A Race In Remembrance: 2nd Annual Gene Gray Memorial Race

The weather in the Bluegrass State was pleasant and the skies were clear as racers and spectators filtered through the gates at US-60 Dragway in Hardinsburg, Kentucky recently for the 2^nd Annual Gene Gray Memorial Race. The race, promoted by Tim Gray, was organized in honor of his late cousin Gene Gray, whom had passed away in early 2012 from cancer. An Outlaw 10.5  “Run What Ya Brung” race, Tim sets the race to resemble one of the last races that Gene was able to partake in to honor his remembrance. Unload, pair-up, and race. Simple as that. Little track prep and no times.

Despite the beautiful weather, the participating car count was relatively low, but that did not stop the racing action from taking off. Five cars made the call for the class, while others showed their support by doing a little test-n-tune throughout the day. Also on display for the day was Genes’ Camaro. Tim reflects, “Gene originally bought the car as a cruiser and it had a 327 with a glide in it but he just couldn’t handle not racing, so he started on it and in a couple years while battling cancer it evolved into a full blown race car.” During a break in the racing, the Camaro received a memorial pass down the track, with friends, family, and fellow racers looking on.

The first round of racing went off without a hitch, for the most part. Gary French Jr., in his Dodge Fury pulled Jeramie Mattingly in his gorgeous ‘72 Nova. “We were having problems with the new nitrous launcher in the car and the system did not turn on so we took a fat L right off the bat,” sayid Mattingly. The next pair down the strip was Trevor Fuqua in his ‘89 S-10 and John Pryor with his ‘97  turbocharged Mustang. Pryor was forced to exhibit some fancy driving skills to rein in his Mustang to keep it from getting up close and personal with the wall. “The first pass I turned the power back on the hit. I was concerned with the track considering there wasn’t any cars going down it. When I brought the power back in I felt it shake the tires and it immediately got loose. I was just in for a ride at that point and lucky to keep it off the wall,” said Pryor.

Fuqua took advantage of Pryors’ misfortune and took the win. Thanks to getting the bye run in the semi’s, Fuqua landed in the finals with his 421 cubic inch small block Chevy-motivated mount. Jaime Abele and her Talon jumped to the semi-finals on the by run from the first round, only to be taken out by French in the ’62 Fury.

Facing off  in the finals for the 2^nd Annual Gene Gray Memorial Race were Fuqua and French. Fuqua reflects on the final run, “we knew we were bringing a knife to a gun fight. In the finals we knew we were way out-gunned, so we put a bigger shot in it, but the track just wasn’t there to hold it and we gutted the tires.” Gary French Jr., took the win light and the cool guaranteed grand that came along with it.

The remainder of the day continued to be filled with high horsepower racing action as those in attendance paid their respects to their friend and fellow racer. Jeramie Mattingly shared, “wish more would have shown, but the main purpose of the race was to remember a friend that lost to his battle with cancer almost two years ago. Rest in peace Gene Gray!”