The Start of an Obsession
Finch bought his first car in 1985, when he was just 15: a ’68 Mustang, picked up for $550. It was far from perfect, bald tires, worn body, and plenty of work ahead, but for Brian, that was part of the appeal. Every muscle car needs a little rehab.
“At the time, the BFGoodrich Radial T/A was—and it still is—the iconic muscle car tire. So I saved my money and bought my first set of 295/50/15 Radial T/As. I didn’t know what BFGoodrich was, and it didn’t matter! But when I look back, there was something about those tires back then, some reason I decided to buy them.”
It was a small decision that would come full circle decades later, one that started a lifelong connection between man, machine, and tire.
Careers Come First
Like many enthusiasts, Brian’s love of cars had to wait while life took the wheel. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a boiler technician, later becoming a master mechanic, and eventually transitioned into electrical engineering, programming, and automation.
Those years taught him discipline, problem-solving, and patience, the same traits that would later define his racing career. And more importantly, they gave him the financial freedom to pour his energy into what he truly loved: building and racing cars.
A Late Start
By 2006, Brian had finished restoring his ’71 Camaro when the Goodguys Nashville Nationals rolled into town. At 36, he didn’t see himself as a racer, at least not yet.
“By then, you’re already considered washed up. Your reflexes are already starting to fall off, so it’s not an age where you start getting into racing,” says Finch.
But that same year, Goodguys introduced autocross for the first time. Despite some hesitation, Brian decided to give it a try.
“I was just going to go there and try it out. I was busy as could be, just trying to keep the car on the track—it was way overpowered—but I just fell in love.”
His first laps were rough, but by the end of the event, he took home his first-ever win.
Full Circle with BFGoodrich
That first victory came with more than a trophy, it came with a prize set of BFGoodrich tires, bringing Brian’s journey full circle. The same brand that had powered his very first car was now fuelling his wins.
“I’ve had over 82 wins in 9 years, 100% on BFGoodrich tires.”
Over time, Finch became a consistent champion and an official member of the BFGoodrich Performance Team, representing both the brand and the spirit of perseverance that defines true enthusiasts.
The Future is Finch
For someone who didn’t start racing until his mid-thirties, Brian’s journey is a reminder that passion doesn’t follow a schedule, and it’s never too late to start.
