“TRYING TO MAKE SOME RACING HAPPEN”
Clay Looney
Words from Dennis Bailey, his attempts at getting racing going in the Memphis area. Bailey has years of racing experience all over the country with the help of his brother Derrick. From the NMCA to later appearing on television reality shows about street racing. This along with owning BB&T Racing a local speed and machine shop has kept Dennis and his brothers at the forefront of racing in the Memphis area and more over the years.
To understand the significance of this effort, one must understand the history of events in Memphis. For years Memphis his was home to a premiere quarter mile drag strip that played host to the NHRA, NMCA, NMRA, Super Chevy, and so many more events of all kinds. Memphis was a player in the drag racing world across the country. Years later, the short of the story is Memphis Motor Sports Park is not open. To add to that several other tracks in the area are closed leaving little options other than driving three hours plus more in any direction to get a drag race.
Jerry Reed Racing
Bailey and his partner Shaye Kelly have proven they know how to organize racing away from a track with their success at Grudge On The Gate. This move to rekindle the Street Outlaws Memphis is pure genius from Dennis, more importantly it gives the racers that want to race like this something to look forward to.
The first list race was June 27th, I was given coordinates……. a pin dropped on an iPhone. I knew it was an airfield for a crop duster ahead of time, when I arrived it was hard to believe that 28 races were about to happen in an unsuspecting field. A blank slate, a fresh canvas, in the middle of nowhere. It was perfect, our access was granted later than anticipated. The set up was rushed and frantic, I am scrambling to plug in wires and there are two thousand plus horsepower cars revving two feet away. I can feel the eagerness in the air coming from the drivers.
Kelsey Hall, Dennis Bailey, Don Bailey
Every single driver there wants to be there, they are all here for one purpose. To climb up this list and make a little cheddar on the way. The day was packed with close racing, checking finish line footage, checking start line footage to see if anyone crossed. The day was absolutely electric, it’s impossible to recall every moment. What is certain, the drivers and crew had the times of their lives that day. This could be the start of something new in the area.
Like it or not, this is what’s happening. Anyone in a one hundred and twenty five mile radius of Memphis can contact Dennis Bailey and find out how to get your car on the list. Keep an eye out for content all season long, get your ride ready and get on the list!
Photo gallery
https://gallery.highsidephotography.com/mso/gallery
compliments of HighSide Photography .
Jack Brown