Russ Dugger

Dugger was a world-class R/C driver before he began competing in full size vehicles. He was sponsored by numerous nitro R/C manufacturers to compete in national and international events, specializing in both 1/8 scale on-road nitro pan car and 1/8 scale nitro off-road buggy classes.

Through an acquaintance with Mark Eldridge of Mobile Soundstage Engineering, he has piloted a one-of-a-kind street legal 2006 Dodge Charger show car converted from a retired NASCAR chassis for private and charity ride-along events around Hallett Motor Racing Circuit.[http://www.12voltnews.com/?p=7607 12voltnews.com - "Mark Eldridge Attends Popular Events with his JL Audio Sponsored NASCAR Charger Show Car"]

Dugger has driven a wide variety of race vehicles, demonstrating an aptitude for car control and developing a reputation as a natural. He has competed or driven in dirt micro sprint cars,{{Cite web |url=http://micros.portcityracin.com/results.shtml?division_id=nonwing&race_date=20091002 |title=Port City Raceway - 2009 Pete Frazier Memorial Results |access-date=2010-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090917053225/http://micros.portcityracin.com/results.shtml?division_id=NONWING |archive-date=2009-09-17 |url-status=dead }} in TaG karts,[http://www.tulsakartclub.org/TKC%202009%20Points.htm Tulsa Kart Club - 2009 Points, TAG Class] on road courses in GT1 and GTO cars, in SCCA auto-x events,[http://www.neoklascca.org/results/2009_08-30_solo.php NEOKLA SCCA Results 8-30-2009, 'F Prepared' Class] on short-track paved ovals in NASCAR-style trucks,[http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=071012_1_A2_hMark06362 Tulsa World 10/20/07 - Owasso man wants keys to NASCAR: Race circuit driver] and then in both the ARCA Racing Series and NASCAR Truck Series.

Dugger participated in the December 2007 ARCA test session at Daytona where he gained valuable superspeedway seat time, but he did not make the start in the race there the following February.

In February 2010, Dugger made his first ever ARCA start in the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway[http://www.arcaracing.com/schedule.php?contentid=1447 ARCAracing.com - 2010 Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 Page, Results tab] - the same event at which Danica Patrick made her stock car racing debut. He drove the No. 12 Accell Construction Chevrolet Monte Carlo for DGM Racing's Mario Gosselin, whom he met through an acquaintance in 2007 at Daytona.[http://www.tulsaworld.com/site/printerfriendlystory.aspx?articleid=20100205_235_B5_RussDu696604 Tulsa World 2/5/10 - "NASCAR hopeful aims to break through] Gosselin served as crew chief for Dugger's first race, and was impressed by his performance throughout the open test and race weekend. Despite being collected in a lap 7 wreck,[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAwtdGstkXg Video - 2010 ARCA Slick Mist 200 Coverage] Dugger claimed the race's fast lap with a time of 48.283 seconds at 186.401 mph.

In April 2010, Dugger made his second ARCA start in the Rattlesnake 150 at Texas Motor Speedway.[http://www.arcaracing.com/schedule.php?contentid=1450 ARCAracing.com - 2010 Rattlesnake 150 Page, Results tab] He would again pilot the No. 12 Accell Construction Chevrolet, fielded by DGM Racing but with George Church as crew-chief. Due to rain during qualifying, he started in 31st position, but drove to a 14th-place result and finished on the lead lap.

Dugger's third ARCA start came September, 2010, in the Kansas Lottery 150 at Kansas Speedway. Racing with the DGM Racing team in the No. 12 Accell Construction Chevrolet, he was able to attend the open practice a week before the race event. The additional experience helped the team and driver become more familiar with the track, as evidenced by their performance in the race. With Mario Gosselin as crew-chief, Dugger qualified in the 19th position but drove to a 12th-place result, again finishing on the lead lap.[http://arcaracing.com/schedule.php?contentid=1465&display=event_results ARCAracing.com - 2010 Kansas Lottery 150 Page, Results tab] The race was noteworthy because Dugger ran in the top-10 for much of the race, as high as 9th before the last late caution flag.

In 2015, Dugger went back to Daytona with DGM Racing and failed to make the race. He went on to Talladega that same year and accomplished his career best finish of 5th, and then went to Kansas Speedway and after running as high as fourth late in the race, finished 11th.

In 2008, Dugger made two appearances[http://www.nascar.com/drivers/dps/rdugger00/truck/index.html NASCAR - Drivers - Russ Dugger] (Martinsville,[http://www.tulsaworld.com/site/printerfriendlystory.aspx?articleid=20081003_20_B4_hRussD50454 Tulsa World 10/3/2008 - Owasso driver gets chance] Phoenix[http://www.nascar.com/races/truck/2008/24/data/results_official.html NASCAR.com - 2008 Official Race Results : Lucas Oil 150]), and his debut in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series came at Phoenix where he retired with brake issues.

In 2012, Dugger announced that he would compete in six NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events with primary and secondary sponsorship from JPO Absorbents and Vacuworx Global.[http://www.catchfence.com/2012/truckseries/03/12/russ-dugger-partnering-with-jpo-absorbents-for-six-nascar-events-in-2012/ Catchfence.com - Russ Dugger Partnering With JPO Absorbents for Six NASCAR Events in 2012][http://www.prlog.org/11843441-russ-dugger-adds-vacuworx-global-as-secondary-sponsor-for-2012-nascar-events.html PRLog.org - Russ Dugger Adds Vacuworx Global as Secondary Sponsor for 2012 NASCAR Events] Running in a limited schedule kept "Rookie of the Year" options open for 2013, according to an interview he gave with the Tulsa World newspaper.[http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?no=subj&articleid=20120413_20_B1_CUTLIN332368& Tulsa World - Owasso Resident to run NASCAR Truck Series] His published schedule included events at Kansas, Texas Motor Speedway, Bristol, Kentucky, Martinsville, and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Dugger was a prodigal musician during his teenage years, with his interest in motorsports at that time one of many interests competing for time. Already an accomplished, classically trained trumpeter, he enrolled at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville after high school where he majored in music with designs on performing and teaching music professionally. During the course of his studies, he was invited to perform and awarded a chair with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra.

Upon graduating college, he felt a calling to serve his country and promptly decided to join the United States Air Force - a decision which ultimately led to an opportunity to play trumpet in the United States Air Force Band, which he did for five years before deciding to pursue motorsports.{{Cite web |url=http://www.russdugger.com/Driver_Bio.html |title=Official Site - Driver Biography |access-date=2010-08-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101004025507/http://www.russdugger.com/Driver_Bio.html |archive-date=2010-10-04 |url-status=dead }}[http://www.arcaracing.com/news.php?contentid=9228 ARCAracing.com - "Family sacrifices keep Dugger racing at full throttle"] He currently lives in Owasso, Oklahoma.

Additionally, Dugger is involved with the Aaron Gillming Foundation,[http://www.theaarongillmingfoundation.org/component/content/article/1-latest-news/72-nascar-russ-dugger-sponsors-agf.html The Aaron Gillming Foundation Site - NASCAR RUSS DUGGER SPONSORS AGF]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} an Oklahoma-based group providing services to families who have lost loved ones to drunk drivers.[http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20100826_12_A13_OWASSO293143 Tulsa World 8/26/10 - Rally to fight drunken-driving set Saturday in Owasso] He has also represented Tulsa-based charity The Little Light House in his starts in the Truck Series.

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. Small number denotes finishing position.)

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|1=http://www.russdugger.com/}}
• {{Racing-Reference driver|Russ_Dugger}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100803185134/http://www.russduggerschool.com/ Russ Dugger Racing Advanced Driving Experience site]
• [http://www.theaarongillmingfoundation.org/ The Aaron Gillming Foundation site]
• [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Russ-Dugger-Racing/265930177476 Official RDR Facebook Fan Page]

{{DGM Racing}}

{{Lafferty Motorsports}}

{{Glenden Enterprises}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dugger, Russ}}

Category:1975 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Mountain Grove, Missouri

Category:Racing drivers from Missouri

Category:NASCAR drivers

Category:ARCA Menards Series drivers