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

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