Russ Dugger
Encyclopedia
Russ Dugger
is an American
professional racing driver competing in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards and the NASCAR
Camping World Truck Series.
in Fayetteville after high school where he majored in music with designs on performing and teaching music professionally. During the course of his studies, he was invited to perform and awarded a chair with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra.
Upon graduating college, he felt a calling to serve his country and promptly decided to join the United States Air Force
- a decision which ultimately led to an opportunity to play trumpet in the United States Air Force Band, which he did for five years before deciding to pursue motorsports.
While at the University of Arkansas, he met Shelly Brooks at a social event, and the two fell in love. They were subsequently married in 1999, and have three children together.
Through an acquaintance with Mark Eldridge of Mobile Soundstage Engineering, he has piloted a one-of-a-kind street legal 2006 Dodge Charger
show car converted from a retired NASCAR chassis for private and charity ride-along events around Hallett Motor Racing Circuit
.
He is involved with the Aaron Gillming Foundation, and Oklahoma-based group providing services to families who have lost loved ones to drunk drivers.
Dugger also operates an advanced driver education school, dubbed the "Russ Dugger Racing Advanced Driving Experience", which aims to make new drivers more confident and safe behind the wheel of street cars as well as improve skills of drivers who participate in track day events.
In February, 2010, Dugger made his first ever ARCA start in the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway - the same event at which Danica Patrick
made her stock car racing debut. He drove the #12 Accell Construction Chevrolet Monte Carlo for DGM Racing's Mario Gosselin
, whom he met through an acquaintance in 2007 at Daytona. Gosselin served as crew chief for Dugger's first race, and was impressed by his performance throughout the open test and race weekend. Despite being collected in a lap 7 wreck, Dugger claimed the race's fast lap with a time of 48.283 seconds at 186.401 mph.
In April, 2010, Dugger made his second ARCA start in the Rattlesnake 150 at Texas Motor Speedway. He would again pilot the #12 Accell Construction Chevrolet, fielded by DGM Racing but with George Church as crew-chief. Due to rain during qualifying, he started in 31st position, but drove to a 14th place result and finished on the lead lap.
Dugger's third ARCA start came September, 2010, in the Kansas Lottery 150 at Kansas Speedway. Racing with the DGM Racing team in the #12 Accell Construction Chevrolet, he was able to attend the open practice a week before the race event. The additional experience helped the team and driver become more familiar with the track, as evidenced by their performance in the race. With Mario Gosselin as crew-chief, Dugger qualified in the 19th position but drove to a 12th place result, again finishing on the lead lap. The race was noteworthy because Dugger ran in the top-10 for much of the race, as high as 9th before the last late caution flag.
is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional racing driver competing in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards and the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Camping World Truck Series.
Personal life
Dugger was a prodigal musician during his teenage years, with his interest in motorsports at that time one of many interests competing for time. Already an accomplished, classically trained trumpeter, he enrolled at the University of ArkansasUniversity of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
in Fayetteville after high school where he majored in music with designs on performing and teaching music professionally. During the course of his studies, he was invited to perform and awarded a chair with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra.
Upon graduating college, he felt a calling to serve his country and promptly decided to join the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
- a decision which ultimately led to an opportunity to play trumpet in the United States Air Force Band, which he did for five years before deciding to pursue motorsports.
While at the University of Arkansas, he met Shelly Brooks at a social event, and the two fell in love. They were subsequently married in 1999, and have three children together.
Off-track Interests
Dugger was a world-class R/C driver before he began competing in full size vehicles. He was sponsored by numerous nitro R/C manufacturers to compete in national and international events, specializing in both 1/8 scale on-road nitro pan car and 1/8 scale nitro off-road buggy classes.Through an acquaintance with Mark Eldridge of Mobile Soundstage Engineering, he has piloted a one-of-a-kind street legal 2006 Dodge Charger
Dodge Charger
The Dodge Charger is an American automobile manufactured by the Dodge division of Chrysler. There have been several different Dodge vehicles, built on three different platforms and sizes, all bearing the Charger nameplate...
show car converted from a retired NASCAR chassis for private and charity ride-along events around Hallett Motor Racing Circuit
Hallett Motor Racing Circuit
Hallett Motor Racing Circuit is a road course about west of Tulsa in Northeastern Oklahoma, USA. The track has 10 turns in , and over of elevation change...
.
He is involved with the Aaron Gillming Foundation, and Oklahoma-based group providing services to families who have lost loved ones to drunk drivers.
Dugger also operates an advanced driver education school, dubbed the "Russ Dugger Racing Advanced Driving Experience", which aims to make new drivers more confident and safe behind the wheel of street cars as well as improve skills of drivers who participate in track day events.
Racing career
Dugger has driven a wide variety of race vehicles, demonstrating an aptitude for car control and developing a reputation as a natural. He has competed or driven in dirt micro sprint cars, in TaG karts, on road courses in GT1 and GTO cars, in SCCA auto-x events, on short-track paved ovals in NASCAR-style trucks, and of course in both the ARCA Racing Series and NASCAR Truck Series.ARCA Racing Series
Dugger attended the December 2007 ARCA open test at Daytona where he gained valuable superspeedway seat time, but he did not make the start in the 2008 February race there.In February, 2010, Dugger made his first ever ARCA start in the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway - the same event at which Danica Patrick
Danica Patrick
Danica Sue Patrick is an American auto racing driver, model and advertising spokeswoman. She is the most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel racing, being the only woman to win in the IndyCar Series as well as holding the highest finish by a woman at the Indianapolis 500 of 3rd...
made her stock car racing debut. He drove the #12 Accell Construction Chevrolet Monte Carlo for DGM Racing's Mario Gosselin
Mario Gosselin (racecar driver)
Mario Gosselin is a Canadian professional race car driver who currently races in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He drives the #12 Chevrolet for his own DGM Racing...
, whom he met through an acquaintance in 2007 at Daytona. Gosselin served as crew chief for Dugger's first race, and was impressed by his performance throughout the open test and race weekend. Despite being collected in a lap 7 wreck, Dugger claimed the race's fast lap with a time of 48.283 seconds at 186.401 mph.
In April, 2010, Dugger made his second ARCA start in the Rattlesnake 150 at Texas Motor Speedway. He would again pilot the #12 Accell Construction Chevrolet, fielded by DGM Racing but with George Church as crew-chief. Due to rain during qualifying, he started in 31st position, but drove to a 14th place result and finished on the lead lap.
Dugger's third ARCA start came September, 2010, in the Kansas Lottery 150 at Kansas Speedway. Racing with the DGM Racing team in the #12 Accell Construction Chevrolet, he was able to attend the open practice a week before the race event. The additional experience helped the team and driver become more familiar with the track, as evidenced by their performance in the race. With Mario Gosselin as crew-chief, Dugger qualified in the 19th position but drove to a 12th place result, again finishing on the lead lap. The race was noteworthy because Dugger ran in the top-10 for much of the race, as high as 9th before the last late caution flag.
NASCAR Series
In 2008, Dugger made two appearances (Martinsville, Phoenix), and his debut start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series came at Phoenix where he retired with brake issues.ARCA Racing Series
- 2010 Kansas Lottery 150 at Kansas Speedway - 12th place finish (lead lap), ran as high as 9th place
- 2010 Rattlesnake 150 at Texas Motor Speedway - 14th place finish (lead lap)
- 2010 Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway - Race Fast Lap (48.283 seconds, 186.401 mph)