[Tabitha Draughon]

CCRA-Carolina Class Racers Association Racer Spotlight

This week's racer spotlight will travel down to Greenville, NC & focus on Mr. Monnie Morris. He is 74 years young & have been racing for 55 years! His daughter, Wendy, has helped me with some valuable information & pictures for the one. Wendy was able to attend our last race at KDS Motorsports & this is the first race that she has been able to attend in AGES. Thanks again Wendy, very appreciated!!! His car is a 1973 Ford Maverick powered by a SBF 302 CI built by Richard James & Jesse Benson (recently deceased). His most memorable win was when him & his partner, Mr. Tommy Hussey, won Stock Eliminator at the the 1974 IHRA Pro-Am Nationals at Rockingham Dragway. He claims that one of his accomplishments is winning the CCRA-Carolina Class Racers Association race at Coastal Plains Raceway Park Dragway in 2020. Mr. Monnie would like to give Special Thanks to his son & crew chief, Kelly, as well as Johnny Rouse & Troy McLawhorn for all of their help. His most funny racing story will be from May 1984 (article included in pics) when he raced against his daughter, Wendy for 1st place. Monnie came out victorious on this run & Wendy says it was "embarrassing for her". Wendy states "she started following her dad around the track, toting tools, running to the fence to see every run, etc. from a tot in the early 70's". Then he taught her to race & gave her a car at a pretty young age. Wendy continued to race until her college years & then she also worked a couple seasons at KDS Motorsports. Due to the age difference between her & her brother, Kelly, he came along much later in the game. Kelly's experiences have been different & he has been the "crew master" for a long time. Mr. Monnie has been reluctant to "turn over the reins" however, he is FINALLY going to let her PLUS 40 year old brother get his training wheels 😉 & they are going to start working with Kelly to get some driving experience. Looks like some of the roles may be reversed soon & Mr. Monnie will be helping Kelly in the burnout box. We all at CCRA-Carolina Class Racers Association & your fellow racers are excited for you & here to help anyway possible! Kelly, you can do it!! 👊👊👊

Mr. Monnie is an all around quiet competitor but don't take him lightly as he is very deadly behind the wheel of his Maverick. CCRA-Carolina Class Racers Association appreciates Mr. Monnie & Kelly racing with us & hopes that they are able to continue to support our association. Our next race is in July at Farmington Dragway. More details on that race next week.