Raymond Dielhman
𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩
Raymond Diehlman, known to many others as Rusty, is likely a familiar face to several in the short track racing community around Indiana and Michigan, and some might say he's captured many victories along the way after two decades on the flagstand.
First taking in short track racing at two weeks old, Diehlman's career was influenced by his grandmother, who herself held several positions at tracks as a pit steward to scoring. Diehlman sold Lucky Number programs and moved up to many other positions which included scoring, race directing, and announcing. Announcing, you say? Diehlman admittedly isn't one to talk in front of crowds, but Hartford Motor Speedway Voice Wayne Bunn attempted to kick-start Diehlman's career in announcing. Instead, it was Bobby Galloway who gave Raymond his first set of flags, and the Warning Family took over from there.
Being a Race Director or Flagman might be two of the hardest positions on race day--while a Race Director may not immediately catch the ire of fans and drivers, the flagman is front and center with all eyes on them and sometimes in prime position to hear and receive the chatter. The positions also represent two roles filled with high pressure---a Race Director has many things to manage on and off the track, and the Flagman has to have eyes everywhere as things happen quick in any given moment.
For many years, Diehlman was the head starter at the Springport Mid-Michigan Speedway, and with Donnie Ritter's move to Kalamazoo in 2025, Raymond followed with. Fridays are a bit tougher to get to with work, but Raymond was there and took over the head starter role. But, a few short weeks into the season, Diehlman found himself Race Directing as several people switched roles.
While Raymond found himself on the roof of Kalamazoo rather than in the flagstand for most of the season, Ryan Warning's arrival for Super Shoe meant that Diehlman could once again take the stand for most of the weekend--a spot he loves to be, and something he looks forward to doing for many years to come.
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