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NASCAR CHAMPION DAVE DION TO BE GRAND MARSHAL FOR THE 11TH ANNUAL JOEY COULTER
CHARITY RACE WEEKEND.
Former NASCAR champion "Dynamite" Dave Dion, one of the most popular drivers
in the Northeastern United States during a career that spanned over 40 years,
will be Grand Marshal for the upcoming 11th Annual Joey Coulter Charity 200
Race Weekend to be held December 10-11 at Auburndale Speedway. All proceeds
from the weekend will go to benefit children and their families that are
facing serious and/or terminal illnesses.
Originally from Hudson, NH, Dion, now "retired" and living part-time in Port
Orange, FL, will turn 73 years of age in late November but still looks like he
could jump in one of the race trucks during the event and challenge the "kids"
on the track.
Dion saw his first race in 1954 and ten years later built his first race car
for competition. From there, Dion's accomplishments are as good as any driver
in NASCAR during recent years. Campaigning almost exclusively in the
Northeast, Dion won hundreds of races during his career along with numerous
championships including the 1976 North Series title and the 1996 NASCAR Busch
North (now K&N East Series) championship. He scored 13 victories on the Busch
North tour between 1987 and 2006. Dion also raced the American Canadian Tour
(ACT) Series between 1984-1990 taking 20 wins.
Along the way, Dion was the 1972 Winston Racing Series champion at the Norwood
(MA) Arena, the 1975 champion at Catamount Stadium in Vermont and took the
track title at Thunder Road (VT) Speedway in both 1975 and 1977. He also has
several wins in big race events including three victories in the prestigious
Oxford 250 at the Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine.
Although mostly concentrating on short track racing, Dion did dabble a bit in
the big leagues making 12 NASCAR Winston Cup (now Sprint Cup) starts and nine
starts in the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series (now Xfinity Series) where he
scored a pair of top-five finishes.
Dion was a well-liked driver among fans for his hard-driving style and
outgoing personality along with the fact that he was a rarity in Northeast
racing circles because he almost exclusively competed in Ford products amidst
a plethora of General Motors cars. His career is profiled in his
autobiography "Life Wide Open," penned with the help of veteran motorsports
writer Dave Moody. Copies of the book can still be ordered by going to the
"Coastal181" web site.
Since moving to Florida part time, Dion has become active with the Living
Legends of Auto Racing based out of Daytona Beach where he is currently a
board member. Dion is hoping to get the Living Legends involved as well in
this year's Charity Race Weekend.
"I am very excited to have Dave Dion be our grand Marshal this year.
I had a great conversation with him the other day on the phone. He has a great
passion for racing and it radiates in his voice. I remember watching him race
some and he was a great competitor, doing it old school. I am thankful to my
friend Dave Westerman for reaching out on our behalf to him. I have offered
them the opportunity to have a Legends of Racing gathering during the weekend,
so we will see after he meets with their board," stated Charity race promoter
Rick Bristol.
"To have a guy like Dave Dion attend and be the Grand Marshal for our charity race
is really cool. I remember watching Dave race some Busch Series races and he was a
tough competitor and champion. This just adds to the whole weekend as we work to
grow the event even more" added Joey Coulter.
For more information on the upcoming 11th Annual Joey Coulter Charity 200 Race
weekend and the families being helped this year, go to www.carsevents.com.
Some photos of Dave Dion:
1) Early in his career at Catamount Stadium...
2) Dave's Winston Cup car...
3) Dave with the potent Stewart & Son Mercury Cougar...
4) Dave's famous Ford Fairmont Futura...
5) Dave (L) signing autographs at a recent Living Legends event along with former NASCAR Cup driver Johnny Allen...
CHARITY RACE WEEKEND.
Former NASCAR champion "Dynamite" Dave Dion, one of the most popular drivers
in the Northeastern United States during a career that spanned over 40 years,
will be Grand Marshal for the upcoming 11th Annual Joey Coulter Charity 200
Race Weekend to be held December 10-11 at Auburndale Speedway. All proceeds
from the weekend will go to benefit children and their families that are
facing serious and/or terminal illnesses.
Originally from Hudson, NH, Dion, now "retired" and living part-time in Port
Orange, FL, will turn 73 years of age in late November but still looks like he
could jump in one of the race trucks during the event and challenge the "kids"
on the track.
Dion saw his first race in 1954 and ten years later built his first race car
for competition. From there, Dion's accomplishments are as good as any driver
in NASCAR during recent years. Campaigning almost exclusively in the
Northeast, Dion won hundreds of races during his career along with numerous
championships including the 1976 North Series title and the 1996 NASCAR Busch
North (now K&N East Series) championship. He scored 13 victories on the Busch
North tour between 1987 and 2006. Dion also raced the American Canadian Tour
(ACT) Series between 1984-1990 taking 20 wins.
Along the way, Dion was the 1972 Winston Racing Series champion at the Norwood
(MA) Arena, the 1975 champion at Catamount Stadium in Vermont and took the
track title at Thunder Road (VT) Speedway in both 1975 and 1977. He also has
several wins in big race events including three victories in the prestigious
Oxford 250 at the Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine.
Although mostly concentrating on short track racing, Dion did dabble a bit in
the big leagues making 12 NASCAR Winston Cup (now Sprint Cup) starts and nine
starts in the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series (now Xfinity Series) where he
scored a pair of top-five finishes.
Dion was a well-liked driver among fans for his hard-driving style and
outgoing personality along with the fact that he was a rarity in Northeast
racing circles because he almost exclusively competed in Ford products amidst
a plethora of General Motors cars. His career is profiled in his
autobiography "Life Wide Open," penned with the help of veteran motorsports
writer Dave Moody. Copies of the book can still be ordered by going to the
"Coastal181" web site.
Since moving to Florida part time, Dion has become active with the Living
Legends of Auto Racing based out of Daytona Beach where he is currently a
board member. Dion is hoping to get the Living Legends involved as well in
this year's Charity Race Weekend.
"I am very excited to have Dave Dion be our grand Marshal this year.
I had a great conversation with him the other day on the phone. He has a great
passion for racing and it radiates in his voice. I remember watching him race
some and he was a great competitor, doing it old school. I am thankful to my
friend Dave Westerman for reaching out on our behalf to him. I have offered
them the opportunity to have a Legends of Racing gathering during the weekend,
so we will see after he meets with their board," stated Charity race promoter
Rick Bristol.
"To have a guy like Dave Dion attend and be the Grand Marshal for our charity race
is really cool. I remember watching Dave race some Busch Series races and he was a
tough competitor and champion. This just adds to the whole weekend as we work to
grow the event even more" added Joey Coulter.
For more information on the upcoming 11th Annual Joey Coulter Charity 200 Race
weekend and the families being helped this year, go to www.carsevents.com.
Some photos of Dave Dion:
1) Early in his career at Catamount Stadium...
2) Dave's Winston Cup car...
3) Dave with the potent Stewart & Son Mercury Cougar...
4) Dave's famous Ford Fairmont Futura...
5) Dave (L) signing autographs at a recent Living Legends event along with former NASCAR Cup driver Johnny Allen...
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