By: Chris King Racing
CHICAGO (May 12, 2025) — Heading into the 25th Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 Nationals, Chicagoan Chris King, Funny Car team owner and driver, will be looking to use this event as a springboard to a strong season in the 2025 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Since he started chasing the dream of racing nitro Funny Car full-time King has wanted to race at his hometown track and this year his team is making a tough, but understandable decision, to gather data for the future and put his family first. King will forgo racing on Sunday to attend his son Shane’s college graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
King and crew chief Bob Peck agreed in advance they will be making the most of the four qualifying passes at Route 66 Raceway on Friday and Saturday in the Howard Cams/Competition Products Funny Car, but they will not make full passes on any of the runs choosing to lift or shut off the motor short of the finish line. The goal for the weekend will be to get a solid baseline to move into the 2025 NHRA season.
“I talked to all my sponsors and team when the season started, and we saw the schedule. I told them we were racing Chicago, but we are going to use it to gather as much data as possible under national event conditions. There was no way I was missing Shane’s graduation,” said King. “As much as I want to get into the show and then hopefully win some rounds there are more important memories and moments in life. Shane has worked so hard to earn his degree that being there for him is more important than running a race. Everyone agreed and we are going to run hard on Friday and Saturday but only to get data for future races and then I will head over to Milwaukee for Shane’s graduation.”
Over the off-season King invested in new parts and a new trailer to give his team the best possible shot at making the 16-car field at future events. This will be King’s third time racing in front of the hometown crowd when qualifying starts on Friday, May 16.
“The past two years we have come so close to making the field, but I think we have learned a lot from those races,” said King, a full-time Chicago firefighter. “Last year we started in Chicago and made improvements at every race including qualifying for the toughest U.S. Nationals Funny Car field. I have a lot of excitement and confidence headed into this season. There has been a lot going on in my professional life, so being able to focus on the race car has been a challenge. I am grateful to continue to have this outlet for my passion, and there’s no better place to get my season started than right at home.”
King was promoted to lieutenant in the Chicago Fire Department after the first of the year and with the new title came additional training and a new schedule. He currently works as a floating lieutenant moving from firehouse to firehouse to support stations and fire crews across the city. The new responsibilities have fueled his passion to follow his Funny Car dream.
“I have been a firefighter my entire career and working with these heroes on a daily basis makes getting to drive a nitro Funny Car a real blessing,” said King. “I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be promoted but I knew I would have to evaluate my Funny Car career in the short term. The lessons you learn on the job translate so well into owning and driving a Funny Car. It is all about managing people, staying cool under pressure, and being able to react to the unexpected. I have gotten so much support from the Chicago Fire Department when I am at the track, and I want to make my guys, my sponsors and my family proud.”
King will take all the data and points accumulated at the Chicago race and look ahead to the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals, June 26-29. The team plans to race four to five national events this season with hopes of picking up more races as additional sponsors come on board. King has built a program that runs consistently quick times and shows improvement every time they hit the track.
“My goal from the very beginning was to be professional and put on a good show for the fans,” said King. “I have to thank Howard Cams and Competition Products for the support and there are too many people in the pro ranks that have stepped up to help us along the way. Guys like Dean Antonelli from Ron Capps’ team have been amazing. We are excited to get to Chicago and get the season started.”
King and the Howard Cams/Competition Products Funny Car will be on track for both qualifying sessions on Friday, May 16 as well as the two qualifying runs on Saturday, May 17. On Sunday the proud father will be in the stands at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee watching his son Shane take the win with a college degree.
