Drag Illustrated Issue 139, December 2018 | Page 114

30 UNDER 30 · 2018
CHARLES MYERS
■ BEHIND THE SCENES in NHRA is a group
orchestrating chaos, controlling loads of tiny
moving parts, and working hyper-efficiently to
create a seamless, powerful presentation. It is
exhausting and sometimes thankless, but Charles
Myers doesn’t view it that way. The North Car-
olina native and UNC Charlotte alumni was
elated to accept the position of Marketing
Services Manager at the beginning of the
2018 season.
When Myers realized that a career as
a race car driver wasn’t in the cards, he
began to look for other opportunities.
He took marketing classes and was part
of the student-run college radio station,
which covered NHRA drag racing. Lat-
er, he created a Sportsman racing-based
podcast called Voice of Drag Racing, and
both opportunities allowed Myers to fos-
ter relationships that led to a position as
Media Relations Coordinator for GALOT
Motorsports Park followed by a marketing
position at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in
Southern California.
Along the way, Myers kept up with his
racing as much as possible. The former Jr. drag
racer transitioned to Stock Eliminator and credits
his father, Charles, for his success both on and
off the racetrack.
“My dad gave me the greatest gift: he believed
in me,” he enthuses.
In 2017, Myers won the O/SA class trophy in
Stock at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals driving
his O/SA 1981 Dodge Mirada. He got the win light
in the final round when Bob Bender hit the gas
.026-second too soon.
“It took blood, sweat, and tears to get that Wal-
ly, but I definitely got lucky, too,” admits Myers,
who has since shelved his racing career in order
to devote himself to his career full time.
“I’ve known since eighth grade that I
wanted to work for NHRA,” he continues. “I
had to sacrifice my own racing, but that was
an easy decision. It really hit me this year
at the Gatornationals. I went to my first
Gators at two years old, and I never would
have dreamed that I’d someday do this.
“I’m not done yet. My goal is to be an
NHRA division director. I was able to form
a very special friendship with Tom ‘Mon-
goose’ McEwen before he passed away, and
one of the best pieces of advice he gave me
was to give back to where I came from.
Being a division director would bring me
back to my Sportsman roots and allow
me to help grow this sport that I love so
much.” – K E L LY WA DI
D E DI DI
DI DI DI DI
DI DI DI
■ KRIS WHITFIELD CERTAINLY doesn’t remember
it, but as the story goes, his first trip to the drag-
strip happened when he was all of three weeks
old, when the Denver-area family went to a di-
visional race in Arizona.
Based on that, plus the fact he lives just 10
minutes away from Bandimere Speedway, it
wasn’t surprising Whitfield felt a strong pull to
the sport. It’s been a family affair for nearly all
of Whitfield’s 29 years and he has thrived as a
standout big-money racer. He’s a 16-time class
champion at Bandimere, a consistent winner in
big-money bracket races and also earned a spot
on the 2018 Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 list.
“I’ve always had my dad and mom there and
that drives me,” Whitfield says. “They’re always
there for me when I need to be picked up and it
makes it really enjoyable on the days we do well.”
Those days come often for Whitfield, who
thrived in Jr. Dragster and also won the first
Spring Fling race in Las Vegas. But it’s remained
very much a family affair for Whitfield, as he’s
always joined by his father, Steve, mother, Nancy,
brother, Kamron, and his girlfriend, Alexis, who
he met at the track four years ago.
“Even in the offseason we’re working on the
race cars,” Whitfield adds. “That’s how we are. If
something needs fabricated, we do it. Everything
we can possibly do, we do it ourselves. We’re in
the garage constantly trying to make the cars
better and that feeds to the satisfaction when
you win the race.”
The championships at Bandimere have been in
a variety of classes, while the major highlight this
year was winning a $10,000 bracket race at the
final major event at Rocky Mountain Raceways
in Salt Lake City. More big bracket races are in
his future, but Whitfield may branch out in the
coming years as well.
“I love the atmosphere and opportunity to race
for big money, but I’ve never had the opportunity
to race (NHRA) divisional and national races for
points,” says Whitfield, who also raced in Mag-
naFuel Pro Star 16 at the World Series of Pro
Mod this year. “If given the opportunity, I’d love
to chase the divisional or national title because
I think I could be successful.” – J O S H H AC H DI
AT DI DI
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I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
Issue 139
KRIS
WHITFIELD