Racing is in the blood for Essex trio

Mike McCoy photo Dylan DeJournett, at right, and Chuck Tilley stand in front of the sprint cars owned by David DeJournett of Essex. All three are drivers of the cars that compete in the United Sprint Car Series races. The cars were parked at Chrisman Tire Company in Dexter last Friday prior to the Missouri State Sprint Car Championship at Malden Speedway.

The three drivers did not manage to finish among the top cars at the Malden Speedway Friday night. David rolled his sprint car during the race but was uninjured.

Dylan learned about racing and sprint cars from his father, David, who owns all three sprint cars. Dylan says he doesn't really know when his father became interested in car racing but thinks it was when his father was a teenager. David owns D&L Wrecker Service and Body Shop in Essex. He builds the sprint cars. Dylan is a student at Three Rivers Community College.

The three compete in the United Sprint Car Series (USCS) which begins in March each year and runs through the final Trick or Treat Nationals in West Memphis on Oct. 1. The drivers compete on a 3/8 -mile oval track at speeds up to 125 miles-per-hour.

The cars themselves are small and compact. The cars owned by DeJournett feature a 360 hp Chevrolet engine. There is not a transmission system. The cars have to be pushed to start. Each car weighs around 1,300 pounds. The cars are distinctive because of the "wings" that provide added stabilization.

Each of the drivers, David, Dylan and Chuck have cars that are alike but different in some ways.

When asked, Dylan says the three drivers are about even when it comes to winning. He says each night is different and much of the outcome is determined by the conditions and the breaks the driver gets during the race.

The team has raced mostly in Farmington this year, though they are at a disadvantage on that track. They run a 410 class there, instead of the 360. They also race in Arkansas and Tennessee as well as Missouri. The race at Malden Speedway Friday night was the last of the sprint car races there. They feature more stock and street class races than Sprint cars, but Dylan hopes that they add more sprint car races in the future.

The DeJournetts' wished to thank their many sponsors who help make racing in the USCS circuit possible.