By David Miller
Special to The Dispatch
Each time Ronald Dunn climbs into his No. 17 Street Stock car, he slides his racing boot into a flip-flop that’s strapped to the brake pedal.
Without the sling, Dunn’s foot would slip off the brake pedal, which would affect his performance on the track.
Drivers and their crews continually devise clever solutions to gain advantages on the track, and Dunn’s simple solution may be the most creative and cheapest.
But for the Corinth native, the idea wasn’t so much about gaining an advantage as it was competing on an even field.
In 2013, Dunn, who worked for a railroad company, was injured in an accident while on the job. A brake wheel came off of a train car and struck him in the leg. Dunn lost his left leg below the knee and currently wears a prosthetic.
“It’s the left – the braking leg – so that makes it a bit easier (to drive),” Dunn said. “It was a freak accident, but I was lucky. They say most people who lose a leg also lose an arm because most people will reach whenever they’re struck.”
Dunn’s friend and fellow racer, Justin McCree, came up with the solution last season after Dunn initially struggled to keep his foot on the pedal. Since his foot never leaves the brake pedal, he has to be cognizant of how much pressure he’s putting on the pedal throughout each race.
“We ran third at Jackson in the first race we ran after putting the strap on the pedal,” Dunn said. “I have to pay attention to not put too much pressure on it and drag the pedal, which is difficult because I can only sense the pressure at the end of my leg. But it works.”
It’s worked brilliantly thus far in the early stages of the 2015 season as Dunn has won each of the first two Street Stock features at Magnolia Motor Speedway. He’ll work to make it three in a row next week when Magnolia hosts a $1,000-to-win Street Stock feature at the Golden Egg Classic.
“It’s been all about feeling comfortable in the car, learning the car, and the car being good,” Dunn said. “Then, you get confidence in the car being that good.”
Dunn began racing in 1991 and won several track points titles across various classes, including Outlaws, Street Stocks, Limiteds and Super Late Models. But chasing points began to feel “like work” for Dunn, and in 2008 he quit racing.
After his accident in 2013, he decided to return to the track. Dunn bought a Crate and Super Late Model car with some of his settlement money and began to race full-time. But racing in those divisions, both of which have cars with heavier and more powerful motors, is much more taxing, physically, than Street Stocks.
“I also enjoy racing Street Stocks because of the competition … it’s just a lot of fun,” Dunn said. “It’s demanding, driving Crates. I was eating the brakes up. I may run some Crate stuff this year, but I’m primarily focused on Street Stocks.”
McRee will continue to drive Crates for Dunn and will race an additional Street Stock car for Dunn when it’s completed.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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