Featured Racer: James Lowday

 Team Viperizer Racer Bio 

James Lowday

Name: James Lowday                                                         

Birthdate/Age: 13 years old

Team/Crew Name: Lowday Family Racing

Team/Crew Member Names: James Lowday, Sophia Lowday, Jane Lowday, Barry Lowday, William Lowday

Home Track: Willowbank Raceway, Queensland Australia

How long have you been racing? I am going into my 6 year

When does your season typically start and end? Starts at the beginning of January and ends midway through November

How many races do you participate in one calendar year? We have around 15 to 20 aside from testing sessions 

How often do you practice/train? Once or twice a month

Why do you race? I race for the pure love of not only the speed but the feeling and atmosphere around the race track between races with other drivers as well as the face that it was a great family sport for us. 

What is your favorite racing memory and why? My favorite racing memory would be my second year of racing, my first ever national event. We qualified last but to us that meant nothing. We went on to win 4 rounds of racing and even took out top qualifier in round 2, but sadly lost in the final. We went on to finish 7th in the national series and I have never been out of the top ten since. 

What do you want to be when you grow up? I would love to move from Australia to America and race pro in top fuel funny car or at least work one with a top team. 

If you were a racing coach, what would you tell your driver? I try to coach my sister as she is in her first year, but the thing I tell her most is "focus on your lights, dad has the file in set just do your job and you can win."

If you could have a racing superpower, what would it be? Perfect lights every time, that's all I want. 

Featured Racer: Keandra Monks

 Team Viperizer Racer Bio 

Keandra Monks

Name: Keandra Monks                                                          

Birthdate/Age: 12/13/2005; 15

Team/Crew Name: J&M Racing

Team/Crew Member Names: John Monks, Anjell Monks, Johnna Monks, Jagger Monks, Melissa Fabrizio-Monks

Home Track: Julesburg Dragstrip

How long have you been racing? 7 Years

When does your season typically start and end? Starts in April and ends in October

How many races do you participate in one calendar year? 10-12

How often do you practice/train? Every once in a while

Why do you race? I race because it is family bonding time and at races, it gives you time to be out of your town and just have fun, not to worry about anything going on back home.

What is your favorite racing memory and why? My favorite racing memory is the two-day race at Julesburg and had this big water fight with kids and parents involved and just all had a lot of fun.

What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a ranchhand just like my dad.

If you were a racing coach, what would you tell your driver? I would tell them to focus and just have fun not worry about winning, but still try to win. I would also tell them good luck and don't give up no matter what the turn out of that race is. 

If you could have a racing superpower, what would it be? Parts not breaking on the car

Featured Racer: Dalton Olson

 Team Viperizer Racer Bio 

Dalton Olson

Name: Dalton Olson                                                          

Birthdate/Age: 12/28/2007, 13 years old

Team/Crew Name: Olson Motorsports

Team/Crew Member Names: Doug, Lynne, Robert, Emily

Home Track: Walla Walla Dragstrip

How long have you been racing? Since 2017 season, so 4 years

When does your season typically start and end? End of April to beginning of October

How many races do you participate in one calendar year? At least 25

How often do you practice/train? not often

Why do you race? Just the people involved in the sport and its a huge stress reliever.

What is your favorite racing memory and why? Definitely when I won my last championship, everyone from every class came to congratulate me and say some words to me and it made it so awesome.

What do you want to be when you grow up? Don't really know, maybe a fabricator or machinist

If you were a racing coach, what would you tell your driver? Don't stress about the person you're racing because at the end of the day, we all race for fun.

If you could have a racing superpower, what would it be? To be 0.020 or better for a light.

Team Viperizer Newsletter September 2021

Featured Racer: Jasmine Hatley

 Team Viperizer Racer Bio 

Jasmine Hatley

Name: Jasmine Hatley                                                          

Birthdate/Age: 3/18/2007 14 years

Team/Crew Name: Warlord Racing

Team/Crew Member Names: Tanya Ashley Eskew, Paul Fields, Paul Vinyard, Forest Fields

Home Track: Albuquerque Dragway

How long have you been racing? 2 Years

When does your season typically start and end? March-September

How many races do you participate in one calendar year? 5 or more

How often do you practice/train? A couple weekends each month, sometimes more

Why do you race? The reason I race is because I was always around people who were in the racing community, and I have always wanted to go fast. Once I saw a Jr. Dragster I knew it was fate.

What is your favorite racing memory and why? My favorite racing memory is the Las Vegas trip when I was able to race on a 4 wide track.

What do you want to be when you grow up? I'm not really sure what I'm going to do when I'm older, but I believe whatever I choose will be right for me. 

If you were a racing coach, what would you tell your driver? If I was ever a racing coach, I would tell my driver to have a "no emotion" approach to racing whether you lose or win. If you win that's great, but if you lose just know that was a collecting data and more seat time. Don't get upset from a loss, as it causes more drama than you ever need. 

If you could have a racing superpower, what would it be? if I could have a racing superpower I would definitely choose cutting a perfect light every time. 

Featured Racer: Trevor Bargeron

 Team Viperizer Racer Bio 

Trevor Bargeron

Name: Trevor Bargeron                                                          

Birthdate/Age: 1-2-07, 14 years old

Team/Crew Name: Bargeron Racing

Team/Crew Member Names: Chris & Leigh Bargeron

Home Track: Carolina Dragway

How long have you been racing? 6 years

When does your season typically start and end? March/Sept

How many races do you participate in one calendar year? at least 30

How often do you practice/train? at least once weekly

Why do you race? I enjoy racing and spending time at the track with my family.

What is your favorite racing memory and why? One of my favorite memories was when my parents bought me a brand new Mike Bos Car and I was able to design my own wrap scheme.

What do you want to be when you grow up? Of course I would like to be a professional racecar driver, but I would also like to be a firefighter like my dad. 

If you were a racing coach, what would you tell your driver? Concentrate on your light and drive it out the back door!

If you could have a racing superpower, what would it be? Being able to hit 000 light every time

Featured Racer: Carine Baker

 Team Viperizer Racer Bio 

Carine Baker

Name: Carine Baker                                                          

Birthdate/Age: April 1, 2006, 15 years old

Team/Crew Name: The Lugg Nuts Racing Crew

Team/Crew Member Names: James M. Baker, Janine Baker, Lucian (future crew member he's only 2), Jim W. Baker, and Hailey Bonnell

Home Track: Keystone Raceway Park

How long have you been racing? 5 and a half years

When does your season typically start and end? It starts in April and ends in October

How many races do you participate in one calendar year? The 2020 season I raced 19 races in one calendar year.

How often do you practice/train? I practice a good bit. I would say once or twice each week I practice for about an hour.

Why do you race? I race because I love the amount of excitement it brings me. I love the adrenaline rush I get going down the race track, but most importantly I love having fun and spending time with friends and family. 

What is your favorite racing memory and why? My favorite racing memory is when I won second place in Jr dragster nationals. This is my favorite because it was my first win in my second Jr. dragster. I was so excited for this weekend and it was amazing that I ended up winning second place. I dreamed about that moment I got to sit in the winner circle holding that trophy. I knew that even before the final race everyone was so proud of me whether I won first or not. I had so much fun that weekend and it was a very special weekend for me.  

What do you want to be when you grow up? I would love to be a mechanic for cars. I enjoy working on them so much already. My backup plan is to be a criminal profiler. I think psychology is fascinating. 

If you were a racing coach, what would you tell your driver? You don't have to win but just don't lose. Take a deep breathe, tune any distractions out, and whatever you do, don't let the race get to you. Don't overthink that racing tree and before the third amber light drops, lock your eyes on to it. 

If you could have a racing superpower, what would it be? I would want to be able to not red light at all. I would want to be able to pull of the perfect light every time. I would want the perfect light racing superpower. That would be so awesome! ...or I would settle for being able to have NOS on my car.