David H. Davies, owner and primary driver for D H Davies Racing (DHDR) in January of this year announced his plan to start a driver development program that would extend beyond NHRA national and regional events.
Davies, a businessman who expresses his passion for racing and competition through his driving entry in NHRA’s Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series, continues to raise awareness for Save Our Allies, a non-profit organization that rescues American citizens, permanent residents, SIV holders and other special populations from conflict zones and contested areas around the world. The executive and U.S. Air Force veteran has raced in both the National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) and NHRA, with both a 2018 Dodge Demon and, most recently, a 2021 Dodge Drag Pak. He debuted in Factory Stock Showdown (FSS) at Norwalk in 2021 and has regularly qualified for NHRA FSS events, finishing within the top ten last season.
It’s apt that the Mopar driver has chosen his first development driver, 16-year-old Madi Turley – also known as Mopar Madi – who hails from Rutledge, Tennessee. Turley currently campaigns a 2012 Dodge Challenger R/T with plans to move up to Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown. Once she graduates high school, Turley intends to study auto mechanics at Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Morristown.
“I was fortunate to meet Mopar Madi through some mutual Mopar racing friends,” Davies said, “and once I heard her story, I knew I had to get involved to assist her in pursuing her dream. I have wanted to build a driver development program for some time, and Madi is the first of many drivers who will be a part of the DHDR development program. I am talking with several other drivers beyond door-slammer racers,” Davies revealed. “Madi is an amazing young lady and I wanted to give her every advantage to chase her dream. She has shown great determination, passion and skill behind the wheel already in her young career.”
With her ascension as the first DHDR development driver, Turley has already connected with suppliers that can help her move forward, including E3 spark plugs, AJ Berge and Hemi Tuner, who have assisted her with tuning expertise, and with Wesley Motorsports for suspension assistance. Davies is also providing additional support to keep Turley and her program moving forward.
“I have tried just about every sport,” Turley admitted, “but I have always loved drag racing. Some of my favorite drivers are Clay Millican, Leah Pruett, Matt Hagan and a lot of the Factory Stock guys like Geoff Turk, Mark Pawuk and, of course David Davies. I have been blessed by God and I want to use racing to tell people how fortunate I am. I really shouldn’t be alive,” she said, “but I am out here racing and following my dream because of God. I can’t thank David Davies enough for giving me this opportunity.”
As she speaks of overcoming obstacles in her short life, Turley probably can’t recall her early problems, such as her birth at only 24 weeks that caused a litany of medical conditions. But she can use the knowledge that she’s here for a purpose and that’s to succeed on a racetrack. This season, she’ll be racing at a variety of events, primarily focusing on bracket races at Cherokee Race Park, Rockingham Dragway, Beech Bend Raceway and London Dragway in London, KY.
Through this DHDR development program, Turley will be invited to some NHRA national events – as her schedule allows. She has already appeared on the cover of Chrysler Power magazine, been profiled in the Grainger Today newspaper and was recently interviewed by her local CBS affiliate, WVLT-TV in Knoxville, TN.
“My goal with the DHDR development program is to encourage young drivers and mechanics to get involved in drag racing and to support them as they pursue their dreams,” Davies explained. “We are just getting started and will have more drivers to announce throughout the 2023 season. We started conversations at the end of last season and at PRI in December, so things are starting to come together. We are excited to announce Madi – and this is just the beginning,” he declared.
The DHDR Factory Stock program is on the Bradenton Motorsports Park drag strip this weekend at the World Series of Pro Mod, set for March 3-5, followed by the first race of the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series, during the NHRA Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals, scheduled March 9-12 at Gainesville Raceway.
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