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David “Bird” Jones from Kemp, Texas is a decorated bracket racer who recently burst into the no prep/grudge racing scene, claiming several wins over fast cars and claiming a nice pot of money in the process. Jones has also appeared on the popular show “Street Outlaws” during their Cash Days episodes, taking on OKC’s finest.
Representing Texas proudly, Jones just finished a round of upgrades to his familiar ’67 Camaro that sported a 744 big-block Chevy with nitrous oxide. He came up short at “American Outlaws Live” near Dallas, as he was battling some engine woes, but on the night of May 14th, everything changed, as his prized Camaro, along with the truck and trailer he hauled it with, were stolen from a Comfort Inn in Forest Hills, Texas.
Jones was devastated, and social media responded with a nationwide search for his operation. The outpouring of support from racers and fans generated a twenty-plus thousand dollar reward for the retrieval of his Camaro. It caught national attention with the news and the car is still missing.
[2]While the search continues, Jones has been itching to get behind the wheel of a car to race and received some help from an unlikely source. His competition, James Finney and Gary Weatherly, from the infamous “Birdman” team, recently changed from their back half IROC Camaro to the new, lighter 2.0 version Trans Am that he’s been tearing up no prep races with this season. Finney and the crew gave Jones a break on their old roller to get him racing again. The 80s IROC was built by Turbo Todd Moyer, who campaigned it in Outlaw 10.5 competition.
Birdman Racing dominated the no prep scene with the car for three years, even racing on Street Outlaws: New Orleans,which aired this spring. Finney said Jones shouldn’t be sitting idle and not racing, so he and his team wanted to help him out. Jones will be putting a nitrous-fed engine in the car and will be back competing once again.
Racers are foes on the track, but off the track they step up to help each other out, as the no prep community has some of the most stand-up people in the sport. The racers have empathy for a tragic event like this because they know the hours, dollars, and sweat that racers put in to complete a high caliber vehicle. David “Bird” Jones has many long days and nights ahead to build a competitive machine, but help like this from the Birdman team and many others will certainly help him in his return. Keep watch over the next several months for the resurrection of a bird from the ashes. David “Bird” Jones is sure to return with a newfound confidence, thanks to Finney and Weatherly and his many supporters.