Dunn honors family racing tradition

Published 2:04 pm Monday, October 13, 2014

Five years ago, Corey Dunn, 19, began his competitive dirt track racing career in the Bomber division.

Within three years, Dunn elevated himself to the Southern Outlaw Super Street Series Rookie of the Year. He traveled everywhere from Cochran Motor Speedway to Savannah to Alabama tracks.

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Public relations director for Cochran Motor Speedway Willis Wombles said Dunn already locked down a 2014 Super Street Series championship at the nearby track.

Wombles, who has 50 years experience around stock car racing, announces the series and said the young Dunn carries himself the right way.

“He’s one that stands out when you see him race. You know there is potential,” Wombles said. “In my opinion, he has a very promising career in racing if he continues to pursue it. It would be nice to have a NASCAR champion from Baldwin County.”

Dunn’s father Darryl and grandfather both raced.

“Growing up it was pretty much everything I knew,” Dunn said. “It was always a thing to go to school on the weekdays and to the race track on Saturdays. It was part of life.”

Dunn graduated from Baldwin High School in 2013. He joked about skipping the junior prom for a dirt track race.

The 19-year-old runs a 2013 Russell Brown Race Car chassis that competes well against an average of 20 other competitors that show for the Super Street series races.

“Every night is a toss up. You never know what’s going to happen,” Dunn said. “The dirt track conditions are constantly changing. All night you have to adjust to this or that.”

Darryl Dunn is lovingly envious of his son. 

The older Dunn started his racing career at 16 years old and still ran a Super Street car when Corey started in the lower Bomber division.

Dunn describes his father as a “go-getter” on the racetrack. He strives to add to the home garage’s trophy collection.

Father sacrificed so his son could continue competing after winning more than 20 races.

“I stepped back from driving and let (Corey) have it,” Darryl said.

The Super Street car Dunn competes in costs about $15,000. A person could go cheaper, but Darryl wanted the best equipment available. 

Pit Bull Racing Engines out of Macon sponsors the No. 21 car.

“They sponsor as a team. That’s been a huge blessing,” Darryl said.

Average series purses offer $2,000 to the winning driver, proving himself or herself over 25 laps.

Over time, Dunn hasn’t sat in a race car that hasn’t been victorious.

That’s impressive considering the dirt track series runs tight each outing. Only one driver has repeat victories in Southern Outlaw.

“Every race car that shows up at a series race leaves home believing they can win that race,” Darryl said. “We’ve got people out of Florida, South Carolina and Alabama that tour together. That kind of competition is what it’s all about.”

Cash winnings are great to offset the price to compete. Still, the money demand is never-ending, Dunn said.

For now, the dirt track Super Street works for the family. Dunn would love to step up to Late Model or asphalt racing soon though.

NASCAR teams routinely send scouts to these dirt track events to spot talent. Lucky drivers may get a sponsorship-aided advance.

“If it doesn’t work out, we are having a great time with what we are doing right now,” Dunn said. “Getting your name out there is hard because there are so many guys out there that want the same thing I want — to race on Sundays.”