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Childhood Antics
Grows Into An Adult Passion
He's been compared to the greats in racing announcing, James Essex,
Michael DeSpain and many others, Bloomington resident, Chris Nunn at 21
has come a long way since he paired up with Randal Wayne at Paragon
Speedway in Indiana.
Chris was just a baby when his parents took him to his first race so they
could watch his Great Uncle Ira Bastin race Late Models and later he would
continue to be packed up and taken to watch another Uncle, Rusty Nunn race
Street Stocks.
You could say Chris grew up at the races and as he grew, he became
fascinated by the announcers at the track.
Boys will be boys and play in the dirt-but dirt was not enough for young
Chris Nunn, he played announcer!
Piling mounds of dirt on his Papaw's picnic table racing his late model
and sprint cars, he would pretend he was the announcer, naming the cars,
drivers, sponsors and the moves on the track for hours upon hours.
Little did his parents, Felicia or Tony realize that their young son would
not grow out of this-but instead his passion would GROW stronger. Looking
back, Mom, Felicia, recalls, Chris spoke his first sentence at the age of
one, and by the age of two could read and write. For his fifth birthday,
Chris's parents, Tony and Felicia bought him a karaoke machine with a
microphone so he could announce and make tapes. Laughing, Mrs. Nunn says,
"He hasn't shut up since." Dad, Tony says, "He almost drove us nuts
around the house when he was little."
Both parents couldn't be prouder of their son or more supportive in his
career choice.
Chris began thinking in his early teens, "Hey, I wonder if I could do this
for real?"
In 2001 at Paragon Speedway when friend and mentor, Randal Wayne, was
chatting with Chris and suggested that they do a two man announcer show.
After all, Randal pointed out-there were two mikes, they should be used.
The crowd went wild! They loved it! Wayne dubbed Chris "Hollywood" and it
became a permanent show for the rest of the season!
Chris was just 19 years old with a voice mature and clear, an enthusiasm
that went through the fans and racers making the nights' events more
exciting for everyone.
Chris had been highly recommended by one of Dirt Track Racing's well known
announcers, Michael DeSpain formerly the Brownstown Announcer to take his
place when he left his position and Chris jumped on it.
In 2002 Chris Nunn became Brownstown Speedway's announcer at 20 years of
age.
The first night, Chris recalls, "I was a train wreck! I was so nervous
trying to get everything organized, including information from drivers
about their sponsors to breaks and getting used to cars that only race at
Brownstown."
Proud as a peacock, Chris's Mom, Felicia has every right to be. Her son
has earned the respect of many racers and race fans by meeting with them,
getting their sponsor information and learning all he can about their
chassis' and motors. He treats all race teams fairly and equally, if he
has a favorite, he keeps it to himself. Chris Nunn is a dedicated and
bright star for dirt track racing, promoting the sport with energy, and a
positive attitude.
"My favorite thing Chris does during down time is talk with the children,"
says Mrs. Nunn. Many fans and racers appreciate this too as children are a
racer's most loyal fan.
Written by Rebecca Richards
Copyright Protected 2003 May Not Be Reproduced
Rebecca Richards' Indiana column can be read in the Hoosier Marketing and
her national column on the internet along with national racing information
can be viewed at
www.luvracin.com and
National Dirt Tracks - Home, http://proboards15.com
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