Conley signs with new race team
VIENNA — Race car driver Cale Conley of Vienna has partnered with Dave Jessup Racing to run Tony Stewart’s Arctic Cat All-Star Circuit of Champions 2018 season.
Conley will race the Dave Jessup sprint car in 55 All-Star events on 36 tracks in nine states. More races may be added, with a potential for up to 70 events as the team participates in select World of Outlaw races as well.
Conley, 25, has been racing since the age of 6.
He drove sprint cars in 2009-10, then went south to NASCAR from 2011 to 2015. In 2016 he raced dirt late models and five sprint car races.
“I raced against Dave Jessup’s car at a race in ’16, and we made a plan to get together for the following season,” said Conley. “We exceeded expectations and won a couple of races in 2017, so this year we’re going to race the full All-Star season.”
The Dave Jessup shop is based in Dayton where Jessup just retired as an automotive instructor at a technical high school. He always has been involved in sprint car racing, building cars and engaging drivers.
Conley is looking forward to the full experience with Jessup and new cars, equipment, truck and trailer and a lot of tracks he never has seen before.
“I’m excited to race this many times in one year,” said Conley. “Traveling with a small team takes me back to old-school racing, after my time in NASCAR. Of course, my eventual goal is to get back down South to NASCAR, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to drive a full season and get some All-Star wins under my belt.”
This will be a big year for Conley.
He recently became engaged to Emma Blaney, who is already steeped in the racing world. Her father, Dave Blaney, her brother NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney, and uncle Dale Blaney are well-known names in the sport.
Conley is looking forward to racing against the Blaneys.
“I’m just excited for all the new adventures this year,” he said.
Conley’s 7K car will feature a black and white paint scheme chosen in an online vote by his followers on social media. Joe Cheuvront of Joe Cheuvront Originals, a Parkersburg designer, has created the graphics for the car and most of Conley’s past cars.
He plans to spend a lot of time at the shop in Dayton when they’re not on the road and returning home in Vienna when he can.
A race car driver and a businessman, Conley is making his own way as he focuses on securing sponsors through a new avenue.
His official car sponsor is Merchant Services Ltd., a credit card processing company which allows businesses to dedicate their credit card processing fees to sponsor Conley’s race car.
“It’s a cool way for companies to support me without spending an extra dime,” Conley said.
Conley also has been knocking on doors both locally and nationally to sign up those who want to be part of a successful race team. “I’ve brought on some old friends, and made some new ones, as I share the opportunity to use those unavoidable credit card fees to become part of my sponsorship package and get your business name on my car.”
Conley, with DJR racing, will make their All-Star debut in Florida on Feb. 1-3 at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Fla. The team will spend two weeks doing Florida Speed Weeks leading up to the Daytona 500, then will begin a rigorous schedule. More information and a complete race schedule can be found at caleconley.com, and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.