TRACK SCULPTURES: A NEW GENRE OF RACING ARTWORK

Twelve years ago, Russell Byrnes, a longtime race fan, had a captivating idea. The world of motorsports artwork was slim, and he wanted to address the issue. Byrnes created Linear Edge, a company that prides itself on designing innovative and unique wall sculptures for motorsports enthusiasts.

Byrnes, president and owner of Linear Edge, has a background in high-end, residential architecture. He knows how to operate a CNC machine and began creating two-dimensional wooden race tracks, with the first being the Mugello Circuit, a 15-turn road course in Italy.

“It’s probably the hardest one to make because of the way it turns back on itself so many times and with how tight it is,” Byrnes said. “That was a good one to start, because if you can make that, you can make any of them.”

Byrnes saw a hole in the marketplace. He believed the only motorsports artwork out there were posters and die-cast cars, but nothing that was “refined.” He believes his company’s artwork fills that void. Following the inception of the 2D products, Linear Edge created 3D tracks along with car and track engravings. The latest products to hit the market are the wrapped canvases and phone cases in 4 different camo patterns of race tracks.

Linear Edge is based out of Dallas, Texas, but doesn’t have a storefront. Instead, Byrnes has licensing agreements with the majority of race tracks in North America. Linear Edge is currently working with those tracks to make them available on site at each track.

BY DUSTIN ALBINO

“A lot of the major tracks have (merchandise trailers) where they sell their stuff,” Byrnes said “They don’t really sell anything like this at any of the tracks. We found that the track sculptures are really popular, especially with guys that do track days. Road courses, specifically, have a unique shape. It’s a way that people like to remember either going to the race or doing a track day.”

The 2D track sculptures are the most popular, Byrnes noted. Depending on how popular the track is, Linear Edge might have a stock of the sculptures ready to be sold. Otherwise, they hit the CNC machine and get their product made.

Within the last 18 to 24 months, Byrnes has inked a licensing agreement with NASCAR to create tracks that the sanctioning body owns.

“This is the first time that I’ve reached out to them to see what would be mutually beneficial,” Byrnes said of becoming a NASCAR licensee.

“If we sell their stuff, of course there are royalties. But if they decide to put our products at their (tracks), then that’s mutually beneficial because it gives them a unique product to offer their customers and generates more revenue than royalties. I started reaching out to see if it made sense for individual tracks to sell the track sculpture online, in person or both. NASCAR does it better than anybody, as far as merchandise.”

Linear Edge has created sculptures of hundreds of race tracks around the world. Daytona International Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway are the most popular NASCAR tracks requested.