They are drag racing’s version of Appalachia On Steroids.

Not many people would write those words in black marker on hunks of tape slapped on the front fenders of a race car, nor would they be likely to later paint that car a brilliant shade of construction-barrel orange and adorn it with Barney-the-dinosaur-purple flames. But not many people are Arthur Camp Stanley III.

Unless one of them is his son John, of course.

They are drag racing’s version of Appalachia On Steroids.

Not many people would write those words in black marker on hunks of tape slapped on the front fenders of a race car, nor would they be likely to later paint that car a brilliant shade of construction-barrel orange and adorn it with Barney-the-dinosaur-purple flames. But not many people are Arthur Camp Stanley III.

Unless one of them is his son John, of course.

These audacious competitors from northwestern Maryland have long been recognized as under-funded racers who have made careers out of doing the most with the least.

And this is a perception that Camp Stanley savors – one that he has craftily nurtured since he began racing with cast-off cars and scavenged and recycled parts. He'll tell you with a broad grin that this little bit of psychological strategy has served him well for many years.

“We love to play the underdog role, but of course in a lot of ways it's the truth,” Camp said. “I fund this team out of my own pocket, with help from my partner Axle Weiss, and that's it. We couldn't do this without the help of a lot of manufacturers who have supported us for years. We love the fact that we have always been able to do a lot with a little – that's something we're well known for because we've made it work.”  

John Stanley, 37, began his own professional driving career in 2003 after spending his life working with and learning from his father.

“Dad likes to tell people that his goal was to bring me along slowly and have me move up in power a little at a time,” John said. “But that's only partly true – I went from running 8.80s to 6.70s in about a year, and that's not exactly taking baby steps.”

“I have taught racers in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, and I treated them all just like I treated John,” Camp said.” I was never a hard taskmaster where John was concerned. Just learning to do things the right way was the hard task – I just guided him along the way.  He took his time and learned – he didn't change out of his tuxedo after the high school prom and jump into a Pro Mod car.”
 
After several successful seasons in street-legal competition, the Stanley & Weiss team is preparing to embark on a full schedule of competition in the ADRL's Pro Extreme class, once again bucking tradition by running a blown wedge combination in John's Camaro.

“We have always said that we don't need no stinkin' Hemi, and that still goes today,” said Camp. “I feel the wedge can still be competitive.”

“Yes, we've managed to be competitive with the wedge combination, but we know that the top dogs can pull away from us again at any time,” said John. “Already in testing this winter some guys have dipped into the 3.60s, and the best we've run is 3.76. It seems that every year we fall half a step behind, and we have to play catch-up. I think we'll have to lighten up the car, lighten up the driver, and figure out how to add some nitrous to the mix, and see where we go from there.”

An underdog's work is never done.