THE CHAMPIONS ISSUE
PDRA Top Dragster
Justin Kirk
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Everything was still going wrong ” is how Justin Kirk described the start of his 2016 season . Early exits marked the first half of the year for the third-generation racer . He and car owners Randy and Cathy Kelly fought their dragster all season until the Kellys made a daring decision to switch cars and motors mid-season . After that , Kirk began to dominate the competition , winning his first-ever national event , following that up with another win and a semi-final finish , all en route to being crowned the 2016 PDRA Lucas Oil Top Dragster world champion .
“ It ’ s really just now setting in ,” told the 23-yearold West Virginia native . “ People start calling ya the champ and you start to realize , ‘ Hey , I kinda ’ did do something .’ It feels good to follow in the footsteps of my family . Papaw ’ s done it ; my dad ’ s done it ; now I ’ ve done it . It ’ s a surreal feeling . We ’ ve accomplished a lot as a family . That means a lot .”
Justin ’ s father , Doug Kirk , took the IHRA Pro Stock titles in 1991 and 1993 . He continues to be competitive in PDRA ’ s Extreme Pro Stock , and a third championship isn ’ t out of the question for him . The racing patriarch of the family , Carl , was also a champion racer many decades ago . The apple doesn ’ t fall far from the tree in the Kirk family . This championship-winning season is only Justin ’ s second year in Lucas Oil Top Dragster .
“ Everybody said we were crazy , but it probably couldn ’ t get no worse than what it was ,” Kirk said of the mid-season changes . “ We changed the motor , the car , everything but the driver . If it didn ’ t work out then I guess we would have had to change the driver , but it worked out . The whole package came together . The last half of the season , I don ’ t know if you could have drawn it out any better . Out of the last three races , we went to two consecutive finals , winning both , and then one semi-final .
“ That first win at GALOT stands out because Dad and I won the race together , and it was my Top Dragster first win , but the highlight of the
season would have to be the Bradenton makeup race . We waited for two years for a win and then we go back-to-back . That was a good feeling . When we won that , it gave us a three-round points lead . That made the season . It was our turning point . We knew all we had to do was go to first or second round . That took the load off our shoulders .”
Kirk didn ’ t have to wait long into the PDRA World Finals to put all doubt to rest . “ The first round of the Virginia race we had to run David
[ Brown , number two in points ]. We shook . I didn ’ t want to give up . I kept trying to get the car under control . I noticed he was getting closer , but I fought it all I could . Come to find out , he actually busted his transmission and pushed a head gasket . I didn ’ t want to win with it costing him that much , but I guess it was one of those meant-to-be deals . That ’ s the way it should be though - running each other first round . I didn ’ t want to set around in the bleachers and watch to see if I won it .”
Kirk had several sponsors on board for the final race of the year including Glockner Auto Group , Martin ’ s Peterbilt , Killer Cat Diesel , Snap-On Tools , SNS Tire , and Hoosier Racing Tire . He also thanked , “ Randy and Cathy Kelly , of course , along with their BWC Trucking business ; Gary Henry , my dad , my papaw , my whole family ; my wife for getting everything ready every race . I sure couldn ’ t get the trailer ready . My family supports me in everything , whatever I need . They ’ re always there for me . I also want to thank Matt Hornbuckle at PEM Performance , who built the motors . He dropped everything he was doing to get the motor done for us . Actually , he used his block . He had one laying in the floor getting ready to build his own motor and he used it for us . And I also want to thank the PDRA and all the staff for giving us a good place to race . It ’ s been a great year . We look forward to next year .”
Next season , Justin will be back defending his championship in Top Dragster as well as tuning for Doug ’ s Pro Stock car . Just to ensure they keep busy at the track , Justin also plans to compete in PDRA ’ s Bracket Bash . For Justin , being involved on the Pro Stock car is just as gratifying as being behind the wheel himself .
“ The Pro Stock car is like leaving work to go to a harder job . It ’ s a good time , but it ’ s a lot of work ,” added Justin , who also keeps busy with three family businesses during the week . “ Dan and I make the calls together . Before he came along I made all the calls for the last four or five years since we started doing our own motors . I do the clutch myself . My uncle takes care of the engine part in between rounds , but when he doesn ’ t show up I take care of that part , too .”
If funds become available at some point , Kirk hinted that they may consider going to a two-car Pro Stock team . “ I love watching Dad race , same way Randy would rather stand behind our dragster . But , my long-term dream would be to race Pro Stock . I love it ; I love everything about it . For now , as long as Randy wants to race I ’ m going to race with him . He gave me my first chance and we won a championship together second year in . I wouldn ’ t leave him for anything . We have so much fun like it is , if it would stay this way forever , I wouldn ’ t complain a bit .”
Even though Justin doesn ’ t race on a professional level like his dad just yet and hasn ’ t amassed as many trophies , his Top Dragster machine actually outpaces the Pro Stock car , giving the youngest Kirk a few bragging rights in the West Virginia hills . Justin Kirk isn ’ t only the 2016 PDRA Top Dragster world hampion , he ’ s also the “ Fastest Kirk on the Hill ”. - LISA COLLIER DI
PHOTO : NATE VAN WAGNEN
NMRA OPEN COMP DENNIS CORN // NMRA FORD MUSCLE DANNY TOWE // NMCA WEST PRO MOD GREG SETH-HUNTER
100 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 117