North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame Inductees
Danny Johnson - an innovator in the motorcycle world and multi-time champion, was placed into the Hall of Fame. Johnson, an early pioneer in the cycle world was known for his "Goliath" bike which was on display thanks to Frankie Spittle. He also owned and operated JHP (Johnson High Performance) for countless years before selling.
Frank Spittle presented the honor to Wanda Johnson who accepted the beautiful Hayes Jewelers acrylic award for her late husband.
Don Carlton - was a top NHRA/IHRA Pro Stock driver and innovator in the early '70's, making the "Mopar Missile" and 'Motown Missile" names famous. He was ahead of his time having the first on board computer in car. Don was tragically killed in 1977 testing.
Inducting Don Carlton was good friend Satch Gregg and accepting was son Donnie Carlton.
Alan Starr - local Top Fuel campaigner who made the "Starrliner" name famous in the '60's and '70's, was inducted in the Hall of Fame. Starr was another early pioneer in the world of fuel drag racing. Starting with the Sling Shot Dragster and moving up thru the ranks of contenders in the '70's with the now rear engine Top Fuel Dragster. The "Starrliner" team won on the IHRA and NHRA curcuit before retiring in the early '80's. Starr was tragically killed while working in his shop on the alcohol funny car of Larry McBride.
Alan's son Michael inducted his dad in the hall and accepting was his mom Jo Starr.
Ronnie Sox and Buddy Martin - a legendary team that help to pave the road of what we know today as modern day Pro Stock. The Sox and Martin team started in the early '60's with Chevy's and then moved on to the factory Mercury team by the middle '60's. They then teamed up with factory Mopar, campaigning their familiar red, white and blue Plymouth in the very first NHRA Pro Stock wars. The Sox and Martin team went on to win countless championships, national events and match race wins until the late '70's. Even after those years Ronnie continued to race whether it was Pro stock or Pro Mod, the team even had a come back, racing NHRA Pro Stock truck. We lost Ronnie in '06 due to cancer and his wife Diane carries on the "Boss" name raising monies for the Ronnie Sox foundation for St. Jude's Hospital.
Inducting the team into the Hall of Fame was former S&M driver Herb McCandless Sr. Herb presented the honor to Ronnie's wife Diane and Buddy Martin. Martin, our only living inductee, who gave a great acceptance speech reminiscing on the days of old and new.
Bobby Warren - This Clinton, North Carolina native got his start in racing at the old Easy Street Drag Strip located near his home in a 1953 Chevrolet and also raced frequently at his home track, Fayetteville Dragway. Warren went on to win 14 NHRA national events in stock and super stock. He scored his first major victory at the division race held at Blaney Dragway in 1969. From there, he went on to win 15 division races and 3 NHRA Championships. He is undoubtedly amount the NHRA's winningest sportsman racers. His last national event win came at Bristol Dragway in 2004 at age 69.
In addition to being one of the best stock and super stock racers, he was and conTinues to be one of the best engine builders of all time.
Harold Denton - They called him "The Wildman" from Middlesex, North Carolina. Harold was one of the true weekend warriors. He began racing a 1957 Chevy at Kinston Drag Strip in the early 1960's. He was known throughout the Carolinas in his "Bad Thang" Mustang. In 1967, he won 32 consecutive races at Dunn-Benson Dragway.
Harold became one of the pioneers in the IHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock division. He built and maintained his own motors until 1986. He won the 1st Mountain Motor Pro Stock race at Darlington in 1977 and went on to be the first to go into the 6.00 second zone with a win in 1991.
After years of racing his own, he joined Jim Ruth and the famous "Party Time" Pontiac and captured wins, 5 national event wins out of 11 final rounds. Harold is a charter member of the 200 mph club as well as having being inducted into the East Coast Hall Of Fame at Henderson and has been and continues to be a role model for drag racing, serving as a Drag Racing Representative with the "Race Against Drugs" program sponsored by the FBI and National Safety Council and is a strong supporter of Racers For Christ.
Herb McCandless - Herb started racing at Halls Tennessee Airport in the early 60's driving a 1960 348 Chevy. In 1968, he quit his printing job and began racing full time winning 36 out of 52 races in the Southern Style Heads Up events. In 1970, he joined the world famous Mopar team of Sox and Martin of Burlington, N.C. as team driver and won the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis that year. He also became the first person to win a NHRA sportsman and pro eliminator in the same year. In the Sox and Martin ride, Herb became the 1st pro stock driver to run 8.50's and won 4 of 6 United Racing Team events in a row.
In 1975, Herb opened McCandless Performance in Burlington where he worked with Chrysler in the development of the W2 Cylinder Head program. In 1976, using the W2 heads, he won 3 IHRA Super Modified events. Herb has been inducted in the NHRA Division 2, Super Stock Magazine, East Coast Drag Times, and now the North Carolina Drag Racing Hall Of Fames.
Ray Price - Ray Price, of Raleigh, N.C., began racing Harley-Davidson motorcycles on the street in 1964. Street racing evolved into organized track racing and a means to promote his Harley-Davidson business that he and his wife, Jean, opened in 1973. His early influences in the sport were Leo Payne and Danny Johnson.
He began his professional racing career in 1967 by modifying street bikes into race machines. His mechanical and engineering capabilities became the groundwork for racing as we know it today. Ray, known as the "Father of funny Bike", designed the first wheelie bar for bikes and helped develop the current style racing transmission.
Ray spent years match racing at many North Carolina tracks and also built an impressive record of national event wins with several sanctioning bodies, including NHRA, AHDRA and IHRA. His most memorable race day came in Shreveport in 2002 when he set the Nitro Harley World ET record at 6.365 at 224.21 mph and won the race.
Although Ray has retired from riding, he continues his lifelong love of drag racing to be one of the most successful owners and tuners in Nitro Harley Davidson drag racing.
Sonny Shipmon - Sonny Shipmon's career in drag racing started as a high school student, when school officials saw a way to keep a young man out of trouble. The principal purchased a rail dragster and Sonny and his classmates would prepare the car for races at Piedmont Dragway in Greensboro, N.C. Sonny went on to drive other cars including a 1964 DMP Chevy Corvette (won 19 weeks in a row at Piedmont) and a 1965 Tennessee Thunder Plymouth.
Sonny was later hired by Larry Carrier and became the first African American official in the IHRA, serving in various capacities at the IHRA events. In partnership with Tom Parham, Sonny purchased Roxboro Dragway in 1981. He was the first to hold "Big Bucks" races paying upwards to $10,000 to win. One of his proudest accomplishments was being named IHRA Track Of The Year. He sold the track in 1986 and retired from drag racing.
In 1999, Sonny returned to drag racing with his son, Kevin, who raced in IHRA Stock Eliminator. Sonny then built his final race car and campaigned in the IHRA Top Stock division in 2004.
Sonny passed away in 2004 and was inducted in the Roxboro Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2006.
Roy Hill - Roy's passion for drag racing began in 1969 as a water boy for local legend Sam Kennedy and after 40 years of racing, he has never lost his passion for racing.
His first race car was a 1969 Plymouth Road Runner, which is not surprising since Petty Enterprises was only a few miles from his house. Soon after Roy began racing, Maurice Petty and Petty Enterprises were doing his engine work.
The Plymouth and the "Hillbilly", as he was tagged, soon became a crowd favorite throughout the country. Roy has a gift of communication that has been with him since the very beginning. Match racing and 1/8 mile burnouts became synonymous with Roy Hill. Being the winner of 12 IHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock races, a World Championship and over 50 major event wins are a few of Roy's accomplishments. Roy's favorite memory was when his Ford Probe, driven by Mike Bell, won the 1995 IARA World Championship and the Pro Stock Shootout on the same day.
Roy also owned Rockingham Dragway with Steve Earwood and started the "Roy Hill Driving School", which he still owns and operates today.
BILLY WEST - Billy West of Selma, N.C. started his career in 1952 at the East Street Dragway near Benson, N.C. From 1956 thru 1982 Billy won races up and down the east coast in his famous 1962 Plymouth "The Little Pilgrim". Billy was nicknamed 'High Gear" because of his famous Big End MPH charges that left many racers in the dead in their tracks.
Billy became a close friend of master Mopar engine builder Maurice Petty and credits him and Petty Enterprises along with his wife Jackie as being his greatest influences and supporters.
Billy lists his national event wins at Rockingham and Richmond and having Petty driving "The little Pilgrim" to the winners circle at Charlotte Motor Speedway as his most memorable days in racing.
Billy and Jackie's Mopar collection in Selma is said to be one, if not the most elaborate collections in the world. Unfortunately Billy lost his courageous battle with cancer on November 20th, 2008. Fortunatly, Billy was aware of his induction to the North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame before his death.
A great racer - an even better person - He will be missed!
Dee Simmons - Dee Simmons of Greensboro, N.C began his professional dragracing career in 1968 and for the next 20 years campaigned his Alcohol Funny car up and down the east coast. Calling Piedmont Dragway his home track, Dee was one of the finest men to campaign a professional funny car and received his encouragement to race from his college instructors in the Automotive Engineering Department at A&T State University.
He was known from Ohio to Florida in his car the "Big Black Gorilla" for his showmanship and crowd pleasing driving. In addition to his match racing, he also won major events at dragway 42, Camden Alabama and Gulfport Mississippi.
Dee was a forerunner in dragracing in the East Carolina's in the 60's and 70's and was supported by Gene & Herbert Holloway, Ralph Moore, Lloyd Miller and Chief Engine Builder Edward Johnson.
Dick Rosberg - Dick Rosberg just finished his 44th year in drag racing. He has driven many well-known boats, funny cars and dragsters. For the past 26 years he has driven jet powered cars.
Dick is one of the original Lion's Drag Strip "week-end racers" from Southern California. In 1964, his first ride down the drag strip was in a Top Gas dragster. He ran 180 MPH, which was very fast in 1964. The name of the car was "Blackie Carbon" which he drove through the 1969 season.
In 1970, Dick drive the nitro-powered hydroplane owned by "Mr. Ed" Wills of Fresno and a fuel dragster owned by Mike Kuhl of Santa Ana, California. Eventually he had to choose between asphalt and water...the asphalt won!
In 1971, Dick drove Tim Beebe's"Fighting Irish" nitro-powered funny car. He toured with the Beebe team for 3 seasons. When Beebe retired in 1973, Dick "inherited" the famous name"Fighting Irish".
In 1977, Dick formed "Fighting Irish Enterprises" with partners Don Novak and Bill McDaniel. They campaigned nitro-powered funny cars for 4 years. By 1981, the cost of independent nitro racing became too much and at the end of the season, they sold the car.
In 1982, they built a jet funny car. The car was sponsored by the Stroh's Brewing Company. The "Firebrewed Firebird" was the first racecar to carry the Stroh Family name. Rosberg drove the car and McDaniel was the crew cheif.
In 1984 they built a second jet funny car, the "Schlitz Bull". They campaigned two cars for 4 more years. The partnership dissolved at the end of 1988. They sold one car to Bob Van Sciver and Dick kept the other.
In 1989, Dick was on his own for the first time in his racing career. He campaigned the car as the "Fighting Irish" jet funny car for two years. In 1991, Dick sold his car to Pat Davidson and began a 5 year stint driving for Bob Van Sciver. The car he drove for Bob was the car he sold to Van Sciver in 1988. The car was sponsored by Kendall Oil and campaigned as the "Kendall Warrior" for 2 years.
From 1993 to 1995 to car was sponsored by Main Event Video and was called the "Main Event Warrior". 1995 to 1997, the car was sposored by Penzoil and called the "Penzoil Warrior".
In 1997, Dick teamed up with Noel Smith and built a jet-powered pickup truck. They called it the "Dodge Ram-Jet". They sold the truck to Paul Sender in 1999 and Dick drove for him for 2 years.
In 2002, at the age of 60, Dick decided to begin "winding down" his race career. Then he got a call from long-time friend Al Hanna asking him to drive his "Eastern Raider" jet funny car on a part-time basis. Of course this fit right in with Dick's "winding down" plan...until.......
During the winter of 2002, Dick and Van Sciver were talking and Bob mentioned to Dick that the old "Warrior" car had been parked for a while. He suggested that Dick take the car and run it during the 2003 race season. Dick and his son, Terry, ran the car and still maintained full time jobs during 2003. They ended a great season with a race in Aurba in November! Sooo...Dick bought the car from Van Sciver to help himself "wind down"!
As 2004 was coming to an end, Dick decided to build a jet dragster. He sold the "Warrior" car to Dan Crownheart. In 2005 Dan Page built the "Thriller Powerboat Jet Dragster" for Dick and the thoughts of "winding down" were literally "gone with the wind"!
Now, in 2008, the dragster is for sale BUT if it doesn't sell....there's alwasys "Racing 2009"! Winding down may have to wait!
Max Hurley - From West Jefferson, NC, Max was one of the most respected racers in North carolina. For 28 years he raced throughout the United States and has won approximately 280 races. Along with his loving and supportive wife Wanda, Max also provided help and guidance to fellow drag-racers with his "Max Hurley Speed Shop".
Among his many victories, Max also won 13 national events driving the cars and engines that he personally built. One of his ultimate achievements was winnning the prestigious "Hemi Challenge" at the 1978 Indy race.
Max credits the support and contributions from his wife Wanda, Jim McLaren, long-time crew members Ty Kinder and Jim Bare to his success. Max Hurley is considered an Ultimate Racer and a True Hall of Famer!
Elmer Trett - Say that name to any good motorcycle racer and watch their face light up because they know what this man brought to their sport. Elmer Trett was a huge asset and pioneer in making motorcycle drag racing what it is today.
Racing on the streets in the late 60's Elmer soon realized that with his desire to go faster, he needed to switch from street racing to racing on the drag strip where he would be safer and could run bigger, faster bikes. Elmer, his wife Jackie and daughter Gina spent the early 70's racing and made thier racing a full-blown family business when they started bringing one-month old Kelly with them. Elmer's passion for drag racing led him to open a speed shop, with is background in working on Harley Davidson's that is what he primarily worked on at the shop.
Elmer's first bike was a Top Gas Harley that quickly started laying down good consistent numbers, which only made Elmer want to build something bigger and faster. So along came "Daddy Zeus," a double engine gas bike built by Sandy Kosman in 1977 then came "Pork Chop." After Elmer and his girls moved from Ohio to Georgia, the 80's led to corporate cut backs for Elmer and his factory sponsored Harley, which left him with the decision of changing from his history and background with Harley designed bikes to the more modern Japanese in-line four design, which was a tough pill for the Trett ladies to swallow, they only became in favor of the decision when it became apparent that the new style bike Elmer was racing required less between round maintenance which meant thier jobs would become easier.
Here are a few examples of Elmer's accomplishments;
- He was the first man to break into the 200 mph zone, running a historic 201.34 mph pass at the NHRA US Nationals.
- Elmer is in the Guiness World Book of Records.
- He built the 1st Supercharged Kawasaki.
- NMRA Pro Rider of the Year.
- NMRA Best Engineered Award.
- IDBA Max Award.
- 1st member of the Manley 200 MPH Club.
- IDBA Most Innovative Award.
- Participated in the Trans Atlantic Race held in Long Marsten England, won the event and set both ends of the British and European National records.
- Built the only Titanium framed motorcycle.
- NDRC Best Bike Performance Award.
- In 1992, Elmer won every even he attended.
- Became the 1st rider to exceed 200 mph in Australia.
- First rider over 220 mph.
- First rider over 230 mph.
- 1996 quickest & fastest pass in motorcycle history 6.06 and 235.10 mph
- 1st Billet cylinder head for a motorcycle.
- APE 6 Second & 200 MPH Club.
and the one of the most amazing things is that 14 years after his death, Elmer is #10 quickest of all time and #9 fastest of all time in motorcycle drag racing history. This list goes on and on....
Even though they only lived twenty miles from Atlanta Dragway, Elmer and his girls spent most of their time at Piedmont Dragway where they had a key to the gate, you know you spend a lot of time at a place when you can let yourself in. In total Elmer Trett claims 8 Top Fuel titles, he was only one pass away from claiming his ninth title when the good Lord took his life at a race in Indy.
Elmer Trett will be remembered by many people for many reasons but should be remembered by all for his high quality of professionalism and dedication to a sport he truly loved and believed in.
Jeff Taylor - A native of Lumberton, North Carolina, now residing in Sellersburg, Indiana. Jeff began his professional drag racing career in 1973, when he was on 13 years old and won the Gator Nationals in 1978, when he was 18 years old. With Fayetteville being the track he most frequented and Pomona being his favorite, Jeff currently has won 42 National N.H.R.A. events, 8 N.H.R.A. Divisional Championships and 4 N.H.R.A. World Championships.
Jeff tributes his start in drag racing to his Mom and Dad, who both raced and started taking Jeff to the racetrack at the early age of 6, his influences were not only his parents, but his brothers Charlie and Bob who both are highly respected engine builders. Willie Evans, Jeff's most significant crew member, has been at Jeff's side for more than 30 years and is a very valued and loyal friend. One of Jeff's most memorable days in racing occurred in 2001 when he won both the Super Stock and Comp Eliminator classes at a National Event on the same day in Memphis, TN.
Although Jeff was never big on naming his cars, his most favorite car was his 2005 East Texas Grand Am. We at NCDRHOF, find it both funny and ironic that Jeff lists his biggest rival as Bobby Warren, who is also a member of the North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame.
Mike Boyles - Of King, North Carolina, began racing in 1968 at East Bend Dragway. In 1971, he began driving the 1957 Chevy Wagon "Good Ol' Charlie Brown". In 2010, after 39 years, he is still driving the 57 Chevy wagon...UNBELIEVABLE! The winningest all time sportsman racer in IHRA history, Mike won 8 IHRA Championships, 22 National Events and 50 Pro Am Events, plus 3 Classis Gear Jammers Titles. His Arthur Bryant chassis along with motors from Gene Fulton, Mike Shamel and Randy Burner have been the backbone of his car since the beginning. He credits Jimmy Flint and James Stoneman for their help throughout his career.
One of the many highlights of Mikes career occurred in 1991-1992 when he won all 4 races at Bristol, 25 rounds.
A true sportsman, gentleman and stick car racer his entire career, Mike Boyles is a Hall of Famer!
Rickie Smith - A native of King, North Carolina, began racing a 1967 Camaro at Farmington, East Bend and Elk Creek Dragways in the 70's which started his professional journey as he teamed up with Keith Fowler and ended up winning two Super Modified Championships in 1976 & 1977.
With Farmington Dragway as his most frequented track and Rockingham being his favorite, the living legend "Tricky Rickie" Smith says his most memorable race day is when he was the first Pro Stock car into the 7's at Rockingham and the 1st carburetor car to run 200 mph and says his early influences were Ronnie Sox, Lee Edwards and Mike Boyles.
In 1982, Rickie began racing on his own and went on to win 5 Championships in 1982, 86, 87, 88 and 1989. Being the good country boy he is, his cars had names such as "Loretta Lynn" and "Oak Ridge Boys". Along the years, his most significant crew members have been Dale Hauser, Randy Campbell and Ronnie Wilson and says that Warren Johnson and Bob Glidden are his biggest rivals.
CHARLES CARPENTER- A native of Charlotte, NC, is one of the most recognized names in drag racing and one of the founding members of the popular Pro Modified Class. Charles was influenced by his brother Bobby, who campaigned in a '55 Chevy.
Charles began racing professionally in 1985 and for 25 years has raced from coast to coast in the most popular '55 Chevy in the world. He is also credited with starting the "Shoebox Class" with Rob Vandergrif and their match racing throughout the US made them household names in drag racing.
From Super Chevy Championships to 2010, Charles Carpenter is still winning races in his '55 Pro Modified Shoebox.
GENE FULTON - "All I ever wanted to do was drag race", was Gene Fulton's response to being asked, "How did you get your start in racing?" Of Spartanburg, South Carolina, Gene has been racing since 1972.
Starting out as a hobby racer straight out of the Air Force, Gene and his 1964 Chevy II Wagon quickly began to realize that the racetrack was were they belonged. Having a list of achievements such as 15 major event wins across 3 states, 5 IHRA Championships and 3 various personal awards, Gene Fulton is known as a tough competitor.
Gene's most memorable day at the drag strip is not necessarily a happy memory depending upon you look at it, he was involved in a finish line accident that destroyed his favorite car but luckily not Gene. After a proper burial for his wagon, Gene eventually moved on to a 1967 Chevy Corvette that lead him to 2 more points Championships. It was after that Gene decided to step out of the racecar and into the race shop to focus on his engine building business which has made itself a household name among racers.
Gene thanks his family and crew for their years of support and help in making him a HALL OF FAME RACER.
RONNIE HOOD - A native of Lenoir, NC, Ronnie started his drag racing career in the 60's at Hudson, Shuffletown, Mooresville and Wilkesboro dragways before acquiring a professional ride in Bruce Walkers Pro Stock.
Ronnie drove for the Sanders brothers from 1994-1997 and won 17 races and the Quick Eight Association Championship. Ronnie won the US Nationals at Indy over a 24 car field for the biggest win of his career.
Ronnie is quick to acknowledge the late Don Carlton, Bruce Walker and fellow Hall of Famer Roy Hill for their support and helping his early years of Pro Mod Racing.
SAM CARROLL - One of the most successful independent Pro-Stock races on the east coast, he was one of the pioneers of Pro-Stock match racing throughout the southeast. Sam began racing in 1966 and campaigned a Plymouth Baracuda and later made his mark in a Chevy "unknown".
His runner up to legendary Ronnie Sox at the 1980 Winter Nationals, along with winning a $10,000 bracket race in 1977 at Darlington Dragway were some of the highlights of his career. A career that has spanned over 20 years.
Sam Carroll was one of the true pioneers who helped make Pro Stock a crowd favorite throughout the Carolinas and Virginia.
STEVE TAYLOR - Steve Taylor was one of the best bracket racers ever! He started his racing careet in 1966 and won more than 1,000 events. It is appropriate that he met his wife, Brenda, a student at UNCG and took her to Piedmont Dragway to begin a 40-year careet. He raced in Stock, Super Stock as well as Footbrake and Box. During his career he was Track Champion at six different tracks.
Steve Earwood of Rockingham Dragway said one of greatest driving feats he had ever seen was in 1998 at the Super Chevy Show where Steve won Super Pro and was runner up in two other classes.
Steve along with his wife Brenda, were two of the most passionate and successful bracket racers the Carolinas has ever known.
Steve passed away May 20, 2007 with cancer.
RALPH SEAGRAVES - Ralph Seagraves was, without question, the most influential man in Motorsports for the past forty years. Seagraves, a native of Winston-Salem, went to work for RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co. in 1955. He was in charge of the Special Events department, which was later called Winston Sports Marketing. He started Winston's involvement in NASCAR and in 1973 he brought Winston to NHRA and IHRA. Their involvement brought both forms of racing to the fore front for millions of Motorsports fans. By supporting, not only the major tracks, but all of the sanctioned tracks in the US from coast-to-coast, everyone knew what the Winston 'Red' stood for.
Ralph Seagraves not only brought racing to America, he oversaw Winston's involvement in several hundred major events a year.
The legacy of Ralph Seagraves is quite simply that of Motorsports, which wouldn't be what it is today without his vision and leadership.
CURTIS SMITH - Curtis, a native of Clinton, NC, began his racing career in 1974. His first race car was a '69 Camaro that he raced at Kinston Dragway.
Curtis went on to win 17 national meets on the NHRA and IHRA curcuits driving the 1967 Camaro "Hot Stuff". He was the first Sportsman driver to win three IHRA national events in a row, he won an IHRA World Championship in 1996 and is currently number ten on the IHRA national events list.
Curtis, who built his own motors, with help from Bobby Warren, gives credit to his dad and mother, Earl and Christine and his father-and mother-in-law, Eugene and Dotty Carlsward for their help and support during his racing career. He is truly a NC Hall of Famer.
DOUG HERBERT - Doug, now residing in Concord, NC, gives credit to his dad Chet, who is a NHRA Hall of Famer and Billy Williams, as having the biggest influence on his racing career.
In the Top Fuel Class, Doug has 10 IHRA National Events wins and 20 NHRA National Events wins for a total of 30 National Event wins, which has led him to 4 IHRA World Championships as well as being the 2nd member of the 300 MPH Club. A former Eagle Scout and Pilot, Doug is building a car that he will race at the Bonneville Salt Flats with the goal of running 500 MPH, which will break the world land speed record.
Doug is presently the owner and operator of Doug Herbert Performance in Charlotte, North Carolina as well as the founder of B.R.A.K.E.S., Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe, an organisation designed to prevent injuries and save lives by training and education teenage drivers and their families about the importance of safe and responsible driving, forming B.R.A.K.E.S. was a decision Doug made after tragically loosing his sons, Jon and James in 2008 do to an automobile accident. Perseverance is what has made Doug a great racer and a Hall of Famer.
TOMMY MAUNEY - Tommy, currently residing in Shelby, North Carolina, began his professional career at Bristol in 1974. He won is first IHRA Pro Stock Championship in 1990 and has been one of the few racers to successfully move to Pro Modified where he won another IHRA Championship in 1995 and went on to win many National events in the Pro Modified class.
A noted and highly respected owner of TM Race Cars, he designs and builds cars for many Pro Modified racers. Among his early influences in racing he's included Jerry Joyce, Ronnie & Virgil Church, Gene Fulton and Larry Wright. Tommy credits his crew members, the Willifords, Shannon Jenkins, Dean Jonas and all the guys at the shop for much of his sucess in racing.
A Pro Modified pioneer and race car fabricator, makes him a drag racing warrior and a member of the North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame.
