Box Car Racer was a side-project from two members of the band blink-182, featuring guitarist Tom DeLonge and drummer Travis Barker. DeLonge formed Box Car Racer to experiment with and record ideas he felt were not "blink-friendly", along with Travis Barker. David Kennedy from Hazen Street completed the trio and an eponymous album was ready to be recorded. Tom was insistent on a bass player, so he hired Anthony Celestino who was Kennedy's friend. Guests on the album included Mark Hoppus from blink-182 on the song "Elevator", and Tim Armstrong from Rancid and Jordan Pundik from New Found Glory on "Cat Like Thief".
DeLonge and Barker claim the group was heavily influenced by Dischord Emo, citing influences such as Rites of Spring, Fugazi and later era post hardcore bands such as Quicksand.
Box Car Racer took a hiatus after their headlining tour in 2003. DeLonge has stated publicly that the project has served its purpose, and is now defunct and will never reunite. The creation of this band left a lasting mark on blink-182, however. Delonge suggested the creation of the band as a reason for the split and he also said that he invited Travis Barker only because he didn't want to pay for a session drummer.
