DRIVERS

BRIAN BOHLANDER

Biography:

Hometown: Joliet, Illinois
Family:  Jennifer (Wife),  Anastacia & Alayna (Daughters)
Website: brianbohlanderracing.com

NASA member since: 2007
Home Region: Great Lakes

Career Highlights:

Brian Bohlander’s diverse racing background of over three decades has led to many wins, championships, and firsts in racing. Bohlander has the most series championships (3), the most wins (35), and several track records on the tour. He’s raced everything from karts to the circle tracks of the Midwest and is a WKA Manufactures Cup national event winner.   

Besides being a champion racer, he is an accomplished NASA HPDE Instructor, Motorsports Safety Foundation (MSF) Certified Instructor, and NASA Great Lakes Competition School Director.  Brian has also instructed at numerous corporate driving programs including the Raybestos Rookie School.

PHILLIP GEHLHAUSEN

Biography:

Hometown:  South Bend, Indiana
Family:  Stephanie (Wife), Jazlyn (Daughter), Django & Wasabi (Birds)

NASA member since: 2005
Home Region: Great Lakes

Career Highlights:  

Phillip Gehlhausen developed his skillset for racing while utilizing the NASA HPDE program. Starting in 2009, Gehlhausen has gone from volunteer to Thunder Roadster Series Champion in 2018.

Avid at all aspects of racing, Gehlhausen takes on many rolls at the track. He’s looking to win his second Thunder Roadster Series championship in 2020 and further developing his racecraft against the best in the country.

JASON OEHLER

Biography

Hometown:  Elmhurst, Illinois
Family: Shereen (Wife), Owen (Son), Hamilton Lewis (Dog)

NASA member since: 2013
Home Region: Great Lakes

Career Highlights: 

A 2-Time series champion, Jason Oehler, fuels his lifelong passion to be a racing driver in the Thunder Roadster Series. Oehler, a graduate of the Derek Daly Driving Academy, joined the series after an extensive open track & HPDE background. He became involved with NASA after volunteering at an event in 2014, then progressed through the HPDE program.

After a driving session in Phil Gehlhausen’s Thunder Roadster, Jason was hooked. He attended NASA’s competition school in a borrowed Thunder Roadster and won in his second Thunder Roadster Series start. Oehler has gone on to be one of the nation’s best in the Thunder Roadster Series, finishing on the podium at both the 2018 and 2019 NASA National Championships as well as winning over thirty times in the series.

Jason’s favorite things about the Thunder Roadster Series are the affordability, close competition, and camaraderie among the drivers. His wife, Shereen, and his son, Owen are often seen at the track with him as they enjoy the atmosphere as much as he does. Away from the track, Jason enjoys exercising, snowmobiling, and volleyball.

TOM BYRNS

Biography

Hometown:  Westerville, Ohio
Family:  Marlis (Wife), Blake (Son), Madison (Daughter)
Website: byrnsracing.com

NASA member since: 2013
Home Region: Great Lakes

Career Highlights:

Tom Byrns started racing in the late 1980’s through the Skip Barber Racing School program, but shortly after family and career commitments put his racing ambitions on hold. In 2012, his family surprised him with a track day at Mid Ohio and the dream once again was realized. After buying a Mustang “track day” car, he joined NASA in 2013 and began working through the HPDE ladder system.

After evaluating his next steps into wheel to wheel racing, Tom decided to join the Thunder Roadster Series and earned his competition license in 2017. In his first competitive race, Byrns scored a podium finish at Autobahn Country Club.

After surviving two car destroying incidents in 2019, Byrns will compete for the series championship in 2020.

JAMES WHEELER

Biography

Hometown:  Powell, Ohio
Family: Susan (Wife), Chloe (Daughter), Nicholas (Son)

NASA member since: 2016
Home Region: Great Lakes

Career Highlights:

A native of the UK, Wheeler started racing karts in the early 1980’s where he won many races on the tough UK karting circuit. Following in the footsteps of his father and older brother, James started Speed-Hillclimbing in the family Caterham 7 in the UK BARC Championship.  James also won a prestigious ‘Driver of the Day’ development contest at a Jonathan Palmer track event, adding to his numerous motorsports accomplishments. 

Since moving to the US in 2001, James has driven with several clubs prior to joining NASA in 2016.  Wheeler is now an advanced driving instructor with NASA, working with HPDE3 students.

In 2019, he joined the Thunder Roadster Series, winning seven times including the 2019 NASA National Championship at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and finished as the runner-up in the Thunder Roadster Series championship. In 2020, Wheeler will race for his first Thunder Roadster Series Championship.

PRASHANTH SIDDALINGAIAH

Biography

Hometown: Elk Grove Village, Illinois
Family:  Kimberly (Wife), Isabelle (Dog)

NASA member since: 2005
Home Region: Great Lakes

Career Highlights:

Prashanth started his career like the majority of drivers stepping into racing later in life. After being introduced to NASA by some friends and attending HPDE events in the Great Lakes Region he was hooked!  Prashanth took full advantage of what NASA had to offer.  Volunteering and learning by just being at the track with veteran and rookie racers. 

After successfully completing the NASA HPDE program and Competition School in 2014 he started looking for a dedicated race car.  2015 was a solid rookie year for Prashanth!  He completed the season with 2nd place overall and earned his NASA Instructor License along the way.