JOE C. MAYNARD

Joe C. Maynard has been preparing to drive an A/Fuel Dragster for much of his adult life. While piloting a 4,000-horsepower machine in the NHRA is still considered a relatively new goal for Maynard, his lengthy list of life experiences has him well-prepped for his new drag racing venture.

Before becoming involved in NHRA Drag Racing as a co-owner and executive staff member of the multi-car operation JCM Racing in 2021, Maynard served as a member of the U.S. Army for 20 years. The former Chief Warrant Officer Four did eight combat tours where he manned the controls of various military helicopters, performing combat maneuvers as a Black Hawk pilot. His exceptional aviation skills led to his being promoted to an instructor pilot role in addition to receiving multiple air medals throughout his time spent in service. 

Upon returning home to Clarksville, Tenn., Maynard devoted his focus to turning his passion for knife making into a business, launching Primitive Grind in 2019. Each Primitive Grind knife is hand-crafted and custom-designed by Maynard. His exceptional attention to detail coupled with his dedication to giving back to the veteran community has helped Maynard attract the eye of many high-profile and celebrity clients.

Maynard has attended Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School for both Super Comp and Top Alcohol Dragster, earning his NHRA competition license in both categories. He made his NHRA debut aboard the Samsel Racing Leatherwood Distillery/JCM A/Fuel Dragster at the Lucas Oil Series divisional event at Gainesville, Florida in February 2024 and went on to ‘double up’ at Gainesville Raceway the following weekend when he won both the rain-delayed divisional race and the Gatornationals, the season-opening national event. He later earned another Wally in Charlotte, NC in 2024.