FPS staff report
July 26, 2010
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| Speed Channel Pit Road reporter and Carrollton High School grad Ray Dunlap returned to the place he grew up last week, strapped himself into a Chevy Suburban and went at it with a bunch of “good ole boys” in the truck feature of the Demo Derby Sunday at the Carroll County Fair. |
You can take the boy out of Carrollton, but...
Ray Dunlap, a 1983 graduate of Carrollton High School who resides in Mooresville, NC, returned home to participate in the annual Demolition Derby Sunday night at Carroll County Fair. Dunlap attended the demolition derby with his father when he was little and has remained a derby fan.
Dunlap has been in broadcasting 18 years and is a Speed Channel Pit Road reporter covering the Camping World Truck Series. He attends the Carroll County Fair when his schedule allows and competed in the demolition derby three years ago.
Carolyn Leggett, office manager and an associate agent at Rinkes Insurance Agnecy, was unable to book the NASCAR Nationwide Series show car for the fair due to scheduling conflicts. She contacted Dunlap about driving a Nationwide derby car. Dunlap said, “When I received the first text I thought Carolyn was kidding. After the third text when she asked if I would like to have a derby car, I told her ‘Yes, I’m in!’” Dunlap noted his co-workers get a kick out of his antics and “the stupid things I do.” “I thought I was smart enough or old enough to know not to do these kinds of things,” he laughed.
Jon Rinkes, owner of the agency said, “I always wanted to sponsor a derby car and I thought by having Ray drive it might draw more people to the Carroll County Fair.”
Dunlap drove a 1987 Chevy Suburban donated by Brian Shuman, president of Countryside Recycling. Once she acquired the vehicle, Leggett contacted Kevin Witts to build it. Witts, who builds derby cars, worked for two-and-a-half weeks getting the vehicle ready for the action. A drive train and motor donated by TRW Motorsports was installed in the No. 22 Suburban, which was painted “Ford” blue and white and decorated with NASCAR Nationwide stickers and lettering by Timberlake Designs.
Dunlap drove in from Indianapolis Friday night and was able to spend a little time in the garage “getting his hands dirty” preparing the vehicle. Leggett stated, “Hats off to Kevin Witts. He did a wonderful job.”
When his schedule allows Dunlap plans to attend the demolition derby and what would he like to see? Color. “It seems people used to put a lot more effort into the painting and show of their cars than they do now,” he said. “I see a lot of plain black cars.” Looking at his bright colored Chevy Suburban, he commented, “Even if we don’t run good, we will look good!” |
