INDIANAPOLIS — Summit Racing Equipment will again be the title sponsor of the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League, a popular racing league for kids ages 5-17, for the upcoming 2023 season, NHRA officials announced today.
A longtime supporter of the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League, Summit Racing Equipment continues to be a standout partner of NHRA. The NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League will celebrate its 31st season in 2023 and young racers will again have the opportunity to compete in exciting eight-car shootouts that will be held at seven different NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series national events.
“The level of competition in the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League is incredible. This is the beginning of a long career in the sport for many of the racers and we’re proud to continue our support of the program,” said Jim Greenleaf, Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports & Events Manager. “We are especially excited to see the success of the Summit Racing JDRL National Shootouts. They bring national exposure to junior drag racing and give the racers a platform to compete and be recognized during an NHRA broadcast.”
The eight-car shootouts debuted in 2022 and will continue this season at NHRA national events across all seven divisions, beginning at the NHRA New England Nationals on June 2-4 at New England Dragway. The final round will take place on Sunday and be featured on the television broadcast during eliminations on either the FOX broadcast network or Fox Sports 1 (FS1), with racers running alongside the stars in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series and Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
In addition to the exciting television spotlight for the young racers, the event winner will also be included in the parade of championships, giving the rising stars in the sport the chance to be recognized at the track and on NHRA.tv.
“We’re really excited to see the continued support from Summit Racing Equipment and give these talented young racers in the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League a great platform with these eight-car shootouts,” NHRA Sportsman Racing Manager Sara Walker said. “We’ve seen great support from our member tracks and partners in helping create added excitement for the class, and it’s a huge thrill to see so many young people involved in this sport and the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League.”
The special eight-car shootouts for NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League will also take place at Bristol Speedway on June 9-11 for Division 2 members, Bandimere Speedway on July 14-16 for Division 5 competitors, July 21-23 at Pacific Raceway in Seattle for racers in Division 6, World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis on Sept. 29-Oct. 1 for Division 3 racers, Texas Motorplex in Dallas for drivers in Division 4 teams and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip on Nov. 9-12 for race teams in Division 7.
“The NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League has been incredibly important to our sport, and we’re thrilled that Summit Racing Equipment continues to offer such great support to young drag racers,” said Brad Gerber, NHRA vice president and chief development officer. “They have the opportunity to be involved in so many big events and we’re looking forward to seeing all these talented drivers perform across the country.”
Additionally, NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League competition in 2023 will include stops at Bandimere Speedway in Denver for the Right Trailers NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League Western Conference Finals on June 22-25, as well as the Right Trailers NHRA Jr. Drag Racing Eastern Conference Finals on July 10-15 at picturesque Bristol Dragway.
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, Chris McGaha and Vincent Nobile; Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Cory Reed and many more.
For more information on the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League, please visit http://jrdragster.nhra.com/.
NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League National Shootout Schedule
– June 2-4 (Division 1): NHRA New England Nationals, New England Dragway
– June 9-11 (Division 2): NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Bristol Dragway
– July 14-16 (Division 5): Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals, Bandimere Speedway
– July 21-23 (Division 6): Flav-R-Pac NHRA Northwest Nationals, Pacific Raceway
– Sept. 29-Oct. 1 (Division 3): NHRA Midwest Nationals, World Wide Technology Raceway
– Oct. 12-15 (Division 4): Texas NHRA FallNationals, Texas Motorplex
– Nov. 9-12 (Division 7): In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip
Courtesy NHRA Communications
