Emma's Driver Spotlight of the week:  Donnie Dutton Jr.

May 29, 2004

My driver spotlight this week is on a young racer by the name of Donnie Dutton Jr., out of Ellendale, DE.  He started racing at the age of five in Go-Karts and has had twenty-five feature wins in the go-carts. 

Donnie is a fourth generation driver; with his Grandfather, Harry Dutton being the first one in the family to start racing.  Then his Father  Donnie Dutton Sr. raced, and his Uncle Robert also races in the big block Modifieds in the number eighty-eighty-eight.  So that makes Donnie Jr., the fourth one in keeping the name going.

Donnie is racing in the new class at Delaware International Speedway of the  AC Delco sponsored TSS Modified.  These cars are running GM sealed crate motors which is suppose to give all the drivers a more even chance in competition plus be more economical.  His car is an Olsen chassis too.  Donnie has had two top 5's and one top 10 as of the end of May. 

He said his favorite track is in Richmond, VA.  His crew is Tommy Dutton, Bruce, Cal, Donnie Sr., Tony, Jim, and JP.  His sponsors are Pizza Palace, Little D Trucking, Matco Tools, Muncey Trucking, Heck Masonry, Delmarva Pulpwood, Gritton Crane Services, Dr. Robert Wilson, and Grotto Pizza.  He would like to say thanks to his sponsors for their help and also to his family, and the girls Vicky, Terry, Nicole and Sarah.

Donnie said, "I like to run on a tacky track."   Donnie hopes to get that first win which will be very important to him.  He does a Charity ride for the Victory Junction Camp.

So keep your eye on this young man as he comes from a racing family and he is after that first win since switching up from go-Karts.  Look for Donnie's driver profile also Donnie Dutton Jr. - AC Delco TSS Modified on the Driver's page, on the home page of www.redbud69racing.com.  Also check out a web page I made up for him at http://www.freewebs.com/ddutton  Good Luck Donnie and be safe.  We will see you at the races! 

Emma Downie
emdow3.1@netzero.com

Emma's Driver Spotlight of the week:  Morris Tucker

February 26, 2004

My driver report of the week is Morris Tucker of Seaford, DE.  Morris began driving at an early age of eight years old in Go-Karts.  Morris raced all over the east coast.  After Go-Karts he ran in  Motorcycles, Modified, Midget, Late Models, and has even tried his hand in Drag Racing.  He has had over 200 races in his career at different tracks and different racing equipment.  Some of the tracks he has raced are Hagerstown Speedway, Little  Lincoln Speedway, Grandview Speedway, Georgetown Speedway, and Bridgeport Speedway.  Morris says his home track is the Delaware International Speedway. 

Morris has been driving the last couple of years in the Delmar Vintage Racing Club with his old Modified car.  Morris says he enjoyed the club, but felt with this new cost he can get to race every weekend and afford to run again in a Modified.  Morris said his children are older now and that his wife and he can get back into the sport together.  Morris still feels he still has a few good laps left in him to run so we will see.  In fact, this was his Vintage car, until he changed the engine, shocks, tires, fuel, and body, over to the new class.  Tuckers' car was on display at the Motorsports Mania show in Salisbury a few weeks ago.  The car was setting down by the Vintage Club table and J. C. Penny’s store, and looked really sharp. 

Handling is going to be a big issue in this class because we have to run track shocks and 25 lb. of pressure in the right rear Tuckers stated.  With this class, drivers will be more equal because you won’t be able to spend the big money if you did have it to buy more expensive parts.  Tucker will be driving the red number twenty-eight, CMS Computer Management Systems, Scott’s Furniture, Greenwood Service Center, Racers Edge, and Pearson Signs, sponsored car and contributed to getting his car complete and ready to go.  Racers Edge owned and operated by Ron Jarrell built the body from scratch.  I can’t say enough for Cliff Foskey, without Cliff I wouldn't have made the show, Tucker said.  I think and hope we will have a good year racing.  Tucker said in closing, I think DIS has come up with a class that anyone can compete for less than $10,000, and my hats off to DIS.  A lot of people are going to want to catch on and run in this class, Tucker stated.

Lets hope he has a lot of luck in this new division and gets many  wins. Our prayers are with you for a safe and great season. 

Emma Downie
emdow3.1@netzero.com

Emma's Driver Spotlight of the week:  Erika Hearn

February 15, 2004

Erika is currently racing at the U. S. 13 Kart Club, in Delmar, DE and also a Micro Sprint at Middleford Speedway.  Although she is not racing on the half mile speedways (DIS) oval, I wanted Emma to do a profile on this young girl.  I like seeing a woman in our sport if she can drive, I know I sure would be if I had started at a younger age.

This is on a young girl name Erica Hearn, who began to race when she was 10 years old.  Erika started driving a Mirco-Sprint with the number eighteen.  She is now fifteen years old and has make quite a record for herself already.  I asked how did she get into racing, and she just said, because I wanted to and tried it.  Erika is from Greenwood, DE. 

In 2004, her Mirco-Sprint was the best in show at the Motorsports Mania Show in Salisbury, MD.  Erika said she has raced at the Daytona Speedway, Sandy Hook Speedway, U.S. 13 Kart Club in Delmar, DE, and Middleford Speedway in Seaford, DE . 

In 2001 she won 2 championships, in 2002 she won 1 Championship.  Her favorite track is Daytona, FL.   Her crew is her Mother, Rene', her Father, Steve, Zach, Jacob, and Sarah which are all her family.  She said that she really likes any kind of track she does not have a favorite one.  That seems to be what most drivers tell me.  And Erika said she likes a wet track because she does better on it.  She has over 40 wins in just five years.  Erica has nineteen wins at U. S. 13 Kart Club Speedway.  Her Mirco-Sprint is a 2003 RTS and a 250cc Honda.  Her sponsors are Bi-Rite Auto Sales, Seaford, DE, Seaford VFW Post 4961, P S Designs, D D Auto Trim, K L Welding, Anderson Prof, Gary Hearn Siding, Moore's Powder Coating.  We wish this young lady a lot of luck in her racing career.  I have no doubt she soon will be racing on the DIS oval. 

Emma Downie
emdow3.1@netzero.com