There are countless military organizations that do a great job of supporting the folks protecting our freedom.  I selected the SOWF as the Special Ops guys are the tip of the spear.

Their deployments are long and their accomplishments are often not publicly touted.  Their fatality rate is 15x higher than the rest of the military.  These guys are truly the best of the best and I want to support them as well as give them their due. We have some of the Special Ops guys and their families out to the track and it is very special.

They protect my family, our freedom, and our way of life. I want them to know that their kids will have an opportunity to get the best education available in the event something happens to them.  The SOWF provides grants and counseling for the kids of those killed in action or training.  Harvard or technical school… It doesn’t matter.  The kids get to pursue their dreams. 

January 2007