I know multiple engineering folks in the industry and they constantly tell me about how much the culture sucks. Very cool problems, but it's very cutthroat as you would expect.

Source: live near many teams just outside of Charlotte

This sounds like an opportunity to work with a lower tier race team to build reputation. Cool thing about racing, to the limit of the rules, the sport as a whole is receptive to the advance of technology if it confers a competitive advantage.

Boy, have I!

Acting on it, though... :-)

Life seems balanced now, I get to scratch my itches, not unhappy at my current job, and I don't feel like I'm saying "no" and making excuses. A tiny step here, a tiny step there, worst case it turns out to be a pleasant stroll.