For years, Jim Dupuy rubbed shoulders with nitro racing royalty as a tuner and crew chief for the likes of Cruz Pedregon, Morgan Lucas, Johnny Gray, Bob Vandergriff Jr. and the late Darrell Russell. These days the Louisiana native works for one of the true legends of the sport, Paul Candies of Candies & Hughes fame, taking care of a fleet of NHRA Stock and Super Stock entries that includes Mustangs, Challengers and most recently a brand-new COPO Camaro.

This weekend Dupuy is not too far from home at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, LA, for the X-DRL’s Bash on the Bayou, overseeing a pair of Mustang Cobra Jets and the new Camaro fielded by the Candies Family Motorsports team in the X-DRL SuperCar Showdown.

“It’s a challenge; there’s also something to do when you’re taking care of six cars, but I’ve been doing it about a year now and I absolutely love it,” Dupuy said. “I still like the Top Fuel stuff, but I just don’t think it’s as much fun as it used to be.

For years, Jim Dupuy rubbed shoulders with nitro racing royalty as a tuner and crew chief for the likes of Cruz Pedregon, Morgan Lucas, Johnny Gray, Bob Vandergriff Jr. and the late Darrell Russell. These days the Louisiana native works for one of the true legends of the sport, Paul Candies of Candies & Hughes fame, taking care of a fleet of NHRA Stock and Super Stock entries that includes Mustangs, Challengers and most recently a brand-new COPO Camaro.

This weekend Dupuy is not too far from home at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, LA, for the X-DRL’s Bash on the Bayou, overseeing a pair of Mustang Cobra Jets and the new Camaro fielded by the Candies Family Motorsports team in the X-DRL SuperCar Showdown.

“It’s a challenge; there’s also something to do when you’re taking care of six cars, but I’ve been doing it about a year now and I absolutely love it,” Dupuy said. “I still like the Top Fuel stuff, but I just don’t think it’s as much fun as it used to be.

“But I do love it still and every once in a while I’ll get to go play with Bill Miller or Mitch King so I get to keep my hands in it and go have fun and hang out with a few of my friends. But I live about 30 minutes away from the Candies shop and being home every night has been fun, too. I mean, Top Fuel consumes your life; there’s a lot of stuff that you have to give up or miss, things like ball games and school stuff with your kids, but that’s just the way for professional racing. I mean, if you want to do it you’ve got to do it full bore or you’re not going to be successful.”

As an old-time hot rodder, the 50-year old said he also enjoys the diversity of working on cars from all three major American manufacturers.

“It’s difficult, but it’s also really interesting because you almost feel like it’s like back in the ’60s when they (Ford, GM and Chrysler) had their competition going on about who made the baddest hot rods and they’re kind of getting back to that right now,” Dupuy said. “Right now I think the Mustangs are a little bit ahead as far as power goes, but with the other guys it’s interesting to watch how they catch up.”

The Belle Rose outing marks the first X-DRL appearance for the Candies team and when four rounds of qualifying were in the books, Brett Candies was second with a 5.757 at 119.11 mph in his 2012 Cobra Jet, with brother P.B. Candies third at 5.762 and 119.73 in his ’13 Cobra Jet, and Rhett Fulton fifth with a 6.501 at 107.91 after alternately battling wheelstands and wheelspin throughout qualifying in the COPO Camaro. P.B. Candies also made several test hits in a Super Stock Cobra Jet.

“It’s really cool to see the reaction of the fans to these cars. Usually, unless you’re with a fuel car you’re going to be parked out back, but here we’re up front and it’s amazing how much attention these cars bring,” Dupuy said. “I think that’s one of the things I like the best about being here (at the X-DRL event); it’s fun; it’s unique; and I can tell you right now, it’s one of the best jobs I’ve ever had.”

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