April_18

Donnie Moran Brings It All Together

April 18th 2004

By Doc Lehman

“I knew the car was good all night long, we had a pretty good race car and with the engine working as good as it has been working and with the chassis working and with Tim, Brent and Wally on my crew, it’s was all good,” stated a still-fired up Donnie Moran early Sunday afternoon while relaxing at home with his family. Moran was fresh off winning the TAR HEEL 50 Stacker 2 Xtreme Dirt Car Series race at the New 311 Speedway in Madison, NC the previous night, marking his second Stacker 2 XDCS victory of the season. “I’ve got a really good crew now and everything is just working and clicking.”

Moran won the $10,000 top prize driving his QPI Tools Dirt Ripper, Eddie’s Sunoco, MasterSbilt Race Cars, SMS Racing Engines Chevrolet Monte Carlo #99.

Moran had high praise for the refurbished facility and the promotional aspect of the event.

“It was unbelievable,” commented Moran. “They probably had a sell out crowd. (Bill) Elliot was there racing and Casey Mears was there signing autographs and (Ray) Everham and a bunch of his crew was down there with Elliot and Ray Cook. They had a heck of a crowd, a heck of a turnout.”

Photos by Rick Schwallie

“A lot of people from Stacker were there and the fan who won the $1,000 was pumped up about that what with me giving him the check from Stacker and surrounded by the Stacker 2 girls. He was smiling from ear to ear (laughs)!”

It was mentioned that the XDCS has been hitting homeruns in the crowd department all season and Moran was quick to confirm.

“For all the controversy between the one series and the other, there shouldn’t be any negativity towards either series, they should just go out and race,” said Moran. “And not saying this because you’re a media man but I think the media has played this more up than what the drivers have. The drivers don’t even think anything of it. I think it’s more media people and a few other people that are making things about it than the drivers.”

“Like we parked next to (Rick) Eckert down there at Florence and there is no controversy between any of the drivers, it’s just people playing it up more than it should be. I don’t think that’s right for someone trying to make something out of nothing and its just one of those deals. Like this weekend, right now I’m planning on going to run those two World of Outlaw races because that’s what’s going on and that’s’ what I’m going to do.”

Moran also reaffirmed a comment that by having two national series there was double the opportunity for twice the drivers to earn more lucrative payoffs and by having one series in North Carolina and one in Texas, no one was harmed, least of all the promoters’ fan counts.

“They had 43 cars down there last night and a good field and probably a sell out crowd and I’m sure they had that many if not more in Texas and I’m sure they had a big crowd too,” said Moran. “I’m watching the race at Martinsville right now and its just unbelievable how many people are at the NASCAR race too.”

It’s been a number of years since Moran has raced at Lernerville, where he holds the track record of 15.67 set an incredible 20 years ago, but he is looking forward to the return trip, despite a humorous recollection.

“I think the last time I was there was a STARS race or something, I’m not sure what it was,” offered Moran. “Actually we won the last time we were there and we didn’t like being there because we won that big hoagie and we ate it and got sick (laughs)! We got food poisoning after that, David and Rhonda, all three of us got sick (laughs)! They must have forgot to keep it cool and we ate it and got sick afterwards and I mean, sick-sick (laughs)! Maybe if we win they’ll just give us a gift certificate for a steak house (laughs)!”

As the conversation drifted back to his racing program, Moran adamantly gave credit to his crew that he says is firing on all cylinders.

“It’s probably one of the best crews I’ve had put together since Rhonda and David were with me,” revealed Moran. “I always have to say Rhonda and David were the best because they were with me when I got started and was learning and the things we did together. But for right now this is a group of guys that are probably the best I ever had second to them. I have had good indivdual people but not a whole crew assembled like I have now.”

Moran’s crew consists of Tim Marshall, Wally Adams and Brent Chance.

Moran was asked if that “little bit” monkey was finally off his back.

“It wasn’t a little bit, it was a lot (laughs)!”

“No, it’s never off, it’s just off for a free ride for awhile. They can climb on easier than they can climb off.”

Moran was also quick to praise Mastersbilt chassis on getting the job done this season.

“Its awesome,” Moran flatly declared. “Actually people didn’t realize that after we went to Eldora last year and I didn’t make the race I went back to some stuff I did four or five years ago with some suspension things and set ups and just went to a basic deal and went back to it and did a different shock program and I said this is what I’m doing and this is what I like. And the week after Eldora I led the Xtreme race down south and then I hooked a rut. We were real good at Lowe’s but I had ignition troubles, but we were real good after that.”

Closer to home Moran was asked how everything was progressing at his father, Ronnie Moran’s, racetrack, Muskingum County Speedway. This season MCS will be part of the Xtreme Dirt Car Weekly Series and will hold their season opener this Saturday night.

“Yeah, this week Dad is opening and he’s running the Goodyear deal,” said Moran. “They had a practice Saturday night and he said it went real well. The tires are at my shop. Dad had to have them somewhere close for the racetrack and they are in my shop so that’s working pretty good. So if anyone needs any Goodyears to race at the track they can call and get them from me. I’m handling them for Muskingum County Speedway. They aren’t buying them off of me, they’re buying them from the track. You know how that father-son-love thing works right (laughs)?”

“But Dad took a chance on doing this and I think it’s a pretty good deal.”

Moran was also happy to talk about his hometown neighbor, fellow dirt Late Model driver Bart Hartman, who also won on Saturday night although down in Texas with the World of Outlaw Late Model Series.

“Last night two Zanesville boys came home with the money,” said Moran. “Bart won down there and I won and if it wasn’t for the two series the both of us wouldn’t have brought that much money back to Zanesville. It might not happen again the rest of the year but it happened this weekend and he’s happy and I’m happy.”

“That makes it good for both of us.”

Photos by Rick Schwallie