Upon meeting Chris Drag, it’s easy to see why he has built a solid customer base at Low Tor Quick Lube in Haverstraw over the past 30 or so years. His demeanor is soft-spoken, genuine, and down-to-earth. He takes pride in providing a service that is convenient, efficient, and simple. “I’m not trying to sell something to people that they don’t need,” he says. Instead, his goal is to make sure people have the information they need so they can make their own decisions.
What keeps generations of customers coming back is the rapport Drag has built with them. He knows their names and asks about their kids’ soccer games. He talks about the “mutual trust” he has developed with both his customers and staff. He will humbly say when asked about the success of his business, “it’s not because of me, but because everyone works as a team.”
At the shop, the staff is a close-knit team that feels more like a family. In fact, family is a running theme in the business. Drag credits his sister Tina for being the backbone of the entire operation. While he is the face of the business, he says she does everything else. “Tina is the one who truly keeps it all together,” he says. His nephew also works with them at the shop. Drag has employed multiple members of other local families, including current staff members who are father and son, and previous interns who are sisters.
Chris Drag at the shop with Tezia, one of his interns. Photo courtesy of Rockland Works
This ability to make personal connections and invest time in people is likely what the staff at Rockland Works recognized in Drag when they approached him about offering internships. He’s had more than a dozen interns come through his doors (some of whom he ended up hiring when the internship ended). Because they don’t always know what they want when they arrive, Drag takes the time to get to know them so he can customize their experience based on their interests and strengths. He tries to make their time with him meaningful by providing honest feedback and tapping into support from Rockland Works. While there have been some challenges, he finds it rewarding to watch people learn and grow.
Drag’s gratitude for these experiences led to the creation of a unique event this past May. Through his connection to Pennzoil, Drag is sometimes offered access to a NASCAR for promotional purposes at his shop. However, when the opportunity arose this past year to have access to NASCAR Champion Joey Logano’s car, he approached Rich Gore, Coordinator for Business and Employer Services at Rockland Works and asked, “How can we use the car to do something for the community?” He knew he could display the car in front of his shop, as he has done in the past, but thought, “Can we do a little more?”
Drag had seen the excitement around the NASCAR vehicles before and knew this could be an opportunity to bring young people together in a more meaningful way. Drag and Gore set the wheels in motion, and in no time, multiple collaborators, including Rockland Works, the Haverstraw King’s Daughters Library, and approximately 17 employers came together to execute “Racing Toward Success: A High-Powered Career Fair.” Over 200 people, including a large group of students from the automotive technology program at BOCES, attended the event and at least one person was hired shortly after making a connection at the event. The excitement was palpable, and Gore, who was a key organizer of the event, knew that Chris Drag’s instinct to “do a little more” led to the creation of something special. According to Gore, “When stakeholders have a true sense of community, great things can happen to positively impact the lives of residents.”
Attendees getting a close-up look at NASCAR Champion Joey Logano’s car in Haverstraw in May 2025. Photo courtesy of Rockland Works.
Whether it comes to people, his business, or special projects, Chris Drag is not one to be satisfied with putting in the minimum amount of effort required of him. He seems to always be thinking about how to positively impact people’s lives, whether it’s as simple as making someone’s day easier by providing efficient, friendly service, or by taking the time to invest in an intern and potentially change the trajectory of his or her future.
After three decades in this business, Drag has built a well-oiled machine and has the luxury of taking more leisure time away from the shop. But he still chooses to spend his days onsite, talking to customers and training interns. When asked what the secret is to the longevity of his business, he says simply, “I enjoy it.”
For more information about Low Tor Quick Lube: https://www.lowtor.com/