HEALESVILLE, Australia – Like hundreds of other drivers, David Donegan will be traveling to Boone Speedway to make memories at the Sept. 2-7 IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.
He’ll be the only driver, however, traveling more than 9,000 miles to do it.
Donegan and wife Renee make the long trip from Healesville, about 40 miles north of Melbourne in extreme southeast Australia, to Boone, where America’s Racin’ Vacation will be the biggest stop during a six-week dirt track trek in the United States.
He’s among the record 250-plus IMCA Sunoco Stock Car drivers already pre-entered for the 42nd annual event.
“I just look forward to creating memories. I have no expectations on the track, though I am a racer. I would love to win,” said Donegan, who has both 410 and 360 sprint car teams and also runs an enduro car, most similar to an IMCA Modified, in Australia. “We are traveling America, creating some memories and racing.”
“I would love to make the feature but understand that I am coming into the class fresh. I have never raced an IMCA Stock Car before so I have a lot of learning to do straightaway,” he added. “I like the attitude of the IMCA Stock Car, it’s totally different than our Modified in Australia, the way they lean over on the right front and really dig that left rear is just different.”
The third generation driver has been racing since he was 14 – almost 30 years now – and is a regular on the dirt at favorite track Alexandra Speedway, a half-mile oval, and 3/8-mile venues Nyora Speedway and Western Speedway in Hamilton, traveling in a tow rig converted from an American-made fire truck.
“Our racing in America was introduced by Wally Beaty from Forney, Texas, who drives a Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod,” noted Donegan. “We have met through racing adventures over the past three years and are now proud to call him ‘a good mate.’”
A 16-hour flight takes the Donegans from Melbourne to Dallas, where they’ll stay with friends before catching up on sleep, then pick up their Russ Houck-built and maintained Medieval Chassis along with their trailer and motor home. Then they’ll sneak in a pre-Super Nationals shakedown at Kennedale Speedway Park before heading north to Boone.
Interest in dirt track racing in the United States is up down under, with the number of American drivers who have raced there in recent seasons, and Donegan’s friends and family will be keeping up to date on results from Boone on IMCA.TV or various social media sources.
“We’ll be there in time for hot laps on Monday (Labor Day) and start to enjoy the festivities of Super Nationals,” said Donegan, who will be driving the number 308 ride, his father’s favorite number and a nod to the Australian-built Holden V8 engine. “I love big races and Super Nationals is suited for our journey. I’ve been looking at the classic races for the IMCA Stock Cars. I guess I fell in love with them because it’s just a great budget class. You can still have fun with great people.”
“I think the people in Stock Cars are a lot like us old salties. They’re laid back. You can drink a beer or two with them afterwards. We feel like it’s going to be a family deal.”
Donegan met Connie Starr during his U.S. visit last year and promised to bring his race car to Batesville Motor Speedway, so his 2024 IMCA itinerary will also include the Sept. 26-28 Schoenfeld Headers Mid-America IMCA Stock Car Championship.
“This is all sort of keeping my toe in the water,” he said. “I’d like to come back over in 2025 and follow the IMCA series.”
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