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About JDRL

Two Jr. Dragsters racing

If you haven't seen a Jr. Dragster, then you haven't seen the future of NHRA Drag Racing ...

The NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League offers kids ages 5-17 a chance to race half-scale dragsters in a controlled environment at many of NHRA's 130 member tracks throughout the United States and in Canada long before they can obtain a state driver's license. Membership in the Jr. Drag Racing League is required for competition.

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The cars that Jr. Drag Racing League competitors race are called Jr. Dragsters and are half-scale versions of Top Fuel dragsters. Using a five-horsepower, single-cylinder engine, a Jr. Dragster can go as fast as 85 mph and as quick as 7.90 seconds in an eighth-mile, though younger age groups are restricted to slower times/speeds.

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Many of NHRA's 130 member tracks offer weekly Jr. Drag Racing League programs where kids can race to earn points toward track championships in their age group. The points leaders in each class are then chosen to represent their track at the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing Western or Eastern Conference Finals depending on the location of the track.

History of the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League

It all started with a man and a dream for his kids

When Vince Napp (right), an NHRA member-track owner with a passion for drag racing, built a half-scale dragster for his kids in 1991, he never dreamed that his invention would launch an exciting new sport for thousands of young people across North America. But that's exactly what happened.

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Napp showed his Jr. Dragster to NHRA officials in early 1992, a timely presentation considering that NHRA had already been planning a publication for its younger drag racing fans. The Jr. Dragster became a catalyst for the NHRA to start a whole new league: the Jr. Drag Racing League (JDRL).

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NHRA unveiled the Jr. Dragsters July 9, 1992, during the 23rd annual Mopar Parts Nationals at Napp's Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J. The capacity crowd witnessed the first Jr. Dragster exhibition race by Jill Caliendo and Napp's son, David.

v_napp.jpg
July 9, 1992: David Napp, near lane, and Jill Caliendo

If you haven't seen a Jr. Dragster, then you haven't seen the future of NHRA Drag Racing ...

The NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League offers kids ages 5-17 a chance to race half-scale dragsters in a controlled environment at many of NHRA's 130 member tracks throughout the United States and in Canada long before they can obtain a state driver's license. Membership in the Jr. Drag Racing League is required for competition.

​

The cars that Jr. Drag Racing League competitors race are called Jr. Dragsters and are half-scale versions of Top Fuel dragsters. Using a five-horsepower, single-cylinder engine, a Jr. Dragster can go as fast as 85 mph and as quick as 7.90 seconds in an eighth-mile, though younger age groups are restricted to slower times/speeds.

​

Many of NHRA's 130 member tracks offer weekly Jr. Drag Racing League programs where kids can race to earn points toward track championships in their age group. The points leaders in each class are then chosen to represent their track at the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing Western or Eastern Conference Finals depending on the location of the track.

High-profile graduates of the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League

The league has produced a number of the strong drivers who have gone on to achieve great success in a number of NHRA's "big car" programs. From the Summit Racing Series programs at NHRA's 130 member tracks to the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing and Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, former Jr. racers are using the skills they learned in the Jr. Drag Racing League to compete and win in "big cars."

"Big car" standouts who got their start in the Jr. Drag Racing League include:

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  • Six-time Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders (2014-15, 2019-20, 2023)

  • 2023 Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Gaige Herrera

  • 2018 Funny Car world champion J.R. Todd

  • 2018 Pro Stock world champion Tanner Gray

  • 2013 Top Fuel world champion Shawn Langdon
    (also a two-time Super Comp national champion)

  • Top Fuel racers Leah Pruett (2018 Factory Stock Showdown champion), Justin Ashley, and Cameron Ferre

  • Funny Car drivers JBlake Alexander and Bobby Bode

  • Pro Stock drivers Kyle Koretsky, Mason McGaha, Chris McGaha, Troy Coughlin Jr., Deric Kramer, and Camrie Caruso (2022 NHRA Rookie of the Year)

  • Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Jianna Evaristo

  • 2022 Top Dragster national champion Jeremy Hancock

  • 2021 Top Alcohol Dragster national champion Rachel Meyer

  • 2018, 2019, 2021 Top Alcohol Funny Car national champion Sean Bellemeur

  • 2021 Super Gas/2014 Super Gas/2013 Super Comp national champion Luke Bogacki

  • 2020-21 Super Comp national champion Christopher Dodd

  • 2019-20 Top Alcohol Dragster national champion Megan Meyer

  • 2020 Top Sportsman national champion Darien Boesch

  • 2019 Stock national champion Allison Doll

  • 2019 Super Gas national champion Jeremy Mason

  • 2018 Super Stock/2017 Super Stock/2017 Stock/2015 Super Stock/2013 Stock national champion Justin Lamb

  • 2018 Super Gas national champion Devin Isenhower

  • 2017 Super Comp/2014 Stock national champion Austin Williams

  • 2017 Top Sportsman/2015 Top Sportsman national champion Jeffrey Barker

  • 2016 Super Gas national champion Mia Tedesco

  • 2015 Super Comp national champion Kevin Brannon

  • 2011 Stock national champion Joe Santangelo

  • 2010 Super Stock national champion Ryan McClanahan

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