Next month, the largest Nostalgia Super Stock race in the USA will take place at Beech Bend Raceway Park as the Dave Duell Classic shifts into high gear.
Its namesake was a nostalgia racer in the '90s who worked tirelessly to promote the precursor to the event now bearing his name. Though Dave Duell died in 2005, his son Doug and many other Nostalgia Super Stock racers chose to rename the race in Dave's honor.
"He was very involved in promoting this event in the early days," Doug said. "Dad started this race in St. Louis and he'd really built it up into a big deal before he passed away in '05. A lot of the racers that raced in his event decided we should rename it the Dave Duell Classic to honor him."
The Dave Duell Classic is now in its 13th year and takes place May 17-20, alongside the National Muscle Car Association's Bluegrass Nationals. Doug estimates 60-80 Nostalgia Super Stock cars will make appearances there, including his own 1964 Plymouth Station Wagon, a replica of his dad's car from the 1960s. That car, the renowned "Drag'n Wag'n," has always been supported by JEGS Automotive.
"It's a big race," Doug Duell said. "The National Muscle Car Association kind of adopted it and they've been great to work with. They offer a big purse and we host a big dinner Saturday night. We run class eliminations like they do during the U.S. Nationals at Indy. The NMCA has really done a great job embracing the event and promoting it."
Nostalgia Super Stock allows only 1960s-era cars, with no electronics. It's a true "old-school" event, and Doug says his father would be proud of it.
"We own car dealerships and we're real big on customer service," Doug said. "When my dad was racing, he always took note of how the racers were treated and how certain events were organized. When things went well, he was the first one to thank the promoters and try to help them moving forward. The (Dave Duell Classic) has kind of grown that way, with so many racers chipping in, and it's just been amazing. I think that's why we get so many cars - because we try to see things from the customer's standpoint."
JEGS High Performance is also known for prioritizing customer service, so it's natural that JEGS has remained a major part of the Dave Duell Classic.
"We really appreciate JEGS pitching in and helping out with our event," Doug Duell said. "We really promote our sponsors at our event, and that helps make it what it is."