[ Confidence is Key ]
MEGAN LOT TS
M
EGAN LOTTS started
racing before she
was a teenager,
enjoying plenty
of success in Jr.
Dragster before
making the move
to running her father’s drag-
ster in her late teens. It’s been
a thrilling ride for Lotts, but
her biggest moment came just
last year at the SFG Bracket
Bash at Dragway 42 in West
Salem, Ohio.
She won her first big-money
bracket race, as the 23-year-
old Virginia native scored the
$50,000 prize. Her dragster
ran perfectly, she was cool
under pressure and it added
up to a weekend she’ll al-
ways remember.
“Just getting that win, it
makes me feel like I’m able
to compete against all these
big-money race winners,”
Lotts says. “It gives you that
reassurance that you can compete. That was the
biggest race I’ve ever won. It was really exciting.”
Lotts is determined to make sure it’s not a
one-time thing, either. While she had won races
in her father’s dragster, this was her first in her
own vehicle, setting Lotts up for what could be
a big 2020.
82 | D r a g
I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
The team had some car issues early in 2019,
but went on a roll after swapping motors. Lotts
advanced to the semifinals of one of the $50,000
races at the Spring Fling, using that momentum
to pick up the career-altering win in Ohio.
The main motor is back in the car and running
well, giving Lotts more options heading into 2020.
“Once we finally got rid
of the car issues, every-
thing just started coming
together more,” Lotts says.
“Everything was a lot more
consistent. I’ve probably im-
proved on my driving a little
more, especially at the finish
line, but knowing the car is
being more consistent, that
makes you more confident.
You just know the car is do-
ing what it’s supposed to do,
which is big.”
Off the track, Lotts’ 2020
is already off to a good start.
She moved to Lexington,
North Carolina, got engaged
to Shannon Justice, who also
races, in January and went
testing in March, getting some
strong results there.
The family aspect of rac-
ing, whether it’s with her
father, fiancé or friends, con-
tinues to be the main draw
for Lotts, but she’s got big
things in mind for this year.
“I’m trying to beat that $50,000 win,” Lotts as-
serts. “We have plans to go to a lot of the big-mon-
ey races, and that’s what we’ve been going after
lately. It does make you a little nervous, but going
rounds and having some success, it adds to your
confidence level.” – JO S H H AC H AT
Issue 155