Hey Guys,
I posted this thread in the NMRA forums and wanted to come right to the source (so to speak) and see if I could get some answers...below is exact post from that thread. Any info would be greatly appreciated...


"Have any of you guys seen his new shop in Lakewood, NJ - - - Holy Crap, I have never seen a cleaner looking shop...ever!!!

I've been to a lot of them and this is by far the best and most professional and an in-house dyno to boot. He's a racer, a mechanic, an innovator (I heard he started the Drag Radial class) and he just started marketing his own Cold Air kit.

He really knows his stuff too, I don't know ANY other speed shop owner that is this good, this knowlegable and this involved - - - how come I always see these other places in Muscle Mustangs and these other rags but you never see Dwayne's shop? I mean c'mon the guy invented a new drag racing class and set all kinds of records from what I hear. You would think SOMEONE would have had a feature on his new shop.

I spoke to five other guys while I was there that had to bring their cars to Dwayne from other shops to get them to run right or be re-tuned. Shouldn't this guy be getting a lifetime achievement award or something??? I have not seen one article on this man except for a couple of blurbs here and there. Does anyone know why? Has anyone ever contacted these editors to find out what the deal is??? It's seems the man still contributes and is for whatever reason ignored.

Anyone with some insight please shed some light on this subject..."  

big daddy is the best tuners in new jersey  

BIG DADDY DWAYNE IS THE BEST MUSTANG TUNER IN NEW JERSEY  

I have known Dwayne for over 20 years and he has been a friend of mine for as long. During my time at MM&FF, we have done stories with Dwayne, both tech related at Outrageous Mustangs, and on the man himself. It goes without saying that Dwayne has been innovative in regards to the Drag Radial class and with many cars he has built. This is common knowledge in the industry. He did also create a cold-air kit, but there are about 10-15 kits on the market right now. We have offered to do a story on his kit. To say that MM&FF has not recognized his talent is just not true. I am well aware of his talent as a builder and a tuner.

It is obvious that you are a satisfied customer, but every shop has satisfied customers. We also receive many phone calls from various shops keeping us updated on projects and stories that may interest us. This is a great help to us. The fact is, MM&FF has an open policy when it comes to working with shops, but it requires the shops to do their part as well. Quite often we travel to Boston, Baltimore, or out west to get a good story. While we may use shops excessively, it is because these shops do quality work and they understand our needs in regards to meeting difficult deadlines imposed on us.

Over the past year I have personally offered for MM&FF to come down and hook up for stories with Dwayne/Joe Heck Racing. My tech editor has also been in contact about his cold-air kit, but a story has not materialized yet.

In the future, the MM&FF staff will gladly respond to questions, but we will not respond to no-name posts. You can also email us directly with magazine concerns.

Evan Smith
Editor, MM&FF  

Dear Mr. Smith,
I decided to do some invesitgating on my own before I replied to your post to make sure all my sources were correct as well as the information contained in this reply. The truth of the matter is that an extraordinary amount of calls were placed to MM&FF with regard to Dwayne and Big Daddy Performance and were either not returned or never followed through/no shows on your part.

So if what you're saying was true there would have been a feature or some sort of article on Dwayne or Big Daddy Performance recently, correct? Has there been? No. If the company is calling you, satisfied customers are calling you requesting features for this man, his shop and their cars why has not ONE been done. Deadlines? I don't think so...

Also, if you knew Dwayne as well as you say you do, you would know that he is NOT part of Joe Heck racing - - - Dwayne "Big Daddy" Gutridge is Big Daddy Performance. So if you are a man of your word, give the man a call and see all the new and innovative projects he's working on...again. As far as a "no-name" post - - - I will gladly give you my name personally, face to face when you're standing in Dwayne's shop doing an article or well deserved feature on the man. Fair enough?  

Because of what hes done and how long hes been racing Big Daddy is a not only a television interviewer and personality for nmca/nmra, he has been featured in MM+FF a ton of times. I dont think there has ever been a lack of ink used on Big Daddy, his many accomplishments or his customers vehicles. I am sure Evan has had plenty of personal conversations with Dwayne and I highly doubt he would have a hard time contributing content to MM+FF. If you are a customer of his and want to help him the best thing you can do is tell people how well he treated you and your satisfaction and let them see your vehicle and performance and it will speak plenty for him and his business. Bring your vehicle to events MM+FF puts on or covers, and you will have the best chance of seeing in print like all of us lol. With his new radial car getting ironed out in 09 I am sure you will see plenty of Mr. Gutridge and his shop bud