2/14/2025
Bunker Hill Dragstrip
Love is in the Air at Bunker Hill Dragstrip
“In 1969, Tim had a 69, 396 Chevelle that he raced every weekend at Bunker Hill. We were both graduating from high school that May, and were pretty sure we were in love and very cool. Every weekend we’d show up at my house with Tim’s slicks tucked away carefully in the backseat of the Chevelle with white interior. My dad took this all in each weekend and when he thought we were getting serious he said, ‘Patty, you know he’s going to ruin your life.’ That didn’t happen and 50 years later, Tim is still racing and we are back at Bunker Hill cheering on our three grandkids. We love Bunker Hill and are so thankful for the great Memories.” Patty Lowe
Bunker Hill Dragstrip is known as the oldest dragstrip in the state of Indiana and one of the oldest continually operating dragstrips in the country. What people don’t know about the historic track is that it has been the setting for some really great love stories over the years. You just read about Patty, whose high school relationship revolved around racing on the weekends at Bunker Hill. How sweet it must be for her and her highschool boyfriend turned husband, to come back to the track and watch their grandchildren race. With love in the air on Valentines Day, it only makes sense to share some special love stories that took place at Indiana’s first dragstrip.
Becky and Dan Richardson met at Bunker Hill Dragstrip when they were teenagers. Years later they would sit next to each other at the US Nationals. The following weekend they would run into each other again at Bunker Hill Dragstrip. Becky was there helping her dad Rick Lay with his race car. Dan was there racing his motorcycle. They went out that night and have been together ever since. The Richardsons planned their wedding on a Friday, so that they wouldn’t miss Saturday races. Today they still spend the majority of their summer weekends at the track. Dan is still racing. They have a 16 year old son, Cadan, who is currently the Brandt’s Heating Cooling and Electrical Junior Dragster Track Champion.
Like father, like son for the Dishon Family. In 1985 Dan Dishon met his now wife Tina at the track. She was there with her dad, but was also racing herself. Dan was there racing his motorcycle. He saw her pushing her car in the lanes and asked if she needed help. She told him no. He walked away, then later asked her to come to Monicello to go motorcycle riding with him. She took him up on the offer. Because Tina’s dad refused to miss a Saturday points race, the Dishons like the Richardsons had their wedding on a Friday. Ironically, their son Nick, also met his wife Karla at Bunker Hill Dragstrip. They have a daughter. While she is too young to be thinking about boys let alone marriage, we can’t help but wonder if she will continue with the family tradition.
All Seasons General Contracting Sportsman Track Champion, Randy Wolfe’s wife Connie became his racing lucky charm early on in their relationship. After losing every time his ex would be at the races, he invited his new girlfriend Connie to the track. If he would have lost with her there too, that would have been their last date. She became his good luck charm after he won that night. That same year he locked up the Sportsman and Super Pro Championships. 4 years later they would get engaged at the Bunker Hill Dragstrip banquet. Today they are still racing at the track, with their son Chevy who will be graduating high school this spring.
While Fred and Deb Brazzle didn’t meet at Bunker Hill Dragstrip, they have been racing at the historic track since the 70’s. The track means so much to the couple that their kids surprised them at Bunker Hill Dragstrip, with a vow renewal ceremony for their 25th wedding anniversary.
Similarly Stephanie and Wesley Sargent who are high school sweethearts, didn’t meet at Bunker Hill Dragstrip, but have spent many weekends as a couple racing there. The track holds a special place in their heart, as Wesley proposed to Stephanie on the starting line.
What might be the most recent long term relationship to ignite at the historic track is with Brent Johnson and Kendall Rhees, who met in May of 2023. Lucas Rhees, Kendall’s dad, was looking for someone to build a motor for him, and John Johnson, Brent’s dad, was recommended to him by their mutual friend Billy Burns. Once the motor was built, everyone was together at the track hanging out in the staging lanes. It was there that Billy talked Brent into putting his phone number into Kendall’s phone. The two have been dating ever since.
If you are reading this and you are single, your Bunker Hill Dragstrip love story might be around the corner. Don’t waste your time swiping left or right, come spend your summer at Indiana’s oldest dragstrip where it appears love is always in the air.
Submitted By: Cori McMillen
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