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BIOGRAPHY

Hometown:  Davenport, IA
Residence:  Indianapolis, IN
Date of Birth: September 25
Height:  5'4"  Weight:  145 lbs.
Marital Status:  Single
Hobbies:  Driving racecars, building racecars, fishing, 
dining, traveling, and being active

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Davey Ray has been hustling the short tracks throughout the U.S. since the age of 11 when he started his racing career.  With over 50 career wins, a midget car Championship, and several International championship titles, Ray has proven his talents in the dirt car ranks.

 

He 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.

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.

 

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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. 

 

Davey went on to make 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.

Ray then 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 and opened the door for participation on both dirt and pavement with the USAC National 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 on 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.

The start of Ray’s Down Under success then emerged 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.

Continuing to add to his resume with a preliminary night 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.  

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.

Davey is currently teamed up with Al Christoffer of FattFro Motorsports running a select schedule across the U.S. in his 14AJ Sprint Car.  Under Team RayPro, Davey and John Sluss have put together a few 410 sprint cars with Dave Ray doing the engine builds to compete locally, in Indianapolis and other select shows across the U.S.

 

With each new season, Davey continues to rack up wins in midget and sprint car competition.  He hopes to compete in as many midget, sprint, and silver crown races that will allow him and his teams to, both locally and with the USAC National schedule.  

  • 4-time consecutive “Magic Man 34 Champion” (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
     

  • 3-time “Australian Speedcar Champion”

       (Only American to hold 3 Titles 2006, 2008, 2011

 

  • Chili Bowl Midget Nationals Prelim Feature Win
     

  • First driver to win with a MOPAR midget engine (5/27/01 Angell Park Speedway)
     

  • First driver to win with a V8 midget engine
    (1/30/08 Western Springs Speedway, New Zealand)

     

  • USAC National Midget
    “Most Improved Driver" Award 2004

     

  •  USAC National Midget
     “Buckeye Nationals” Winner

     

  • National Sprint Car Hall of Fame
    “Rookie of the Year” 2004 

     

  • Firemen Nationals Feature Winner 2003
     

  • Badger Midget Auto Racing Association (BMARA) Champion 2003
     

  • Chili Bowl Midget Nationals
    “Rookie of the Race” 2002

     

  •  Midwest Auto Racing Association (MARA)   “Rookie of the Year”

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  • Bloomington Speedway 6/4/22 

  • Bloomington Speedway 4/30/21

  • Lincoln Park Speedway 4/24/21

  • Wilmot Speedway 9/5/20

  • Wilmot Speedway 7/19/20

  • Wilmot Speedway 7/18/20

  • 141 Speedway 7/5/20

  • Beaver Dam Raceway 7/4/20

  • Angell Park Speedway 7/7/19

  • Angell Park Speedway 6/9/19

  • Angell Park Speedway 6/2/19

  • Montpelier Motor Speedway 9/15/18

  • Angell Park Speedway 8/12/18

  • Angell Park Speedway 7/26/18

  • Wilmot Raceway 6/30/18

  • Angell Park Speedway 06/17/18

  • Montpelier Motor Speedway 09/30/17

  • Kokomo Speedway 05/07/17

  • Montpelier Motor Speedway 04/15/17

  • Daugherty Speedway 09/10/16

  • Montpelier Speedway 07/16/16

  • Montpelier Speedway 06/18/16

  • Montpelier Speedway 09/13/14

  • Bunbury Speedway 11/09/13

  • Perth Motorplex 11/16/12 (4th "Magic Man 34" title)

  • Perth Motorplex 11/12/11 (3rd "Magic Man 34" title)

  • Lismore Speedway 2/19/11
    (1st American driver to win three "Australian Speedcar Champion" titles)

  • Montpelier Motor Speedway 6/25/11 (USAC MOPAR D1)

  • Perth Motorplex 11/06/10 (2nd "Magic Man 34" title)

  • Beaver Dam Raceway 6/12/10

  • Angell Park Speedway 5/30/10
    (New 25-lap Track Record)

  • Angell Park Speedway 5/23/10

  • Perth Motorplex 11/07/09 (1st "Magic Man 34" title)

  • Avalon Raceway 11/21/09

  • Angell Park Speedway 8/17/08

  • Bloomington Speedway 08/08/08
    "Indiana Midget Week" (4th USAC National Win)

  • Perth Motorplex 2/23/08
    (2nd "Australian Speedcar Champion" title)

  • Western Spring Speedway 1/30/08

  • Angell Park Speedway 7/01/07

  •  Chili Bowl Midget Nationals 1/10/07
    "Creek Nation Casino" Preliminary Night

  • Parramatta City Raceway 2/11/06
    (1st "Australian Speedcar Championship" title)

  • Powerbuilt Speedway Christchurch, NZ 1/25/06

  • Gas City I-69 Speedway 8/19/05
    "Indiana Midget Week" (3rd National USAC Win)

  • Angell Park Speedway 7/17/05

  • Angell Park Speedway 5/15/05

  • Angell Park Speedway 8/22/04

  • Angell Park Speedway 8/08/04

  • Junction Motor Speedway 7/28/04

  • Eagle Raceway 7/27/04 (2nd National USAC Win)

  • Angell Park Speedway 6/20/04

  • Limaland Motorsports Park 6/18/04
    (1st National USAC Win)

  • Angell Park Speedway 6/06/04

  • Angell Park Speedway 8/31/03 
    Firemen's Nationals 50-lap first driver to start from pole to win

  • The Raceway at Powercom Park 8/23/03

  • Hales Corners Speedway 7/25/03
    "Milwaukee Cup Classic" only repeat winner

  • Pecatonica Motor Speedway 7/12/03

  • Angell Park Speedway 6/22/03

  • "Memorial 50" Angell Park Speedway 5/25/03

  • Hales Corners Speedway 6/29/01
    "Milwaukee Cup Classic" (1st title)

  • "Memorial 50" Angell Park Speedway 5/27/01
    (1st driver to win with MOPAR midget engine)

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

FEATURE WINS

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