Devon HenryFor 17-year-old Quinn Davis, yesterday’s trip to Bristol Motor Speedway is about much more than the final race of her rookie ARCA Menards Series East season. It is the culmination of a journey that began years ago in Tucson, Arizona, and now includes a Dollywood-sponsored race car, a custom Dollywood-inspired firesuit, and an opportunity to give back.
Following the race at the Tennessee track that she dreamed of racing at as a child, Davis’ firesuit will be auctioned, with proceeds benefiting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The initiative gives the special piece of racing memorabilia a purpose beyond the racetrack, turning an important moment in Davis’ young career into an opportunity to support a program dedicated to providing books to children.
Before moving to Tennessee in 2022 to pursue her racing career, Davis grew up in Tucson, where she and her family spent years traveling across the country for her racing endeavors. The move to Tennessee brought Davis closer to a place that had already become meaningful to her. Her family regularly visited Dollywood, making the park part of her childhood.
Davis was relentless in making the initial partnership happen earlier this year, reaching out to Dollywood Parks & Resorts President Eugene Naughton and continuing to pursue a relationship with the company. That persistence eventually led to a partnership in May of 2026 that lasted for the remainder of the ARCA East season.
Davis’ team and Dollywood decided to make the Bristol race a special event for the partnership, scheduling a car unveiling at the theme park. Initially, the team planed to present Dolly herself with a special crew shirt to celebrate the partnership. Parton passed away on August 25, just weeks before Davis’ car hit the track.
The Tucson native has also made her mark on the track during her rookie ARCA East season, becoming the sixth woman in series history to record a top-five finish. After rebounding from electrical issues in qualifying at yesterday’s race at Bristol, Davis was making her way through the field when she was unable to avoid a wreck caused in front of her. Davis finished 25th in the race ended her rookie season eighth in the ARCA East points standings.
The speed and thrills of NASCAR returns to the Valley of the Sun, October 16-18 with the ARCA Menards West Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and NASCAR Cups Series for a group of pivotal races in The Chase, NASCAR’s latest postseason format.
