Russ Dugger News
Accell Construction Returning to ARCA
With Russ Dugger for Kansas Lottery 150
Intent to show that his stellar rookie performance at Texas was no fluke, Dugger will take the Accell Construction #12 Chevy Monte Carlo back to the 1.5 mile track at Kansas Speedway on Thursday, September 30th live on SPEED TV.
July 28, 2010
Russ Dugger Racing is excited to announce that their on-going partnership with Accell Construction will see the pair returning to the track - this time at the 1.5 mile Kansas Speedway with the ARCA Racing Series Presented by Re/Max and Menards, for the Kansas Lottery 150 on September 30th, 2010.
Dugger has quietly impressed in both of his rookie starts with the ARCA Racing Series Presented by Re/Max and Menards. In February, the Owasso, Oklahoma native set fast lap at Daytona International Speedway before an early incident took him out. In April, his eventful top-15 lead-lap finish during his first ever visit to Texas Motor Speedway caught the attention of race fans, crew chiefs, and team owners - as well as television commentators admiring his car control while avoiding a slow car under caution.
For the Kansas Lottery 150, the Dugger team has their sights set on a top 5 finish - and one gets the sense that it may not just be hubris talking.
Steve Todhunter and his company, Accell Construction, have taken an active interest in the development of Dugger's racing career. The September race will be the third in which Accell has sponsored Dugger in the ARCA Racing Series.
But Kansas will be special to Todhunter for another reason - it will mark his debut as team owner, and that is a responsibility he takes very seriously. Todhunter has committed two top notch cars for the event. The first, a newly prepared Chevrolet being purpose built for Kansas, which will accompany a race-proven backup car by the name of "Tigger" - the DGM Racing rocket ship Todhunter acquired in April after Dugger drove it at Texas Motor Speedway.
In addition, Todhunter has signed up veteran crew chief and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Mario Gosselin's DGM Racing team to ensure Dugger has the best possible shot at a win in this competitive series.
As with the April race in Texas, the Kansas Lottery 150 is basically in the back yard for Dugger and Todhunter, meaning they will again have plenty of support in the stands and in the pits wearing Accell hats and RDR's trademark "Greatest Stock Car Name Ever" T-shirts.
"It's going to be great to get more mile-and-a-half experience, to work with Mario and his amazing crew, to represent my biggest fans in the world at Accell Construction, and to have so many friends and family with us at the track again," said Dugger.
"Having that support really made the Texas race special. Climbing in the back of the truck and circling the track with my Dad after driver introductions was one of the coolest things in the world. I can't wait to get back."
Read more in the Press Center.
Dugger Gears Up For Return to TKC
Charity kart race on June 27 with Tulsa County Commissioner John Smaligo Jr.
has both men rearing to go
June 18, 2010
As the date grows closer, so does the excitement between Russ Dugger and John Smaligo Jr. The latter, a Tulsa County Commissioner, was the winning bidder on a "race-the-pro" package at the Aaron Gillming Foundation dinner event in May. His prize entitles him to test his mettle in the Tulsa Kart Club's F4 Senior class, against not only a professional driver like Russ Dugger, but a half-dozen other grown-ups who take to their inner children to track twice a month.
The karts are all "spec", and prepared by Tulsa's RPMotorsports with the intention of being as close as possible in terms of performance. It's all about the driver. The 4-cycle motors power the karts to lap times in the low 30-second range around TKC's nearly half-mile track, and have top speeds in excess of 50mph.
Fans of racing, of Russ Dugger, and friends of John Smaligo Jr., are all encouraged to come out and enjoy a great day at the trace track. The flag drops beginning at 1:00pm on Sunday, June 27th, and gates open at 10:00am. For location details, visit www.tulsakartclub.org.
Aaron Gillming Foundation Event
A Tremendous Success
Auction Winners Preparing for the Times of their Lives
May 29, 2010
The appearance of Russ Dugger at the Aaron Gillming Foundation's benefit dinner in Owasso, Oklahoma on May 22nd was the hit of the evening and is still being talked about fondly by the family of young Ryder Gillming. Ryder, son of the late Aaron Gillming, was treated by Dugger to a spin in a retired NASCAR chassis bearing his father's motocross racing number - a fact that wasn't recognized until after later that evening.
Dugger's speech to the attendees drew rounds of applause as he announced that he would be the first proud member of what he termed "RADD", or Racers Against Drunk Driving, which he hopes to grow as a coalition of drivers in America's top tier racing series'.
ABC affiliate KTUL produced a world-class video piece on the foundation and their "Miracle Bears", which was featured on the evening news and on their website (click here for the story).
Among the items Dugger brought to auction for the charity were an autographed Goodyear Eagle racing tire, a ride-along in the MSE Project One Dodge Charger at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, and a 15-lap sprint race against Dugger in a F4 kart at Tulsa Kart Club.
The winning bid for the kart race was none other than Tulsa County Commissioner John Smaligo, Jr., whose generosity was very much appreciated by the Aaron Gillming Foundation.
The husband of the foundation's founder won the highest bid for the ride-along at Hallett along with a private driving lesson on-track. "I purchased this cool ride as a going away gift for my son, Matthew" stated Clay Montgomery, whose son recently joined the U.S. Navy.
Dugger will be escorting Montgomery at Hallett for the June 5th HST event, where they will be joined by a large number of friends, fans, and family. The Aaron Gillming Foundation will also be well represented at the event.
Stay tuned for more announcements regarding the collaboration between Dugger and this important charity over the coming months.
Aaron Gillming Foundation Benefit
May 18, 2010
Fans of Russ Dugger know that his pursuit of full-time professional race car driving has very little to do with fame and fortune. Rather, it has almost everything to do with making a lasting impact to the world around him.
That's why Russ Dugger Racing is excited to be in attendance at the Aaron Gillming Foundation Benefit Dinner & Silent Auction for victims helping victims of drunk driving in his home town of Owasso, Oklahoma this weekend.
The benefit will begin 7:00pm on Saturday, May 22nd, at the Bailey Educational Foundation. Fans are welcome to attend - tickets are $35 each including the dinner, and can be obtained by calling 918-274-0317. More details available at www.tagfoundation.info. We hope to see you there in support of this important charity.
Dugger Impresses In Texas
ARCA rookie Russ Dugger finishes 14th, on the lead lap, after starting 31st
in his first ever 1.5 mile start.
April 17, 2010
http://www.prlog.org/10632645-dugger-impresses-in-texas-updated.html
Russ Dugger's name is a lot more familiar to ARCA fans today than it was 24 hours ago.
The Owasso, OK native battled back from spins, near-misses, a chronically loose race car, and a troublesome helmet radio, to earn two Aaron's "Lucky Dog" awards and finish on the lead lap in 14th position.
Qualifying for the ARCA Rattlesnake 150 at Texas Motor Speedway was rained out on Thursday, meaning Dugger - who was around 22nd quick in practice - would start in 31st position based on 2009 owner's points.
That meant he'd be seeing lots of opportunities to pass - and lots of opportunities to be caught up in wrecks.
During one caution, a car had spun and hit the backstretch wall causing the field to slow behind him. Dugger was unable to see clearly through the haze, but saw an opening below the damaged car, and took it. Unfortunately, his loose race car spun as he tried to move back up the track, barely grazing the inside wall.
The save was replayed on SPEED TV a number of times, which seemed to spark a surge of interest in the Owasso native on Twitter and Facebook.
Dugger definitely had his hands full behind the wheel. The #12 Accell Construction Inc. Chevrolet Monte Carlo was loose for nearly the entire race, forcing Dugger to drive within narrower limits.
Conventional wisdom says that cooling conditions plus rubber build-up as the race progresses, equals a tighter racing surface, but on this evening, getting the car tightened up was an elusive challenge.
In the last 30 laps of the race, Dugger described the car as being "about an 8 out of 10" loose - especially full of fuel - which is like walking on a very high tightrope when you're carrying 200 MPH into the turns.
"It just never tightened up for us tonight, but we dealt with what we had and tried to run a smart race," Dugger said.
On the last pit stop with just over 10 laps to go, crew chief George Church called for a major track bar change, and just like that, Dugger had a hot rod. The next green flag laps were his fastest of the race, and he was able to make two passes for position prior to the checkered flag.
Only two drivers gained more positions than Dugger on the evening, who finished 17 places better than he started.
"I wish we'd had more laps," said Dugger. "We'd just made that big track bar change, and I finally felt like I could get through the turns without it getting away from me. I could take it a lot deeper into turn 1, made a good pass out of (turn) 4 for position."
Mario Gosselin's DGM Racing team did an exceptional job working with him throughout a challenging race. Dugger was being helped on-track by veteran spotter Ron Lewis, who works with Mike Skinner in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS). Church is also a NCWTS veteran, serving as Crew Chief for DGM Racing's #12 driven by Gosselin himself.
The entire Dugger family was in Dallas for the race, with heavy hearts. Dugger's aunt, Elynn, was laid to rest earlier that week after battling an illness. Dugger dedicated the race to her memory, and carried her name on his car for the event.
But they all left with light hearts following a very impressive top-15 performance by the man with "the greatest stock car name you have ever heard."
RDR Merchandise Outlet Open for Business
We're pleased to announce addition of an e-commerce area for fans to get items such
as shirts and hero cards, personally autographed by Russ Dugger
March 10, 2010
At the insistence of friends, fans, and family, Russ Dugger Racing has added an Official Merchandise Store where people can order hero cards, t-shirts, etc.
Hero Cards from Daytona 2010 are available now, and new t-shirt designs can be pre-ordered. Down the road, as we are able to produce more items, we will be adding them to this page.
As with everything Russ does, giving back to those in need is a top consideration, and you can rest assured that a portion of proceeds from every Store sale will be donated to one of Russ' charity partners.
Early Wreck Sends Dugger - Fastest Driver and Fastest Car - Behind The Wall
Lap 7 accident in Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 puts the #12 Accell Construction Chevy
of Russ Dugger and DGM Racing behind the wall and out of the race after setting
a fastest lap that wouldn't be beaten.
February 7, 2010
http://www.prlog.org/10522759-early-wreck-puts-fastest-car-behind-the-wall-for-lucas-oil-slick-mist-200.html
Just when things were beginning to go the right way for rookie Russ Dugger, lady luck turned against him.
Dugger's #12 Accell Construction Chevy was fast right out of the gate, and it didn't take long for him to get comfortable in the draft and make his way forward.
Dugger bump drafted with Tim George Jr. in the #31 RCR Development ride along the back stretch, and in so doing, laid down a lap that no other driver would beat through the rest of the race.
His time of 48.283 at 186.401 mph was faster by a full tenth of a second than any other driver during Saturday's race - Bryan Silas in the #11 was the only other car to turn a lap at 186 mph. He had moved up three positions from the drop of the green flag and was heading forward with purpose.
Which only makes his early involvement in the lap 7 melee all the more heartbreaking. Mario Gosselin and his DGM Racing team had definitely built a bullet for Dugger, spending hundreds of hours fine tuning the #12 between the December open practice event and Saturday's race. The rookie was hoping to make Daytona a showcase race, not only for his talents, but for hard work of the DGM racing team.
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