About Red Beard Racing
Founder and operator Artin Karimian launched Red Beard Racing in 2020, fulfilling a dream to run his own motorsports performance shop. Ever since his early teens, fast cars, modifications, and technical curiosity and know-how have been a part of his life. If you can’t find him in the shop, you’ll probably find him at the track.
From humble beginnings, Artin learned and perfected his trade while working with some of the East Coast’s best automotive shops. At RBR, he’s assembled a winning team of skilled technicians who are as passionate about customer service as they are about expert craftsmanship. Today, Artin and his team have successfully opened RBR’s own brick-and-mortar location that is already becoming a haven for all of the DMVs community of sports car enthusiasts, along with bringing racing level precision to your daily driver or truck.
A seat above the action
Head upstairs and settle in with a view of the workshop. Our open mezzanine puts you close to the cars and the work happening below, with a large conference table, comfortable seating and TVs to watch the race.
Help yourself to complimentary coffee, soda, water, or cold brew on tap behind the bar. The space is climate-controlled, so you can take a seat and enjoy being aroudn the shop while we're looking after your ride.
This is a working shop, and sound carries to the upstairs area. It can get noisy occassionally while the team is at work below.
The Team
Justin Culbert
At 43 years old, he brings nearly three decades of hands-on experience and technical expertise to the world of motorsports. A 2004 graduate of James Madison University, he earned dual degrees in psychology and biology—an academic foundation that sharpened his analytical mindset and deepened his understanding of both mechanical systems and human performance.
His passion for cars and racing began at an early age. By 15, he was already tuning and working on vehicles, launching what would become 28 years of continuous involvement in high-performance automotive engineering. Over the course of his career, he has worked across a wide spectrum of racing disciplines, including off-road buggies, drag racing, offshore race boats, and IMSA sports car racing. This diverse background has given him a comprehensive understanding of performance engineering across multiple platforms and competitive environments.
He has worked alongside several well-established race engine builders, including Bob Cronin of CRD Engine Development, where he further developed his expertise in engine performance, durability, and race-level precision.
Currently, he serves as Chief Technical Inspector for NASA Mid-Atlantic, where he applies decades of experience to ensure safety, compliance, and technical integrity within the racing community. His career reflects a lifelong dedication to performance, innovation, and the pursuit of excellence in motorsports.
Derek Locke
Pro Tech | Porsche Gold Certified
With a decade under the hood and nearly nine years embedded in the world of Porsche, Derek turned a passion for precision into a professional standard. As a Porsche Gold Certified technician for six years, he’s mastered the intricacies of elite German engineering while maintaining a broad expertise across all makes and models.
From the high-pressure demands of track support to the meticulous technical builds at Red Beard Racing, his career is fueled by the pursuit of performance. Derek doesn’t just fix cars; he optimizes them for the limit.
Morgan, our lead setup specialist. He spent seven years mastering the Honda platform before diving into the world of high-performance rotaries. When not at the shop, you’ll find Morgan competing in the NASA Mid-Atlantic Honda Challenge, a series he has raced in since 2016. As our go-to expert for corner balancing and race alignments, Morgan has optimized hundreds of cars for the circuit. With a resume that includes ground-up race car builds, custom engine fabrication, and dyno operation, Morgan knows exactly what it takes to make a car fast, reliable, and balanced.
Lead Setup Specialist