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Derek and Melinda.
Derek and fellow Ojai racer and friend Troy Rutherford.
Derek and Melinda after finishing 3rd at the VRA/Bandit Grand Slam event.
Derek and brother in law Greg Taylor. Updates: 05.02.08 -- Derek will race tomorrow night at Ventura Raceway! 05.02.08 -- Derek ran his first race of 2008 at Ventura last Saturday night. He is rockin' a brand new motor and a whole different set up this year. He has been racing a Stealth Chassis since his rookie year in 2005. Derek bought a used former Damion Gardner Eagle. He said the car felt really good in hot laps. Derek's first heat of 2008 was a little rough. He tried to get right back to his wild ways and tried to slide his way to the lead but failed. After getting banged around he finished 7th in the heat. He made it through the B-main and finished 11th in the A-main. It wasn't a great night but he rolled the car in the trailer and it going to give it another swing next week! Derek's Story: Derek Buckley is 28 years old and was born and raised in Ojai, California. He was born and married into a racing family. His father Dean is a former USAC,CMA, and NMRA Three Quarter Midget racer. Derek is married to Melinda. She is daughter of former IMCA sprint champ Rick Taylor and sister of VRA sprint king Greg Taylor. Derek has watched racing his entire life. Ventura Raceway, Santa Maria, Oildale, and Ascot were frequent stops. Ventura is his home track and it should be as Ojai is only 15 minutes inland from the track that neighbors the Pacific Ocean. Derek has always been hands on. He was always in the garage and driveway wrenching on something. He builds his own racecars, parts, and motors. Despite all of the hours spent in his garage to go racing, he is a brick layer and concrete worker by day. Derek does not race for a living however he knows that with good finishes the money goes right back into the car and keeps the passion and desire to race his sprinter lives another day. Derek's career highlights include: 2005: VRA Rookie of the Year 2006: Most Improved, owns a VRA feature victory at Ventura. From 2005 to present, Derek has raced 41 races. He owns 1 win, 4 top 5's, and 20 top 10's. Videos: |
