Lamb , who is a native of Henderson , Nevada , first started racing in the Junior Dragster ranks when he was eight years old , but it wasn ’ t until he was a bit older that he stepped up to the national scene . In 2007 , Lamb won the Top Dragster class at the NHRA Fram Autolite Nationals in Sonoma , California and he earned the NHRA Division 7 championship in Competition Eliminator in both 2011 and 2012 .

In 2012 , Lamb purchased a 1970 Z28 Chevy Camaro and had Gary Stinnett built an LT1 engine for it . An A-1 Performance transmission and converter were installed , and Lamb redid the car front to back . He campaigned the foot-brake Camaro in 2013 for the first time , and , incredibly , went on to win the NHRA national championship in Stock Eliminator as well as the Division 7 championship during that inaugural season . “ Despite being the slowest of all the cars I own , the Camaro is definitely the most fun to drive . It ’ ll do a wheelie and I have to shift in the air ,” he laughed of the visceral driving experience he enjoys behind the wheel of the 10.60s car .

Just two short years later , Lamb was named the 2015 NHRA Division 7 Driver of the Year and also picked up an astounding second NHRA national championship , this time in Super Stock Eliminator with his 2010 Chevy Cobalt . That particular car was built by B & B Race Cars , features a Jon Richardson-built 358ci SB2 NASCAR-style engine with three-speed A-1 transmission , and runs in the 8.40-second zone .

Although Lamb didn ’ t add any titles to his already impressive résumé in 2016 , he wasn ’ t sitting idle . “ I runnered up in the Pro Class at the Million this year , and I won the NHRA Sonoma national event again ,” he said of the good , fun year he ’ s had which included around a dozen national-level races and bracket events , albeit fewer divisional events .

Bolstering his two NHRA titles , Lamb has also had national event wins in six separate classes – Stock , Super Stock , Super Comp , Super Gas , Comp Eliminator , and Top Comp , which was the predecessor to the current Top Dragster class – all

while still in his 20s .

In addition to his Stock and Super Stock entries , Lamb has two dragsters in his Lamb Motorsports stable . Both built by Race Tech Race Cars in North Carolina , each features MadCap Racing Engines power , although one is naturally aspirated and the other is boosted by a ProCharger blower . Running 7.30s and 6.80s , respectively , Lamb often shares driving duties of the dragsters with fellow racer Kyle Seipel . Although each car is quite different , all four share two commonalities : they all run on Goodyear tires and feature Moser Engineering driveline components .

Lamb believes that much of his success can be attributed to having a great foundation . “ There ’ s good equipment , and then there ’ s the right equipment . I ’ ve been fortunate to always have topnotch stuff ,” he noted . Many of the opportunities he ’ s had to acquire the best equipment , and to race , can be credited to his supportive parents ,

Chris and Carole . Others throughout the years have helped Lamb to improve , and he thanks Kyle Seipel , Peter Biondo , V . Gaines , as well as his wife Jeanine and son Jayce . “ We ’ re fortunate to have great sponsors like Matco Tools , MadCap , Gibec Pistons , Total Seal , Book Racing , Driven Racing Oil , and others that really add up to make this racing operation doable .”

It isn ’ t just having the right equipment , though , as Lamb makes sure he ’ s focused on getting all the details right . “ All of the little things matter . The wind , the weather , the car , the tires . I ’ m no more talented than anyone else , but I have the dedication to making my equipment better and that really helps me to get ahead ,” he explained of his method to ensuring the big picture isn ’ t sacrificed by something small . “ Unless you keep working , everyone will catch up .” Hard work beats talent when talent doesn ’ t work hard , and Lamb ’ s both talented and a hard worker . – AINSLEY JACOBS DI

PHOTOS : DRAG ILLUSTRATED ARCHIVES