Castlewood Resident Has Need For Speed

ABINGDON, Va. – Tony Owens attended his first drag race as a fifth-grader. His life has moved fast ever since.

“I’ll never forget that experience at Bristol Dragway,” Owens said. “When I went to bed at night, I could still hear the roar of those big motors in my head. I guest that’s when I got the itch for the sport.”

The 47-year-old Castlewood resident has continually chased his passion – as a fan, car builder and competitor.

His first race as a driver came at age 16 in the street class at Elk Creek Dragway in Elk Creek, Va. Owens gradually moved up in speed during stints at Big Al’s Dragway in Richlands, Rogersville Dragway in Rogersville, Tenn., and Bristol Dragway.

For Owens, the appeal is raw, fundamental and a little wild.

“I can just relate to drag racing,” Owens said. “It’s a grassroots, hands-on type thing.”

From early mornings to late nights, Owens can usually be found under or around a car. He has worked as an auto body technician since 1978, and has a well-stocked garage at home featuring an array of radical rides and parts.

“My big inspiration in drag racing was Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins,” Owens said, referring to an NHRA legend who earned fame as a Pro Stock racer and innovative engine builder.
“Grumpy was from the old school of racing, and I really admired his approach. I’ve got a trophy case full of Grumpy’s old die-cast cars and plastic models.”

The prized piece in the Owens collection is a model of “Grumpy’s Toy,” a compact car which relied on a lower displacement engine to outrun the larger engines and heavier cars in the National Hot Rod Association Super Stock class.

Owens has earned his own degree of fame. On April 25, he participated in a taping of the popular sportsman-level drag series “Pinks All Out” at zMax Dragway in Concord, N.C.
The show, which featured a 1969 Camaro formerly owned by Owens, will air Aug. 6.

“The Pinks deal was cool,” Owens said. “They put a camera in our car and we made it to final four out of 64 cars.”

That same car once earned Owens the Editor’s Choice award in the Super Chevy Show at Bristol Dragway.

Owens is a part of a loyal crew of racers across the Mountain Empire who have tested their skills and chased their dreams in the bracket racing program at Bristol Dragway for decades.

“I started out in modifieds, then moved up to the footbrake, electronic and Super Pro classes,” Owens said. “I had a 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass, and raced a 1969 Rally Sport Z-28 for about 20 years.
I’ve sold most of my cars, but I’m in the process of building a 1973 Camaro that I hope to get out on the dragway in a couple months.”

Like many muscle car enthusiasts throughout the southeast, Owens has been counting down the days until this weekend’s NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

“I don’t think people in the Bristol area realize the history and impact of drag racing at Thunder Valley,” said Owens, who works at Bob’s Muffler Shop in Abingdon. “All the big names in sport have raced here, and there is a great tradition with bracket racing.”

From Don Garlits and John Force to Kenny Bernstein and Shirl Greer, Owens has watched them all.

“My favorite memory involved Harold Denton and his “Party Time” Trans-Am,” Owens said. “That team even had a band that traveled with the team and played in the pits after races. It was definitely a good time.”

Through a program with General Motors, Owens once had the opportunity to witness the inner workings of drag racing as a designated crew member with four-time NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock world champion Jeg Coughlin.

“I got to wear a team shirt, hang with the crew, and watch Jeg in action,” Owens said. “It’s impressive to watch what all the professional racers go through during an event.”

Owens has attended races at famed drag strips in Atlanta, St. Louis, Gainesville, Fla., Rockingham, N.C., and Englishtown, N.J. He said few facilities compares to his home track.

“I remember when there were huge crowds for the drag races at Thunder Valley in the late seventies,” Owens said. “Those races brought together the best of the International Hot Rod Association and National Hot Rod Association. “

While the bracket racing program at Bristol Dragway has been streamlined in recent season, Owens said he still craves the camaraderie and good-natured competition. Owens even helps fellow racers by doing the paint and body work on their cars.

“NASCAR has kind of gotten out of reach for the average person, but drag racing at the local level is still accessible for the average guy,” Owens said. “I enjoy the Street Fights, bracket races and NHRA races in Bristol.
“Basically, I just enjoy being around fast cars.”

agregory@bristolnews.com|(276) 645-2544

Who: Tony Owens
Hometown: Castlewood, Va.
Age: 47
What: Drag Racer
Fast Facts: The bracket racing program at Bristol Dragway continues through July 26.