CCRA Crew Chief Spotlight

[Tabitha Draughon]

CCRA-Carolina Class Racers Association Crew Chief Spotlight

We're going to take a short drive up I-95 South to Pembroke, NC; home of Ms. Linda Faye Hunt. She is 71 years young (I hope I look as great at 71 as Ms. Linda does) & has been crew chief for Dell Gene Britt for 12 years now. I think she made the comment at zMAX DRAGWAY last weekend that Dell was initially only supposed to get 5 years of her time but here they are now at year 12 & not appearing to be slowing down anything soon 😉. She got involved in racing at her home town track 710 Dragway. Ms. Linda says that her favorite track is the beautiful Bristol Dragway. She is still waiting for him to get a win in NHRA- NHRA Southeast Division 2 Stock Eliminator but when everything finally falls into place for Dell, I'm sure it will be a huge celebration! Some of her duties as crew chief for Dell include helping with the dial-in, parking the car, & sitting around waiting for a win! Her least favorite job as crew chief is listening to his complaining which goes hand & hand with Dell's biggest complaint as a driver, when the car doesn't do what he thought it would do. Linda's funny racing story comes from an NHRA Southeast Division 2 race at Orlando Speed World Dragway. For those that has never been there, it is surrounded by animals on the pit side back row & entrance road. Dell thought a donkey could give him advise & make him like the track. Oh my, I've got to hear more details of this story when I see Dell & Linda at the track next!

Dell & Linda races NHRA Southeast Division 2 races, some NHRA national events as well as all CCRA-Carolina Class Racers Association races. Dell aka Spanky is involved in other hobbies other than drag racing to keep him busy on the off weekends from the track. They are involved in tractor pulling & Dell is also a phenomenal cook. Dell will probably be in competition this weekend at Mooresville Dragway for the NHRA Southeast Division 2 race if weather holds out. We look forward to having Dell & Ms. Linda back with us in June for our "now" season opener at KDS Motorsports.

[Tabitha Draughon]

CCRA-Carolina Class Racers Association Crew Chief Spotlight

Let's take a little road trip to Greenville, NC this week to focus on Mr. Monnie Morris. He is 75 years young & is new to his role of crew chief for the 2023 racing season. In the past CCRA-Carolina Class Racers Association seasons, the roles have been reversed & Kelly was crew chief for his dad Monnie but this year, Kelly took over the driving duties of the family Ford Maverick. Mr. Monnie got his start in racing at KDS Motorsports at about 16 years old so he has definitely put in his years behind the wheel. Kelly is new to the driver's seat so there hasn't been a most memorable win yet & if I had to guess, they will celebrate round wins right now instead of race wins. Mr. Monnie says that KDS Motorsports is his favorite track. Some of his new duties include checking tire pressure, putting fuel in the car, & keeping the batteries charged. He stated that his least favorite job of crew chief is trying to figure out the dial-in. Dad says that Kelly's biggest complaint is hot weather & of course I think we are at that time of the year now. One of the funny stories out of The Morris Racing Team comes from Rockingham Dragway a few years ago & I'd be willing to bet it was a NHRA Southeast Division 2 race (most will understand). They had a "loud" generator & after about an hour of it running nonstop, the guy next to them said if they would cut their generator off, they could run whatever they needed to off his.

Monnie & Kelly can typically be found at all CCRA-Carolina Class Racers Association races & some local NHRA Southeast Division 2 races. The Morris' is a rather quiet bunch & stays to themselves at the track & doesn't like to ask others for any help when needed but one year at Coastal Plains Raceway Park Dragway, Leigh Anne & myself didn't give them much choice except to allow fellow racers to assist them & get the car back going from a starter issue. Kelly has a great teacher in Mr. Monnie & I feel like in no time, you'll see Kelly racking up rounds wins with a race win soon as well. We will look forward to seeing Kelly in competition at our next CCRA-Carolina Class Racers Association race in June at KDS Motorsports.

[Tabitha Draughon]

CCRA-Carolina Class Racers Association Crew Chief Spotlight

This man needs no introduction to CCRA-Carolina Class Racers Association as he's a staple at our races but we're still going to put him in the spotlight this week. Mr. J.V. Haynes III, 71 years young, of Stanstonburg, NC, is the head crew chief for Doug Hobgood & has been holding this title for 15 years now. Whew, I don't know how Mrs. Katie has dealt with him for that long 🤣! Mr. Doug is also that one that introduced JV to the great sport of drag racing that we all love. J.V. says that his most memorable win with Doug was in Richmond, VA. I'd need clarification if this was at Virginia Motorsports Park or the old Richmond Dragway. However he list Coastal Plains Raceway Park Dragway as his favorite track. J.V.'s duties as crew chief include checking tire pressure, putting gas in the car, & helping in the water box. Based off the 2nd picture I posted with him pointing his finger in the finals of the CCRA-Carolina Class Racers Association at KDS Motorsports, I'd say money is being discussed & I can tell you first hand not to give any of Doug's money to J.V. because Doug will never see it 😂😂😂!!! His says that his least favorite part of the job is waiting. This is a prime example where I say Mrs. Katie has tons of patience. He'll get bored, ride off on his yellow scooter, & stop to "shut the breeze" with fellow racers. J.V. says that Doug's biggest complaint with him as his crew chief is that he eats too much. In other words, the refrigerator is empty at the end of a weekend race. His funny story regarding racing was when Mr. Doug won his first IHRA Ironman & he had a .000 reaction time.

The H&f performance SS Camaro mainly runs CCRA-Carolina Class Racers Association nowadays but you might find them at some local NHRA Southeast Division 2 races once Mr. Doug & Mrs. Katie sell their business & retire. During the meantime, we hope that they have taken the time to get their hot rod ready for our now first race of the 2023 season coming up June 3rd & 4th at KDS Motorsports. It's been way too long without me seeing & picking on Mr. J.V. & I'd lying if I said I didn't miss him. 😉

[Tabitha Draughon]

CCRA-Carolina Class Racers Association Crew Chief Spotlight

This week we travel to Wilson, NC; home of Mrs. Debbie Morgan. She is 67 years young & is the crew chief for her husband, Jim Morgan. She got involved in racing when she married Mr. Jim & has been crewing for him for 25 years now. Mrs. Debbie says that her most memorable win was Mr. Jim's Nostalgia race win at GALOT Motorsports Park in 2021 I do believe. She also says that GALOT Motorsports Park is her favorite track & she mentions their clean restrooms. Her crew chief duties includes making sure to keep her driver fed, making sure he drinks plenty of liquids, & assists with loading/unloading the trailer. Although loading/unloading the trailer is part of her duties, she mentions that it is her least favorite part of the job. Her driver's biggest complain is him stepping on the brake pedal too much &/or too soon. One of their funny stories involving racing is once the golf cart slide off the ramp. We probably need to get more details on this story as well.

You will find Mr. Jim & Mrs. Debbie racing with CCRA-Carolina Class Racers Association, local NHRA Southeast Division 2 races, & some local Nostalgia races as well. They missed our first attempt of racing this year in March at Coastal Plains Raceway Park Dragway. I think I spied his car getting a new set of custom headers built a few weeks ago by Hippie Fabrication/Jaymes Rawlings. My hopes are that the car is ready for competition & we will see them at our now "first" race of the 2023 season at KDS Motorsports in a little over a week. See y'all at the track very soon!