About The Team

Building Teams and Partnerships at 100mph

RVA Graphics Motorsports got its start in 2007 with an endurance racing program. Requiring teamwork, strategy, and a long-term vision, endurance racing is one of the most challenging forms of motorsports. Those characteristics are what has helped RVA Graphics Motorsports succeed for more than 15 years.

After two championships and invaluable experience in endurance racing, team owner Jack Woodfin was ready to take RVA Graphics Motorsports to the next level. Jack chose Toyota GR Cup North America as the ideal step up, since the professional spec-car series gives teams and drivers a level playing field, where talent and strategy are on full display. 

Before diving into a new series, though, RVA Graphics Motorsports needed the right partner to make a successful bid for the Toyota GR Cup championship. Race engineering and operations company Speed Syndicate, led by owners Chris and Corinne Vallee, was that partner, allowing RVA Graphics Motorsports to seamlessly make the jump into the pro racing scene.

RVA Graphics Motorsports by Speed Syndicate debuted in Toyota GR Cup North America in 2023, fielding two cars. After a solid rookie season, the Richmond, Virginia-based team is now in its second season of Toyota GR Cup competition. At the same time, the team has continued its endurance racing program, making the team an especially attractive home for young drivers who are looking to build experience and work their way up through the levels of motorsports.

This internal ladder system allows drivers to get vital experience—and plenty of hours behind the wheel—in endurance racing before making the transition to the pro ranks of Toyota GR Cup North America. Additionally, drivers get to benefit from team driver coach Tom Long, whose nearly two decades in professional sports car racing make him well-suited to guiding young talent.

To further foster driver development, RVA Graphics Motorsports focuses on off-track aspects, as well, including building relationships, business development, financial management, engineering, and even entrepreneurship. Drivers learn not just how to go fast, but how to build a long-term, successful career in racing.

Team Principals

Farran Davis

Team Development Manager

Chris Vallee

Engineering and Race Operations

Tom Long

Coaching/Driver Development

Farran Davis

Team Development Manager

Farran Davis got his first taste of racing at the age of 10, when he competed in karting. The Chesterfield, Virginia resident had a long hiatus from racing after those earliest days in the sport, but he always wanted to get back to that first passion of his.

Finally, the time was right for Farran to foray into racing once again. Since returning to racing, Farran has made up for lost time. And, in this second act of his racing career, he isn’t just driving. By taking on many of the day-to-day tasks of keeping a race team running and bringing together the right team of drivers and team members, Farran is involved in every aspect of RVA Graphics Motorsports by Speed Syndicate.

In fact, Farran has been enjoying his current motorsports career for about 25 years now, and his experience includes both oval racing as well as road course competition. Whether it’s a sprint or an endurance race, Farran brings his blend of talent, enthusiasm and strategy to each event.

As the Chief Operating Officer of a diverse mechanical corporation, Farran is always looking for opportunities to make connections between drivers, sponsors, series, and teams that are mutually beneficial to both on track and off-track operations.

This approach builds true cohesion and consistency. These are key components to running a successful race team, and they are something that can be seen in Farran’s work as the Team Development Manager for RVA Graphics Motorsports by Speed Syndicate. You can find him at both Endurance races and at each round of the Toyota GR Cup North America series, behind the wheel and behind the scenes as he keeps things running smoothly.

Chris Vallee

Engineering and Race Operations

As Team Principal of RVA Graphics Motorsports by Speed Syndicate, Chris Vallee is a managing partner of the team alongside wider responsibilities as Owner of Speed Syndicate Motorsports. Chris has over 20 years of race industry experience, which began with Dave White Racing, when he landed his first position as Lead Technician. Within his first year, Chris was running Porsches for Dave White in HSR and Koni Challenge as their Crew Chief.  

Chris made his professional racing debut as the Car Chief for Andersen Racing’s Star Mazda (Indy Pro 2000) series, eventually working with Andersen’s F2000 and Indy Lights efforts. From there, Chris became the lead mechanic for USF1, an American team’s first serious foray into a series at the very pinnacle of motorsport. Later, he took those skills to Core Autosport as their Crew Chief, helping them become champions in IMSA Lites and LMPC (IMSA WeatherTech Series).   

After more than a decade of racing experience, Chris decided his knowledge and drive would be best employed by supporting his own customers in their motorsports efforts. Speed Syndicate was formed to channel Chris’s racing passion and attention to detail into each and every project.

Chris continued to work for and manage other teams while he scrimped, saved and hustled to build what is now Speed Syndicate. It was during these years he worked for Alex Job Racing in IMSA WeatherTech GTC and engineered for GMG in GT4, GT3 Sprint X, and GTA competition, winning championships in all.  

Within a couple years Speed Syndicate was running their own teams in-house, including Volt Racing and Fast MD Racing by Speed Syndicate, earning multiple podium and race wins in the TCR class of IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. In 2022 Speed Syndicate joined RVA Graphic Motorsports for their inaugural season competing in Toyota GR Cup North America.

Tom Long

Coaching/Driver Development

Tom Long is a professional racer, coach, and development test driver with a long history of sports car racing success. Tom has known Team Owner Jack Woodfin and Team Development Manager Farran Davis for a long time, so when the team was looking for someone to help guide its drivers, Tom was the natural choice.

Tom brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the program. His racing history began with lightweight, nimble cars similar to those in Toyota GR Cup North America, making him especially adept at coaching and guiding the team’s drivers. Tom got his start in Showroom Stock and Spec Miata racing, and he won the 2005 Mazda MX-5 Cup National Championship at the SCCA Runoffs. These days, he is the lead development driver for Mazda’s Global MX-5 Cup car.

Following his early success in pro-am racing, Tom transitioned to a standout career in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, which included wins, podiums, and a runner-up spot in the ST class in 2012. From there, Tom moved into the top levels of sports car racing, joining the Mazda Motorsports Prototype team in 2013. In the 2015 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, Tom led overall in the Mazda SKYACTIV-D Prototype, the first Mazda and the first diesel to lead the race overall in its history.

In all, Tom has more than 20 wins and podium finishes in IMSA and Grand-Am competition, making him one of the most sought-after driving coaches in U.S. sports car racing. Tom has been coaching racers for more than 15 years, and he has been an integral part of guiding the driving talent at RVA Graphics Motorsports by Speed Syndicate.