Courtesy NHRA
DALLAS (June 5, 2024) — For the first time, historic Texas Motorplex will host the Right Trailers NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League Western Conference Finals presented by Capco Contractors.
The legendary facility just south of Dallas will host hundreds of young competitors June 8-15 during the event, which is an annual highlight of the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League, a popular racing league for kids ages 5-17.
The famed Texas Motorplex has played host to a variety of events during its illustrious history and now is thrilled to welcome the Right Trailers NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League Western Conference Finals presented by Capco Contractors for the first time. The event is as big as it gets for Jr. Drag Racing League racers west of the Mississippi who have been competing at NHRA Member Tracks all season for this opportunity.
The track has several Texas-themed events planned for the young drivers and their families, including the Right Trailers Ice Cream Social as part of the kickoff party on Friday.
“Hosting the Western Conference Finals will be a great way to start our summer season of racing,” Texas Motorplex Co-Owner Christie Meyer Johnson said. “We are going to give these kids and their families some Texas-style memories that will last forever on and off the track. Being able to show off Texas Motorplex to the next generation of Mission Foods, Lucas Oil and Summit Racing Series competitors and their families is a huge honor. We can’t wait to see some amazing racing action and family fun.”
With special events each day, the Western Conference Finals are loaded with fun and action on and off the track. Racing starts on Saturday with time trials that continue through Thursday.
A special 64-car Jr. Shootout and Outlaw 330 Race also takes place on Thursday, leading into the Western Conference Finals on Friday and Saturday. On championship Saturday, the young drivers are racing alongside their home track teammates for a team championship. After racing against each other at their home track, these drivers will now team up, competing against other teams, with the best Jr. Drag Racing League racers competing for a chance to take home a second Wally as a team.
NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League competitor’s race cars, called Jr. Dragsters, are half-scale versions of the iconic Top Fuel dragsters. They go as fast as 85 mph and as quick as 7.90 seconds in the eighth-mile using a five-horsepower, single-cylinder engine, though younger age groups are restricted to slower times and speeds.
Since its start in 1992, the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League has provided a place for young racers to compete and been the start for many top NHRA professional drivers. The list includes world champions like Pro Stock’s Erica Enders and Top Fuel driver Shawn Langdon, who won a JDRL national championship in 1997, as well standouts such as Top Fuel’s Leah Pruett; Funny Car driver J.R. Todd; Pro Stock competitors Deric Kramer and Chris McGaha; Pro Stock Motorcycle riders Gaige Herrera, Cory Reed and many more.
For more information on the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League, please visit http://jrdragster.nhra.com/.
