(Hunter Wright discusses one of his race wins from the 2018 season / Photo Credit :BAimagery)
GLADEVILLE, TN : Completing his third season in the U. S. Legends racing division, Gladeville, Tennessee’s Hunter Wright found himself in familiar territory visiting victory lane eleven times at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville and Highland Rim Speedway (Ridgetop, TN), capturing division championships at each.
Wright, a senior at Wilson Central High School, ran nine Legends races at the Fairgrounds Speedway, picking up two feature wins, and competed in thirteen Legends events at Highland Rim, visiting victory lane an impressive nine times along the championship trail.
If representing the U.S. Legends division at middle-Tennessee’s premier short tracks wasn’t enough, Wright also found time to do double-duty at Highland Rim by building his very first Pro Late Model race car. He competed in nine Pro Late Model races, winning three of them, and claimed Rookie of the Year honors in addition to the division’s overall points championship. Quit a feat on his inaugural season.
While competing in thirty-eight feature events, Hunter fed another passion of his; football. The minute the race season was winding down, Wright, a 3.7 GPA student, stepped onto the football field at Wilson Central playing the position of cornerback.
The family-operated race team began the 2018 race season at Inverness, Florida for the U.S. Legend Cars International and INEX Winter Nationals, in February. That big, annual event consisted of five races over five days with more than one-hundred entries from across the U.S., picking up four top-five finishes. The team also traveled to Atlanta Motor Speedway for two races capturing a runner-up and third-place finish.
Wright says racing means everything to him. “It is what I have always known I wanted to do. I’d like to be able to do it as a career. My dad (Dwayne) and I have always done this together and this has strengthened our bond tremendously.”
“Since we do all of the work on our own, my dad and I are out in the garage working on the cars most every night of any given week; we do it all ourselves.”
The Wright family exemplifies the effort of many young racers, and a relationship that Wright says has made his team stronger and better.
“While dad and I are focused on the race cars, as well as handling our sponsor commitments, my mom, Julie, keeps up with the social media, merchandise, and many other marketing efforts and details of our race team. My little sister is truly by biggest fan.”
The team has been surrounded by a number of multi-year partners, including Tennessee811, Ace Fence Supply, G&S Farms, Springfield Plumbing, Al’s Tire Repair Lebanon, Ken Joyce Racing and Sanders Lawn Care Mount Juliet.
For 2019, the team intends to raise the bar, yet again, beginning with a return trip for Florida in February for the INEX Winter Nationals in the Legends race car.
“After Florida, we plan to come back to Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville to run a full season as well as a partial season at Highland Rim Speedway. We also plan to run some other national events such as the Bojangles’ “Summer Shootout” at Charlotte Motor Speedway. As we get into the fall, depending on how the season is going, we may try to find some races to add at Atlanta Motor Speedway or Huntsville (AL) Speedway. If our season is going well and we are in contention for the points, it is likely that we will go and run the INEX U. S. Legends Asphalt Nationals at Carteret County Speedway in eastern North Carolina; a huge series of televised events for the Legends cars in October.”
In addition to his intense Legends series race schedule, Wright also plans to continue to forge his way into the Pro Late Model ranks. The team is hopeful to contend for another track championship at Highland Rim Speedway if his busy schedule permits. He’d also like to complete a late model to compete in a select number of events at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville in the historic track’s premier division.
The personable and well-respected driver has garnered much attention from the news media and racing community with his approachable demeanor. Wright, who turned eighteen-years-old today, carries himself with the professionalism and knowledge of star drivers much his senior that have had years of training and overall experience. He has garnered many lasting friendships with drivers and fans alike with his kindness and eagerness to help others.
Needless to say, Wright will have a busy new year. He intends to set his goals even higher. With his record and formula for success, the best is, without a doubt, yet to come.
He will begin the 2019 season Feb. 10-15 at the winter nationals in Florida. Additional team and new sponsor announcements will be forthcoming.
– Standing Ovation Entertainment press release prepared by Monty Bailey
