Featured Racer: Shelby Thurman

 Team Viperizer Racer Bio 

Shelby Thurman    

Name: Shelby Thurman                                                       

Birthdate/Age: August 30, 2005

Team/Crew Name: Steve Thurman Performance

Team/Crew Member Names: Steve, Shelby, Lori Thurman

Home Track: Music City Raceway

How long have you been racing? 8 years

When does your season typically start and end? My Season starts in the beginning of March and ends Thanksgiving

How many races do you participate in one calendar year? I race every weekend, anywhere, so when there's no rain it's go time. 

How often do you practice/train? I have a practice tree that I like to hit whenever I'm bored or it's off season. I do that about 3 times a week.

Why do you race? The reason I race is to do something different from everyone. I like to show people how drag racing is something serious. I like feeling the adrenaline whenever I pull onto the track and for people to notice me. 

What is your favorite racing memory and why? Dream Team, my team is a 2X champion with the same people. I like that race because it shows how team work can accomplish anything, when two people lost the other three picked it up.

What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a management analysis when I grow up. It's where you take things and make them better for the future. 

If you were a racing coach, what would you tell your driver? Never get mad at yourself. Do not give up. Focus on the bottom yellow and make sure your tire is in front of there's before you start whomping.

If you could have a racing superpower, what would it be? The power to cut a good light every round. 

 

Featured Racer: Jagger Monks

  Team Viperizer Racer Bio 

Jagger Monks

Name: Jagger Monks                                                        

Birthdate/Age: 09/27/13, 8 

Team/Crew Name: J&M Racing

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

Home Track: Julesburg Dragstrip

How long have you been racing? 1 year

When does your season typically start and end? Starts in April 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? It is fun to race. 

What is your favorite racing memory and why? The first time going down the track was fun, scared to go down the track.

What do you want to be when you grow up? A farmer

If you were a racing coach, what would you tell your driver? Do a good job, stay safe and have fun. 

If you could have a racing superpower, what would it be? Going to any race I ever wanted to go to. 

Featured Racer: Isaac Rowley

 Team Viperizer Racer Bio 

Isaac Rowley

Name: Isaac Rowley                                                        

Birthdate/Age: 04/23/06

Team/Crew Name: Rowley Racing

Team/Crew Member Names: Asher Rowley Crew Chief

Home Track: National Trails Raceway

How long have you been racing? 2 years

When does your season typically start and end? April thru October

How many races do you participate in one calendar year? 30-40

How often do you practice/train? Daily

Why do you race? My mom and dad both worked in racing, my dad ran a GM team and my mom raced a super comp dragster.  Both of my parents worked for a race car parts company once too.  Growing up I had always gone to the race track to watch my grandpa.  I later learned what a junior dragster was and I really wanted one.  I have autism and sometimes it makes it hard for me to understand things, but I don’t get that way with racing.  I understand what is going on in drag racing.  I race because it is something that calms me and I enjoy it.  I am also a very competitive person.

What is your favorite racing memory and why? This past season I went to a Jegs all Jr. race. I think it was the second round and I went up against the best kid at the track. I was very scared and didn’t think I could beat him. I went out and hit a 0.001 light and won the race. I was also the 2019 National Trails Raceway Jr. Dragster Rookie of the Year.

What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to own my own shop where I build and paint cars like my grandpa.

If you were a racing coach, what would you tell your driver? Don’t ever say you can’t because then your mind is set on that-you can do anything you put your mind to.  I would also tell them that their reaction times matters!!  Practice, practice, practice!

If you could have a racing superpower, what would it be? The ability to go to any race I wanted to whether it is watching or racing in it.

Featured Racer: Colton Koontz

 Team Viperizer Racer Bio 

Colton Koontz

Name: Colton Koontz                                                        

Birthdate/Age: 5/10/12, 8 years old

Team/Crew Name: KoontzRacing Hooken Chassis Race Cars

Team/Crew Member Names: Jesse Koontz, Tracey Koontz, Rodney McLaughlin, Dana McLaughlin

Home Track: US 36 in Osborn MO

How long have you been racing? 1 Year

When does your season typically start and end? April 1 til October 1

How many races do you participate in one calendar year? Last year we participated in 5 races

How often do you practice/train? We test every Wednesday night

Why do you race? I love to go fast

What is your favorite racing memory and why? My first first place win, was all Junior weekend took lots of work to get it done

What do you want to be when you grow up? Fire Fighter

If you were a racing coach, what would you tell your driver? "Just have fun, or Watch those lights"

If you could have a racing superpower, what would it be? To know when to lift!!

Featured Racer: Katharine Warner

  Team Viperizer Racer Bio 

Katharine Warner

Name: Katie (Katharine) Warner                                                         

Birthdate/Age: 16 04/01/2005

Team/Crew Name: Warner Family Racing

Team/Crew Member Names: Katie, Tom, Tammy, Simone, Lilly

Home Track: Grove Creek Raceway

How long have you been racing? This is my 6th year

When does your season typically start and end? May-October

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

How often do you practice/train? twice a week

Why do you race? It's fun, everyone at the track is a second family

What is your favorite racing memory and why? Racing at the Eddyville Halloween Nationals, I lost to someone from my home track first round, but went to semifinals in the second race, its my favorite memory because I met a lot of new people and learned new things. 

What do you want to be when you grow up? I either want to be a mechanic or a welder

If you were a racing coach, what would you tell your driver? Have fun, it's more important to have fun then to win.

If you could have a racing superpower, what would it be? I wouldn't want one, I think it's more fun when you have human error its part of racing.

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