THE TEAM
Executive Staff
With more than 40 years of experience in motorsports, performance driving, and driver education, Jeff Payne is widely recognized as one of the country’s leading experts in defensive driving and advanced vehicle dynamics. Jeff began racing at the age of 17 and, by 21, found himself in Europe and Japan alongside many of the world’s top drivers, including Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard.
Determined to get a head start on his driving skills, a resourceful (albeit slightly unwise) young Steven “borrowed” the family Volvo at the age of 14 and found a way to seize the engine. With no way to hide or repair the damage, he was grounded for the remainder of the twentieth century. He does not recommend this strategy to anyone as a way to begin a driving career.
Program Leaders
Brian is responsible for overseeing event day operations for Driver’s Edge. He also supervises everything that happens behind the wheel at every Edge event around the country.
As the Lead Facilitator for Driver’s Edge, the guy known as “Reverend Mike” will teach you more than you thought you’d ever know about lots of things you never thought you’d learn.
The Instructors
The team at Driver’s Edge includes a core group of the finest professional driving instructors in the country. This dedicated group includes current and former professional racing drivers and professional performance driving instructors from some of the best driving schools in the world.
Jeff Andretti is a former professional racing driver whose career included competition at the highest levels of American motorsports. The youngest son of racing legend Mario Andretti, Jeff earned Rookie of the Year honors in both the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar Series during his first full IndyCar season in 1991.
Jeff Bucknum is a professional racing driver, driver coach, and motorsport manager whose career has spanned karting, formula cars, sports cars, endurance racing, and IndyCar competition.
As a third-generation professional racing driver, Spencer Bucknum is continuing one of America’s racing legacies while building an impressive career of his own. Following in the footsteps of his father, Jeff Bucknum, and grandfather, Ronnie Bucknum, Spencer’s goal is to one day compete in the Indianapolis 500.
In 1998, Dominic won the world-renowned Elf-Winfield Driving Championship (a series so prestigious that half of all series champions go on to compete in Formula One). Dominic continued to drive in Europe and was almost certain to win the 1998 Formula Elf Championship when his father was diagnosed with cancer.
David DiMond has dedicated his career to developing the next generation of drivers. As President of Apex Racing Center in Southern California for more than 30 years, he has introduced thousands of aspiring racers to the fundamentals of high-performance driving, helping many successfully transition from karting to competitive auto racing.
Terry Earwood is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern performance driving instruction. As Lead Instructor and later Chief Instructor at the Skip Barber Racing School for more than three decades, Terry helped shape the curriculum that has influenced generations of performance drivers, racers, law enforcement officers, military personnel, and driving instructors across the country.
Tanner Foust is a three-time U.S. rallycross champion (2012, 2011, 2010) who has also won four X Games gold medals (2013, 2010, 2007), and two Formula Drift championships (2008, 2007).
At the age of 18, Burt attended the Skip Barber Racing School and never looked back.
Scott Harrington is a former IndyCar driver and highly respected driver coach whose racing career has successfully spanned both two wheels and four.
Samuel is the 2004 and 2006 Formula-D Drifting Champion and a medalist in the 2010 X-Games Rally Cross competition.
Born and raised in England, Alex began racing karts at the age of nine. His success in Europe was rewarded in 2004 when he tested with legendary Formula One racing team McLaren Mercedes.
Arie is the son of two-time Indy 500 Champion Arie Luyendyk, Sr. From 2002 through 2008, Arie made 62 starts in the Firestone Indy Lights Series, finishing in the top ten a remarkable 76% of the time, including winning the final race of the 2008 season.
Leo’s first taste of motorsports came at the age of 18, when he convinced his parents to let him attend the Skip Barber Racing School in California.
Originally from Maine, and now based in Las Vegas, Jordan O’Brien has been racing since the age of eight and has built an impressive career competing at the highest levels of motorsports.
Byron began his racing career with a flourish while competing in the 1990 Super Vee Series. He took victory at the iconic Mid-Ohio racetrack, finished fourth in the series, achieved Rookie of the Year honors for the season and was named 1990 SCCA Racer of the Year.
Las Vegas native Jason Reichert has been racing since the age of nine and has established himself as an accomplished open-wheel and sportscar competitor. As owner and driver of JR Motorsports, Jason has earned 18 championships,…
Derek grew up in Canada and began his racing career in 1986. Over the last 25 years, he has driven sports cars, stock cars, open wheel racecars and he’s even done a little ice racing.
John literally grew up with auto racing. Son of three-time Indianapolis 500 winner and IndyCar champion Johnny Rutherford, John began his racing career while attending college in 1987.
With more than 30 years of experience as a professional driving instructor, Andrew Shoen has spent his career helping drivers develop the skills, confidence, and judgment needed to perform behind the wheel.
Originally from Salinas, California, and now based in Las Vegas, Cole Viernes has built a career around precision driving and driver development. An accomplished professional drifter, Cole is currently one of the top instructors at the BMW Performance Driving Center in Thermal, California.
Mark Weber has been a fixture in American road racing for more than 50 years and is one of the most respected figures in the history of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA).
Originally from Alaska and now based in Las Vegas, Zain Zambon has built an incredibly diverse career behind the wheel. His experience spans off-road, monster trucks, drifting and high-performance sports cars, making him one of the industry’s most versatile professional drivers.