The Wilson Post
LEBANON WEATHER

RACING — Local student of speed




Wilson Central High senior Hunter Wright shows off his guitar trophy for winning the points title at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville with his family. From left: father Dwayne, Hunter, mother Julie and sister Brynlyn.SUBMITTED

Wilson Central High senior Hunter Wright shows off his guitar trophy for winning the points title at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville with his family. From left: father Dwayne, Hunter, mother Julie and sister Brynlyn.SUBMITTED

WCHS senior wins points title —

Leading the pack down the backstretch is becoming familiar territory for race car driver Hunter Wright of Wilson County.

Wright won the Legends Division points championship for the second year in a row at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville last week and currently leads the division at Highland Rim Speedway with just a few races remaining in the season.

And Wright is only 16 years old.

“I started racing when I was just 4 years old,” Wright said in an interview with The Wilson Post.  

Wright began racing go-karts and was introduced to the sport by his father, Dwayne, who is a former driver.

“I was driving, going far faster than I could on the highway, years before I ever got my license,” Wright said with a laugh.

At the Oct. 6 season-ending race in Nashville, Wright finished second, but it was enough to win the track championship by four points.

Wright gave credit to Dwayne for everything he has accomplished in his young career.

“I definitely wouldn’t be here without my dad. He’s taught my everything,” Wright said.

“It’s truly a father-son operation and sport. From telling me how to drive from showing me how to set my car up … I mean he’s everything.”

Wright says anyone driving past his house most nights will see the shop lights on where he and his dad are turning wrenches.

There are usually a couple of his Wilson Central High School buddies there as well.

“Even my mom and sister will be out there, vacuuming, cleaning the car, whatever. I’m definitely just one part of the operation,” Wright said.

Wright said that he’s proud of what the family has accomplished — the checkered flags and the championships — but he’s most proud of how he and his team competed at Speed Week at Daytona Beach, Fla., recently.

“It’s week of racing and they set up a little points championship. People come from all over. And these guys come in with teams and thousands of dollars in their setups. A lot of those drivers just basically rent their cars because they just pay to have everything done to them,” Wright said, the tone of his voice changing slightly.

“And then there’s me and dad,” he said, his smile even coming through the phone. “And we are doing everything ourselves, and we came in fourth in the points. I’m kind of proud of that because of everything we were up against.”

Wright’s team sponsors include Tennessee 811 Call Before Dig, Springfield Plumbing, Ace Fence and Supply, Al’s Tire Repair and G&S Farms and Trucking.

“A set of tires is tires is $600 a set and they’ll last four or five races. That’s a $100 a race just in tires not counting anything else, any other costs,” Wright said. “So we couldn’t do it without our sponsors.”

Wright said that he hasn’t decided exactly what he wants to do as a career after he graduates high school next May.

“Of course, I’d like to race on a higher level,” he said, noting that the amount of money it takes to race professionally is almost overwhelming. “I’m telling you, it’s a lot.

“But sometimes I think I’d like to be involved in helping set cars up like those guys down in Daytona did. But I’m pretty open.”

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