Davey Ray has been hustling the short tracks throughout the U.S. since the age of 11 when he started his racing career.  With 41 career wins, a Badger Midget Championship, and several International championship titles, Ray has proven his talent in the midget car ranks, and continues to chase wins in the Sprint Car and Silver Crown car series.

Ray’s father, Dave, was a midget racer who made a name for himself competing with the Badger Midget and USAC series in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s.  His mother, Debbie also grew up around racing as one of 8 daughters (and 3 sons) to 4-time Badger Midget car owner Champion, John Heisdorf.  It was no surprise that Davey followed the family racing tradition.  He won multiple go-kart championships and over 200 feature wins proving he was ready to take his career to the next level.

Ray has earned his way into the seat of some of the most respected car owners in the racing industry by cutting his teeth in the family owned midget car.  He won the Midwest Auto Racing Association (MARA) “Rookie of the Year” award in 1997.  In 2001, he made history with car owner, Harlin Kittleson as the first driver to win with the new MOPAR midget engine.  It was also Ray’s first midget win at the historic Angell Park Speedway in a 50-lapper event.

2003 saw Ray teamed up with legendary Indy car owner, Ralph Wilke and his team partner, Joe Vukelich of RAJO-Wilke.  Ray again won the season opener 50-lapper at Angell Park which was just the start to their dominating season.  The team clinched the driver and car owner Championship winning 6 events at 4 different tracks including the “Firemen Nationals” finale at Angell Park where Ray became the only driver to win from the pole position and lead every lap.

Wilke-PAK Motorsports signed Ray in 2004 and opened the door for participation on both dirt and pavement with the USAC midget series.  After a respectable 9th place finish at the “Copper World Classic” in Phoenix, AZ the team went on to score 3 feature wins on dirt at 3 different tracks.  USAC presented Ray with the “Most Improved Driver” award.  The Knoxville National Sprint Car Hall of Fame also recognized Ray’s outstanding efforts after his debut in a sprint car at Eldora Speedway and presented him with the “Rookie of the Year” award.

Success continued in 2005 when Ray won a USAC National event during “Indiana Midget Week” at I-69 Speedway in Gas City, IN driving for one of the nation’s most premier operations, Keith Kunz Motorsports.  Later that year, he finished 2nd at the “Belleville Midget Nationals” with car owner Terry Kla”tt” and 2nd in the “Hut 100” for Steve Lewis of Nine Racing.

2006 was the start of Ray’s Down Under success as he scored his first “Australian Speedcar Title” at Parramatta City Raceway Park driving for Bill Buckley and Steve Smith in an Aggressor/Hawk combo.

2007 was kicked off by a prelim Chili Bowl win for a newly formed team, Mecum Racing. Ray and right hand man, Doc Tyler prepared for the event all winter assembling the new Spike chassis and its components while Ray’s father, Dave built the Chevy Gaerte engine that powered the team to their first victory.  

In 2008, Ray won his 4th career USAC National midget feature at Bloomington Speedway during “Indiana Midget Week,” driving for respected car owner, Don Fike of RFMS Racing.   

Ray continued his winning ways in the following seasons with much of his success Down Under where he is a fan favorite and nick-named “The 3-gun Aussie Son,” after becoming the first American driver to win the Australian Title 3 times.  History was made in New Zealand at Western Springs Speedway as Ray won with a V8 powered midget engine engineered by Simon Longdill.  He has also earned 4 consecutive “Magic Man 34” Titles (2009-2012) at Perth Motorplex for the Michael Figliomeni Memorial race driving for car owner, Mark De Rosa.  He holds feature wins at 7 different tracks throughout Australia and New Zealand.

In 2014, Ray ran a selected midget schedule picking up a win at Montpelier Speedway, and competed in the USAC Silver Crown series with car owner, Eddie Sachs.  The team scored a few top 10 finishes together.  Currently for the USAC Silver Crown series, Davey will pilot the Cornell Racing #8 car for the 2023 season.

Long time supporting and friend, Al Christoffer of FattFro Motorsports, continues to be involved in Davey's racing career.  The team will compete in select dirt Sprint Car races throughout the year.  

Davey is a 3rd generation driver from Davenport, IA who grew up in his father’s garage learning how to weld, machine and fabricate.  He is one of the few drivers who knows the ins-and-outs of assembling and setting up the cars.  The 5’4” bantamweight driver comes from the short track old school much like his heroes before him.  Ray plans to continue his success in the open wheel ranks while pursuing and striving to move to the next level in motorsports competition.