In most Cup garages, if your radio stopped working, you didn’t panic and instead went looking for MajPat. Pat ‘MajPat’ Frossard wasn’t the loudest in the room, but he was one of the most reliable. Because long before he became a NASCAR fixture, Frossard had served 24 years in the U.S. Marine Corps as an Avionics Technician and Avionics Officer, decoding systems far more complex than anything the garage had to offer. It was that background that helped turn him into the go-to tech when radios acted up. Starting in September 1996 as the Winston Cup representative for Racing Radios, and then later with Racing Electronics from January 2004 to September 2005, he didn’t just fix problems but also ensured you understood why they happened. Frossard became the guy teams counted on. And in between races, that same expertise followed him onto the highway.

From 2004 to 2006, Frossard brought his NASCAR-honed communications skills to the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America, an annual motorcycle trek raising funds for Victory Junction, a camp founded in memory of Adam Petty to support children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses. Riding alongside hundreds of bikers across unpredictable terrain, he managed and enhanced bike-to-bike communications for the ride’s Motor Marshals, adapting stock car-level tech to highways, deserts, and backroads just to ensure that every message was clear and immediate. The communications during those years, in terms of range and clarity, were described as “unsurpassed” and yet it wasn’t the kind of job that got headlines. But by then, “Major” wasn’t just a nod to his military past; it had become who he was to everyone. 

Crew members still talk about how he once Frankenstein-ed a shattered scanner back together using its still-working parts and had it ready by the next race, just because he enjoyed it. His fixes weren’t flashy, but across countless garages, from Hendrick to DEI, there was always someone whose radio wouldn’t have worked if it weren’t for the Marine in the back corner. At DEI, he didn’t just handle team radios; he even programmed personal and farm radios for the Dale Earnhardt family. That kind of care didn’t come from obligation; it came from the pride he took in making things work better for everyone around him. But on June 17, the radios fell silent as Racing Electronics shared the heartbreaking news: Pat Frossard has passed away.

 “It is with profound sadness we announce the loss of one of our most respected and valued team members,” the statement read. “Semper Fi, Major.”

It’s no wonder the news hit hard. For many who knew Pat or were involved in NASCAR in some form, it wasn’t just a technician they lost. They lost a friend, a mentor, a legend in his own right. And judging by the reactions, fans and insiders alike felt it.

NASCAR fans and insiders mourn the loss of MajPat

When word spread that “MajPat” Frossard had passed, the NASCAR community responded the only way it knew how. Love, respect, and memories of a man who quietly helped keep the sport running at full volume. Fans, media members, and former colleagues took to social media to share what he meant to them and to the garage at large.

“Sorry to hear about Pat has passed away,” one fan wrote. “Awesome person in the garage and always helping anyone in need. Rest in peace 🙏.” NASCAR reporter Alan Cavanna echoed the sentiment, tweeting, “A sad day for the entire garage. If you’ve ever heard a driver on your scanner, it’s in-part because of Major Pat.” That’s not hyperbole. For years, ‘MajPat’ was the reason communication flowed clearly from the pit box to the driver and fans tuning in at home. He was the invisible link between chaos and control on race day.

Others recalled just how unforgettable he was. One person who worked with him at Racing Electronics shared, “When I worked at Racing Electronics and met him for the first time, I knew he was someone I’d never forget. He was definitely one of a kind and will be missed by many.” There were stories that gave a glimpse into his grit, too.

“Super sad about this,” someone wrote, “What I don’t think many people knew was he had a prosthetic leg and still got around 100% and you never knew it unless he pulled up his pant leg to show you. The dude was a radio genius though. And before radios, he was in the Marines doing avionics forever.”

Looking at such comments, it’s clear: Pat wasn’t just a technician, he was a presence. Someone who knew the science behind racing radios inside and out. But he never lost the human touch that made him unforgettable. The garage will move on, but there’s now a quiet in the air that even the best radios won’t fix. RIP Pat Frossard, you will be missed!