October 1, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
HOMMEL UNDERGOES SURGERY, NEW BENEFIT PLANS ANNOUNCED
Knoxville, TN --- Duayne Hommel, 25, of Newport, TN, a nationally known dirt Late Model star driver, underwent surgery early Wednesday afternoon in an ongoing effort to treat the young racecar driver who sustained severe head injuries in a traffic accident on that occurred near Newport, TN on September 23 at 8:00 PM. Hommel’s condition has consistency improved the past three days while more announcements have been made regarding benefit projects to assist Hommel in defraying substantial medical expenses.
“He was supposed to have surgery at 11:30 this morning but they moved it to 12:30 PM this afternoon,” stated Ron “Flea” Fleenor, family friend and family spokesperson. “This morning he was moving his feet, arms and head and is wanting the hell out of bed. They were put the trach in and the feeding tube in his stomach today and everything went great. All his gauges are ‘still’ good.”
Fleenor’s remarks came minutes after Hommel’s surgery was completed. Hommel is still in the Intensive Care Unit and only yesterday, September 30, was upgraded from critical condition to serious condition.
“Now it’s been a three good days in a row,” continued Fleenor. “So I am going to ask everybody to keep doing what you’ve been doing because it seems to be working pretty well at this point.”
The outpouring of support and concern from the entire racing community and industry, crossing the entire spectrum of motorsports, has been tremendous.
Hommel was severely injured on Tuesday September 23 in a two car accident near Newport. Hommel, who had just left his race shop and was enroute to pick up his wife and son, was driving a Chevrolet Envoy when he was forced to swerve to avoid and on-coming car as he crested a hill on a two lane road. The vehicle Hommel was driving struck a ditch and rolled five times, according to preliminary reports. Hommel suffered severe head injuries and trauma.
Hommel, the defending Southern Allstars Series champion, was airlifted to University of Tennessee Hospital in Knoxville, TN where he is undergoing emergency medical treatment. He is currently in critical condition with internal and external bleeding of the brain. He is currently under the care of a team of surgeons and specialists and many family members of friends are holding vigil at the hospital.
Fleenor also revealed that many fund-raising projects are underway to help raise money for the star driver’s medical expenses, as well as updated information on existing projects.
“We had a slight change of plans but Carolina Performance and Kip Cochran have got him a Mastersbilt chassis coming to raffle off,” stated Fleenor Wednesday afternoon. “The fellow helping put this deal together with Kip is named Woody. They are putting everything together and build the car at their shop. If someone wants to donate parts and get on the car they need to call Kip. There is still a lot of stuff to be had and (Hommel crew chief) Tommy (Hicks) is working on helping them get everything for it.”
The chassis will come from Keith & Tader Masters’ Mastersbilt Race Cars while other components have been donated by Brinn Transmissions, Peterson Aluminum, Classic Powder Coat, Sweet Engineering, Winters, Performance Friction, Quick Car Gauges, Powell Pedals, Ultra Shield Belts, Oval Craft Seats and Poske Performance. Addition donations will be announced later.
“We asked them (Masters brothers) and they said, hell yes, we’re in,” said Fleenor. “Been that way with about everyone that’s been asked. If anyone would like to help out just give Kip a call.”
The raffle tickets for the new Mastersbilt Race Car and components are now available for $10.00 each. You can purchase the raffle tickets by check or money order at: Carolina Performance, 1009 Bell Dowdle Road, Franklin, NC 28734. You can also order raffle tickets by credit card by calling 828-369-2012. For additional information visit the Carolina Performance website at: http://www.dnet.net/jperry/carolinaperformance/home.html
Fleenor also revealed that a benefit golf tournament is being planned for next month.
“It’s still in the preliminary stages but ‘Pup’ Thomas of Hoosier Tire is putting together a benefit golf tournament that will be held on Friday November 21,” said Fleenor. “It will be held at the Flagstone Golf Course in Cleveland, TN.”
Interested participants are encouraged to telephone Thomas at Hoosier Tire at 865-970-3110.
There are several other projects in place to help raise needed funds for Hommel and his family, which includes his wife, Christi, and son, Daegan, and parents Junior and Gayla.
Among the new fundraising projects will be replicas of Duayne Hommel’s door from his #H2 Warrior Race Car and orders can be placed immediately.
“We’re going to be selling doors for $150 each,” informed Fleenor. “It may take a little bit to get them, like a couple weeks. So if someone wants one call the race shop and we’ll get a list of people who want doors. Once we get it figured out how many ordered we’ll go from there.”
Anyone interested in purchasing a #H2 racecar door can call the Duayne Hommel Racing shop at: 423.613.5199.
Duayne Hommel Racing will also be raffling off a replica helmet with raffle tickets being sold at all of the remaining Southern Allstars Series races. The winning ticket will be drawn at the last Southern Allstars Series point event.
“The helmet raffle will be given away at the last Southern Allstars point races,” confirmed Fleenor. “People can get tickets from the Southern Allstars souvenir trailer at their events and also at the Xtreme Dirt Car Series souvenir trailer at their two remaining events.”
In addition Hommel crew member Mike Hayes, owner of Mike’s Mini Late Models, will be selling mini-replica dirt Late Models of Duayne Hommel’s famed #H2 dirt Late Model with all proceeds going to the Hommel family. The mini-replica’s are hand crafted from sheet metal and painted and decaled to resemble Hommel’s #H2 and are 1/12th scale and are priced at $100 each. To order a Duayne Hommel Mini-Late Model contact Haynes at: 423.625.6360 or visit the Mike’s Mini Late Models website at: http://www.racevibe.com/mini to view samples and order.
Hayes will also be raffling a #H2 replica car at each remaining Southern Allstars Series race for $5.00 per raffle ticket with a winner drawn each night. All proceeds go to the Hommel family.
Full Moon Graphics, who does the graphics for Duayne Hommel’s racecars, has produced a new decal with assistance from Larry, Josh & Justin Manning of Jacksonville, FL, and are available via mail order. All proceeds go to Duayne Hommel. To order send a SASE (self addressed, stamped envelop) and a check or money order to: Full Moon Graphics, 696 Highway 30 West, Athens, TN 37303. The decals are 6” x 5” so send an envelope accordingly. For more information contact Full Moon Graphics at: 423.745.7446. Website: www.speedartwork.com
On Saturday, October 4 at Tazewell Speedway in Tazewell, TN the Super Late Models will be chasing the checkers ‘topless’ in the special “Duayne Hommel Benefit 60” paying $5,000.00 going to the winner. The Modified Street class will be running a “RUN WHAT YA BRUNG” race $500.00 to win. There will be a $100.00 entry fee for all Super Late Models and proceeds will go to The Hommel Family to help cover hospital expenses. Admission is $10 grandstands and $25 for pits. Pits open at 2:00 PM and grandstand gates open at 5:00 PM.
For additional information contact Tazewell Speedway at: 423.626.2222 or email: Taz_Speedway@yahoo.com or visit the speedway’s website at: http://www.tazspeedway.com Track flagman Bruce Caylor has also coordinated a benefit auction that will be held that day at the track with dozens and dozens of items available for bid.
The Duayne Hommel souvenir trailer will be at Tazewell selling T Shirts and other merchandise.
During the October 3-4 weekend at West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells, WV for the “RaceFest World Championship”, a replica door of the #H2 racecar will be raffled off with tickets available at the WVMS booth for $1.00 each. Coordinated by Todd Frye of Poske Performance, all proceeds will go to the Hommel family. The winning ticket will be drawn prior to feature time.
Additional authorized benefit projects and fundraisers will be announced in the near future.
Cards and notes can reach Hommel at: Duayne Hommel Motorpsorts, 311 Industrial Road, Newport, TN 37821.
A fund has been set up to help assist Duayne Hommel defray medical expenses. If you would like to make a donation to assist Duayne, Christi and Daegan please send them to: National Bank of Tennessee, Attn: Duayne Hommel Fund, PO Box 669, Newport, TN 37822.
-Prepared by Lehman Motorsports Services
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
HOMMEL UNDERGOES SURGERY, NEW BENEFIT PLANS ANNOUNCED
Knoxville, TN --- Duayne Hommel, 25, of Newport, TN, a nationally known dirt Late Model star driver, underwent surgery early Wednesday afternoon in an ongoing effort to treat the young racecar driver who sustained severe head injuries in a traffic accident on that occurred near Newport, TN on September 23 at 8:00 PM. Hommel’s condition has consistency improved the past three days while more announcements have been made regarding benefit projects to assist Hommel in defraying substantial medical expenses.
“He was supposed to have surgery at 11:30 this morning but they moved it to 12:30 PM this afternoon,” stated Ron “Flea” Fleenor, family friend and family spokesperson. “This morning he was moving his feet, arms and head and is wanting the hell out of bed. They were put the trach in and the feeding tube in his stomach today and everything went great. All his gauges are ‘still’ good.”
Fleenor’s remarks came minutes after Hommel’s surgery was completed. Hommel is still in the Intensive Care Unit and only yesterday, September 30, was upgraded from critical condition to serious condition.
“Now it’s been a three good days in a row,” continued Fleenor. “So I am going to ask everybody to keep doing what you’ve been doing because it seems to be working pretty well at this point.”
The outpouring of support and concern from the entire racing community and industry, crossing the entire spectrum of motorsports, has been tremendous.
Hommel was severely injured on Tuesday September 23 in a two car accident near Newport. Hommel, who had just left his race shop and was enroute to pick up his wife and son, was driving a Chevrolet Envoy when he was forced to swerve to avoid and on-coming car as he crested a hill on a two lane road. The vehicle Hommel was driving struck a ditch and rolled five times, according to preliminary reports. Hommel suffered severe head injuries and trauma.
Hommel, the defending Southern Allstars Series champion, was airlifted to University of Tennessee Hospital in Knoxville, TN where he is undergoing emergency medical treatment. He is currently in critical condition with internal and external bleeding of the brain. He is currently under the care of a team of surgeons and specialists and many family members of friends are holding vigil at the hospital.
Fleenor also revealed that many fund-raising projects are underway to help raise money for the star driver’s medical expenses, as well as updated information on existing projects.
“We had a slight change of plans but Carolina Performance and Kip Cochran have got him a Mastersbilt chassis coming to raffle off,” stated Fleenor Wednesday afternoon. “The fellow helping put this deal together with Kip is named Woody. They are putting everything together and build the car at their shop. If someone wants to donate parts and get on the car they need to call Kip. There is still a lot of stuff to be had and (Hommel crew chief) Tommy (Hicks) is working on helping them get everything for it.”
The chassis will come from Keith & Tader Masters’ Mastersbilt Race Cars while other components have been donated by Brinn Transmissions, Peterson Aluminum, Classic Powder Coat, Sweet Engineering, Winters, Performance Friction, Quick Car Gauges, Powell Pedals, Ultra Shield Belts, Oval Craft Seats and Poske Performance. Addition donations will be announced later.
“We asked them (Masters brothers) and they said, hell yes, we’re in,” said Fleenor. “Been that way with about everyone that’s been asked. If anyone would like to help out just give Kip a call.”
The raffle tickets for the new Mastersbilt Race Car and components are now available for $10.00 each. You can purchase the raffle tickets by check or money order at: Carolina Performance, 1009 Bell Dowdle Road, Franklin, NC 28734. You can also order raffle tickets by credit card by calling 828-369-2012. For additional information visit the Carolina Performance website at: http://www.dnet.net/jperry/carolinaperformance/home.html
Fleenor also revealed that a benefit golf tournament is being planned for next month.
“It’s still in the preliminary stages but ‘Pup’ Thomas of Hoosier Tire is putting together a benefit golf tournament that will be held on Friday November 21,” said Fleenor. “It will be held at the Flagstone Golf Course in Cleveland, TN.”
Interested participants are encouraged to telephone Thomas at Hoosier Tire at 865-970-3110.
There are several other projects in place to help raise needed funds for Hommel and his family, which includes his wife, Christi, and son, Daegan, and parents Junior and Gayla.
Among the new fundraising projects will be replicas of Duayne Hommel’s door from his #H2 Warrior Race Car and orders can be placed immediately.
“We’re going to be selling doors for $150 each,” informed Fleenor. “It may take a little bit to get them, like a couple weeks. So if someone wants one call the race shop and we’ll get a list of people who want doors. Once we get it figured out how many ordered we’ll go from there.”
Anyone interested in purchasing a #H2 racecar door can call the Duayne Hommel Racing shop at: 423.613.5199.
Duayne Hommel Racing will also be raffling off a replica helmet with raffle tickets being sold at all of the remaining Southern Allstars Series races. The winning ticket will be drawn at the last Southern Allstars Series point event.
“The helmet raffle will be given away at the last Southern Allstars point races,” confirmed Fleenor. “People can get tickets from the Southern Allstars souvenir trailer at their events and also at the Xtreme Dirt Car Series souvenir trailer at their two remaining events.”
In addition Hommel crew member Mike Hayes, owner of Mike’s Mini Late Models, will be selling mini-replica dirt Late Models of Duayne Hommel’s famed #H2 dirt Late Model with all proceeds going to the Hommel family. The mini-replica’s are hand crafted from sheet metal and painted and decaled to resemble Hommel’s #H2 and are 1/12th scale and are priced at $100 each. To order a Duayne Hommel Mini-Late Model contact Haynes at: 423.625.6360 or visit the Mike’s Mini Late Models website at: http://www.racevibe.com/mini to view samples and order.
Hayes will also be raffling a #H2 replica car at each remaining Southern Allstars Series race for $5.00 per raffle ticket with a winner drawn each night. All proceeds go to the Hommel family.
Full Moon Graphics, who does the graphics for Duayne Hommel’s racecars, has produced a new decal with assistance from Larry, Josh & Justin Manning of Jacksonville, FL, and are available via mail order. All proceeds go to Duayne Hommel. To order send a SASE (self addressed, stamped envelop) and a check or money order to: Full Moon Graphics, 696 Highway 30 West, Athens, TN 37303. The decals are 6” x 5” so send an envelope accordingly. For more information contact Full Moon Graphics at: 423.745.7446. Website: www.speedartwork.com
On Saturday, October 4 at Tazewell Speedway in Tazewell, TN the Super Late Models will be chasing the checkers ‘topless’ in the special “Duayne Hommel Benefit 60” paying $5,000.00 going to the winner. The Modified Street class will be running a “RUN WHAT YA BRUNG” race $500.00 to win. There will be a $100.00 entry fee for all Super Late Models and proceeds will go to The Hommel Family to help cover hospital expenses. Admission is $10 grandstands and $25 for pits. Pits open at 2:00 PM and grandstand gates open at 5:00 PM.
For additional information contact Tazewell Speedway at: 423.626.2222 or email: Taz_Speedway@yahoo.com or visit the speedway’s website at: http://www.tazspeedway.com Track flagman Bruce Caylor has also coordinated a benefit auction that will be held that day at the track with dozens and dozens of items available for bid.
The Duayne Hommel souvenir trailer will be at Tazewell selling T Shirts and other merchandise.
During the October 3-4 weekend at West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells, WV for the “RaceFest World Championship”, a replica door of the #H2 racecar will be raffled off with tickets available at the WVMS booth for $1.00 each. Coordinated by Todd Frye of Poske Performance, all proceeds will go to the Hommel family. The winning ticket will be drawn prior to feature time.
Additional authorized benefit projects and fundraisers will be announced in the near future.
Cards and notes can reach Hommel at: Duayne Hommel Motorpsorts, 311 Industrial Road, Newport, TN 37821.
A fund has been set up to help assist Duayne Hommel defray medical expenses. If you would like to make a donation to assist Duayne, Christi and Daegan please send them to: National Bank of Tennessee, Attn: Duayne Hommel Fund, PO Box 669, Newport, TN 37822.
-Prepared by Lehman Motorsports Services
