|
Joey Moughan, #21x 410 Sprint Car
By Joanne Cram
SPRINGFIELD, IL (May 18, 2011) - Springfield, Illinois’ 26 year old
Rookie at Knoxville, Joey Moughan, is making the 5 hour drive each
Saturday to make his mark on the famed half mile. With over 60 years of
racing experience, the Moughan family is no stranger to dirt track
racing. In the mid 1950’s, Joey’s grandfather Jim, began racing IMCA and
local Illinois races. Growing up in a racing family, his son, Jim Jr.
also caught the racing fever and has been racing for the past 33 years.
With all that racing blood, Joey began racing at the young age of four
with his dad, John- running quarter midgets and earning two national
championships. As Joey got older, he got into bigger and faster racing
outlets, like modifieds and micro sprints. Joey has had a lot of support
to develop his career, including his dad, John; Mike Allgaier, as well
as grandpa Jim, and Uncle Jim Jr.
On Joey’s 18th birthday, which also happened to be his high school
graduation night, his uncle Jim brought a sprint car to the modified
race where he was racing. Joey got to hot lap the sprint car, and claims
he’s been hooked ever since. Two weeks later, all his modified and mini
sprint equipment was sold, and Joey was piecing together a sprint car.
Over the next several seasons, Joey worked tirelessly on his racing
career, driving for him self, and many other partnership teams. His
racing consisted of travel within Illinois, as well as Iowa and some
farther races. He was named the Jacksonville Rookie of the Year in 2003
for his efforts. Over the span of the next 7 years, Joey racked up an
impressive resume of achievements that has brought him to the level of
competition he is at now.
Most recently, Joey has raced for Rick Pollock, driving his 21x 410 at
Joey’s home track of Jacksonvillle, Illinois, and a few Knoxville and
Huset’s races. The two paired up at the end of last season, and put
together a full race schedule for 2011. Rick is a 30-year race veteran
himself, taking some time off for farming and kids- so getting back into
the sprint car scene has been second nature.
Earlier in the 2010 season, Joey had raced with Dave O’Donnely, pairing
Dave’s motors and Joey’s cars. He also raced with Jeff Hicks, of
Illinois, for a few 360 races and ran some 410 races with his uncle’s
motor. He had 3 wins in the 8h at Jacksonville last season, two 410 and
one 360 victory. When all the dust settled on the season, Joey ended up
tied for 2nd place, and hadn’t even intended on running for points
anywhere!
Joey has big goals for his sprint car racing. He has been instrumental
in gaining momentum for a traveling 410 series to offer more options for
mid-week and off night racing for the Midwest’s 410 talent. The Midwest
Open Wheel Association now has 15 nights on their schedule, the first of
those occurring last month at 34 Raceways in Burlington, Iowa. In
addition to racing the full 15 race schedule, Joey will be running for
Rookie of the Year honors at Knoxville Raceway every Saturday night, as
well as the Knoxville Nationals.
During down time and the offseason, Joey likes to play basketball, play
video games, and hang out at the gym with his girlfriend, Ashley
Grigsby. In addition to his racing career, Joey pays the bills as a
painter for UIS. Joey is passionate about sprint car racing and credits
his family for bringing him up in a supportive, race crazed family that
allowed him to pursue his dreams and continue to support those dreams.
Joey’s family includes mom and dad, John and Rita; and his uncles, Jim
and Mark Moughan.
Crew include car owner and crew chief, Rick Pollock, Jonathan Pollock,
Hank Pollock, Matt Evans, Kelly Sears, and Ashley Grigsby.
2011 Sponsors are Bates Commodities, Budweiser, DMI, Dyers, Hoosier
Tires, Jones Cylinder Heads, Maxim Racing, Simpson, and Vono Medical
Supplies.
 |
