The Scoop
LUXEMBURG CHAMP “HAMMER” DEGRAVE BALANCES FAMILY, WORK & RACING
Posted on: Wednesday January 26, 2022
After a 2021 season that brought him a newborn baby and a track championship at his home track, Luxemburg’s Dave “The Hammer” DeGrave plans to chase Unified Street Stock track titles in both Luxemburg and Sturgeon Bay in 2022. He’ll have a brand new race car built by Kroll Racing Fab at his disposal. (danlewisphoto.net)
Dave “The Hammer” DeGrave likely changed more diapers than he did tires on his race car in 2021.
DeGrave became a dad when his son Dawson was born May 11 one week before his racing season began.
Still, the Luxemburg street stock ace was able to successfully balance long hours at work along with a newborn at home. DeGrave secured the Unified Street Stock track championship at ‘The ‘Burg’ Speedway – his hometown track. “The Hammer” pulled off that fete winning with a car dubbed “Ol’ Faithful” – an old hunk of iron he’s wheeled to a total of 71 feature flags during his 16-year racing career.
When heat and consolation race wins are thrown in, DeGrave estimates he’s collected closer to 150 checkered flags with that old car. “To say I’ve gotten my money’s worth is an understatement,” DeGrave joked.
Still, 2021 brought both some highs and lows for DeGrave when his dad Darwin “Darky” DeGrave passed away November 11. DeGrave admits while his dad wasn’t very mechanically inclined, he was a huge supporter of his racing operation and helped his son out in many other ways. “Dad would cut the grass for example and that would save a lot of time,” DeGrave admitted. “That was time we were able to spend in the shop on the race car. After the races at Luxemburg, he’d always come down in the pits and we’d share a beer and he’d shake my hand and we’d talk about the nights races. He seldom missed any of my races – especially at Luxemburg.”
Dave DeGrave (left) poses with his son Dawson and father Darwin “Darky” DeGrave. His father passed away in November, 2021. (Michelle DeGrave photo)
DeGrave’s parents were married for 50 years. “Dad always taught me the value of hard work and that if you wanted something you have to work harder than the next guy,” De Grave said. “Losing him has been very tough.”
Looking ahead to the 2022 season DeGrave readily admitted he seriously ponders if this year could be his ‘last hurrah’ per se behind the wheel. “It gets tougher every year,” the 38-year-old DeGrave confessed. “But I’ve decided we’re going to build our last race car with Ben Kroll. This will be the last car we build to race.”
After having raced the same car for most of his career DeGrave has no plans to ditch “Ol’ Faithful’ anytime soon. “I’ve actually had people offer me pretty good money to buy that car,” DeGrave said. “But we’re going to shove it in the barn. Maybe the first night of racing we’ll drag it out to honor my dad. I might do what Jerry Jonet does with his old Mustang and bring it out on vintage nights or something. I always thought that was cool when he did that.”
With DeGrave’s new ride the hood will be dedicated to honoring his dad. “Dad had a lot of funny quotes and stuff so that’s something we’ll have a little fun with,” DeGrave explained.
Racing runs deep in DeGrave’s blood. His wife Michelle comes from a racing family. Her dad Dave “Demon” Budzban still races on occasion as does her brother – IMCA northern sportmod racer Chris Budzban. “My wife keeps saying I’ve got to make it to age 40 racing,” DeGrave said. “She helps out more than most wives do. She does tire and pressure washes the car while I’m doing all the maintenance stuff. She’s a huge help.”
Dave DeGrave poses in victory lane at The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay with his wife Michelle. (Kayla Keen photo)
Still, without the comfort of “Ol’ Faithful” DeGrave admits there will likely be those “new car jitters” to work out. The only thing that will be pulled from his old car is his racing seat. “I’m in the same exact racing seat I started in all these years,” DeGrave said. “I’ve never had a new car in my racing career so this should be interesting to say the least.”
With his work schedule DeGrave’s 2022 plans are to continue battling for the street stock track titles at both Luxemburg and The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay. “I get booed a lot more up at the Hill,” DeGrave joked. “I think I’m at 32 career feature wins up there but I’m creeping into the top five up there. I’d like to get that because there are some pretty big names up there like Todd Dart, Dave Bouche and Charlie Kroll. But overall, it may be a little tougher to hit 100 career feature wins before I hang up my helmet because both tracks don’t run every week. But it is what it is and actually Luxemburg running on Sundays for me is a better fit anyhow.”
With weddings and other commitments this summer DeGrave said it may be tough to branch out and race at any other tracks a lot this year. “With the common rules package we’ve got with the Unified Street Stocks it really has helped the car counts everywhere,” DeGrave explained. “I love competition and the more the merrier. It’s always better when you have to have enough cars to have a consi and you have to race your way into the feature.”
With 71 career feature wins under his belt, Dave DeGrave will continue chasing checkered flags in 2022. (Kayla Keen photo)
As for who DeGrave feels will provide his toughest challenges between Luxemburg and Sturgeon Bay the list is a long one. “Shannon Guelette is always tough and he’s a good sport,” DeGrave said. “He always parks by me and spends the money where it needs to be spent on a race car. We’ll probably see more of Jesse Krahn this year if he decides to run that League of Champions deal Eric Mahlik is putting together. (Eddie Anschutz) is always tough but he announces and usually just runs 141. Garrett Geyer really caught on well at The Hill and he’s getting better. And I chased Paul Diefenthaler around for years and he has definitely made me faster. He’s still going to be fast too.”
DeGrave’s pit crew consists of his wife Michelle, Jeremy Jauquet, DeGrave’s cousin and former racer Wes Salentine and DeGrave’s father-in-law Dave Budzban. His team of marketing partners includes MJT Trucking of New Franken, Davister’s Bar and Restaurant in Sugar Bush and Dyckesville Sanitation and Concrete Finishers, Village Kitchen, R.J. Dorner Construction, Rendezvous Bar & Bowl, Ultimate Air, Bullpen Bar and Grill, Titletown Express, Inc., Peot Land Surveying, Prograde Industrial Welding, Kroll Machine & Fab, Zero 1 by KMJ Performance and Hammer Engines & Gears.
During his IMCA hobby stock car days DeGrave earned the nickname “The Hammer” for his aggressive driving style. “I’ll still move somebody if I have to for a win,” DeGrave admitted. “It’s because I don’t want to lose. I’ve got nine track championships and my attitude is it’s all or nothing. If you’re not first your last. Nobody remembers second place.”
However, DeGrave also admits with a new baby at home to tend to, working his real job and still building motors and gears for fellow racers on the side he’s had to work harder to balance work, play and family. “It’s a lot tougher because I’m in the house helping with the baby a lot more,” DeGrave explained. “But I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”