NOTES & DEVIN MORAN DOUBLES DOWN WITH NEW TEAM

OUR ISSUE 11 cover story, Devin Moran, made news shortly after that issue hit stands that he would be leaving his long-time ride with Tye Tawrog Racing and that he would be moving on to a new opportunity for 2023. He recently announced that he has partner with Double Down Motorsports (DDM) team owner Roger Sellers, who recently parted ways with Hudson O’Neal.

According to a press release, “te newlyformed pairing plans to compete full-time on the national tour in 2023 in hopes of capturing the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Championship. Devin, who will be making his return to full-time racing with the series for the first time since 2020, will be armed with a fleet of new Longhorn Chassis with full factory support from both the China Grove, North Carolina manufacturer and Bilstein Shocks. The team will also be relocating and racing out of the shop of Devin’s Hall of Famer father Donnie Moran in Dresden, Ohio.”

“I think it’s a great match between the two of us and I’m really excited for a great 2023 season and beyond,” quoted team owner Roger Sellers today. “When Hudson (O’Neal) decided to pursue another opportunity I thought about stepping away from car ownership, but I took my time and didn’t let emotions get the better of me. I have a lot invested in this sport and

Rex Lejeune Steps Down At Attica Raceway Park

HE’S HAD AN AMAZING run and an indelible impact on the racing scene in Ohio and beyond but Attica Raceway Park’s Rex LeJeune is stepping down to spend more time with his wife and friends.

LeJeune has been involved in the racing industry for over 40 years, including the past 17 as Director of Operations at Attica Raceway Park in Ohio. He will retire at the end of the 2022 racing season at “Ohio’s Finest Racing” venue. “I’ve been doing this every weekend for 40 years. It will be nice to have the freedom to do whatever my wife, Barb and I want to do,” said LeJeune, adding Barb is also retiring from her job at the end of 2022.

Being a lifelong race fan along with his two brothers, LeJeune began his career in racing as the flagman at Fremont Speedway in 1983 under promoters Gary Kern and Larry Boos. LeJeune then moved on to Attica Raceway Park as flagman when it opened in 1988 and waved the flags for the next nine years. From 1994 through 1999 LeJeune was also the flagman at Eldora Speedway thanks to owner Earl Baltes. In 2000 LeJeune was named the Competition Director of the World of Outlaws Gumout Series, working with Ted Johnson and Rick Ferkel. In 2003 LeJeune became the Competition Director for the All Star Circuit of Champions and did held the same position in 2004 and 2005 for the Mid-American Sprint Series (MASS).

In 2006 LeJeune would get off the road and work with Promoter John Bores at Attica Raceway Park. “I have been so blessed to work with so many great promoters at some of the best tracks in the country along with great series, and track workers, but most important the countless number of fans I have met and became lifelong friends with over the my passion to win big races and a Lucas Championship is greater than ever. So, when I decided to keep going, we talked to a lot of our sponsors and product people and their input helped guide our decision. We had some great prospects that expressed their interest in driving for us, but at the end of the day, Devin is a great fit and checked all of the boxes.

“This is a situation (with Double Down Motorsports) that I’ve been looking for my entire career really. To have the resources and equipment that Roger has in his arsenal and to be able to race out of dad’s shop is really just a dream come true. I’m excited to be in Longhorn Chassis with Bilstein Shocks again next year and I think we are putting together all of the pieces to make a serious national championship run next season!” years,” said LeJeune.

Devin Moran and Double Down Motorsports (DDM) will kick off their 2023 racing season during “Speedweeks” in Georgia and Florida during the months of January and February. The team will concentrate mostly on Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events, while also entering a majority of the crown jewel races across the country. DDM will also continue to field a car for Roger’s son-in-law Robby Moses in Tennessee, who will once again compete in a limited slate of events regionally.

LeJeune has flagged or worked at 69 different race tracks in 20 states over the past 40 years. Congrats to LeJeune on a life well lived in the fast lane and we look forward to seeing him in the grandstands for years to come.

It was recently announced that former Marion County Fair Board President Jason Reed has been named general manager of Knoxville Raceway. Reed, a lifelong Marion County resident, comes to Knoxville Raceway following an 18year stint with 3M Corporation and has served in multiple capacities on both the Marion County Fair Board and the board’s executive committee, begins his new role effective immediately.

“After the Marion Country Fair Board elected to hire a full-time general manager for Knoxville Raceway, we quickly narrowed our search and ultimately offered the position to Jason Reed,” said Marion County Fair Board Vice President Bob Roush. “Jason’s background, experience, skill set and feel for the fan base, all make him uniquely qualified to fill the position. Jason has an intimate knowledge of Knoxville Raceway operations built from a hands-on work ethic and a lifetime spent at the Marion County Fairgrounds. His passion for the facility is second-to-none and the entire fair board was thrilled when he accepted the position.”

After serving the track and the

CORRECTION!

We were just joking... why so serious? In the last issue we had a great article on the RUSH Sprint Car Series. You should really check it out if you weren’t around last issue. Fortunately within that article we had some great photos fairgrounds in any capacity that was asked of him, Reed was elected to the Marion County Fair Board in 2008 and has maintained an active role on the board since. He has been a member of the executive committee for eight of those 14 years, including serving four years as president and four years as secretary.

During those 14 years, Reed has worked closely with Knoxville Raceway Race Director John McCoy on planning, logistical, and procedural policies as well as with city and county officials to ensure weekly and annual events are operated both efficiently and transparently. Reed was also instrumental by working with track officials in developing and implementing plans for camping, parking and vendor operations.

“I’m extraordinarily grateful to the fair board for their vote of confidence by affording me the opportunity to serve as general manager of one of the most iconic race tracks in the world,” said Reed. “Knoxville Raceway and the Marion County Fairgrounds have been integral in my life for as long as I can remember. From showing livestock to volunteering at the raceway and serving on the fair from Rick Rarer. Unfortunately we had a bad caption on one of the photos. For clarity’s sake below is the photo (again). This time, no joking around. Brian Hartzell in the mean green 69 machine is getting chased by the maniacal Blaze Myer’s Joker emblazoned 43jr during a board, I’ve always been committed to making sure our venues are destinations Marion County can be proud of. It’s a privilege to follow in the footsteps of Marion Robinson, P. Ray Grimes and Ralph Capitani, some of the most iconic race promoters in sport’s history. I don’t take that for granted. I can’t wait to get started.”

RUSH race during the 2022 season. For more info check out rushsprintcars.com and make sure to follow RUSH and each driver on social media! the lighter side of