Junior Street and Junior Dragster Bring the Next Generation of Racers to the Track – And Select Drag-and-Drive Events in 2025!
Since the introduction of Junior Dragsters into the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) in 1992, thousands of kids have gotten the chance to become competitors in the sport of drag racing.
Competition at hundreds of tracks across North America, as well as larger national events just for junior dragsters, have proved a springboard for racing careers, world champions, and a second class, Junior Street, that’s been incorporated into select drag-and-drive events.
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The basic concept of Junior Dragsters is to take an average-sized full scale dragster (aftermarket tube chassis with aluminum, fiberglass or carbon fiber paneling), and apply the Honey I Shrunk the Kids philosophy. Kids can jump behind the wheel starting at age five, and compete in Junior Dragsters up to the age of eighteen, on an eighth-mile standard.
Competition is broken down into age groups: age five is a trainee limited to 20-seconds and slower, ages six-seven is the youth group limited to 13.90-seconds and slower, ages eight-nine is the novice group limited to 11.90-seconds and slower, ages ten-twelve is intermediate and limited to 8.90-seconds and slower, and finally, the advanced group for ages thirteen-eighteen and limited to 7.90-seconds and slower.
Junior Dragsters have been a big force behind not only a new wave of racers competing, but also the second, third and even fourth-generation of a family getting into the sport. The popularity has even pushed a new concept, Junior Funny Car, debuted at the 2023 NHRA Gatornationals event in Gainesville, Florida.
We’ve reported on Sick the Magazine supporting race tracks in 2024, and we’ve extended that support to a family that’s been part of the drag-and-drive community for a while, with Rick and Jacki Steinke fielding a ‘Sick Jr.’ with son Troy at the controls.
Recently, the Steinkes made a trip to Rockingham Dragway (home of next year’s Sick at the Rock event), where Troy outlasted the 8.90-index Gambler Race field for the win!
With the success of Junior Dragster, the NHRA introduced the Junior Street class to give thirteen-sixteen year old boys and girls a chance to compete in a street-legal car or truck with an adult co-driver as their teammate, combining racing and safety into a chance to run a full-sized car or truck.
The NHRA’s Junior Street program requires drivers to go through an orientational and licensing program before running in competition. Vehicles must have valid registration and insurance, and be street-legal with mufflers and street tires in place, and be no quicker than 9-seconds on an eighth-mile standard.
We’ve seen several kids make the jump into the Junior Street, including Blayne Stark. After riding with father Tom in the family ‘55 Chevrolet wagon for several events, Blayne jumped behind the wheel for Rocky Mountain Race Week a few years back before turning sixteen and sliding behind the wheel of the Motion Raceworks ‘El Toro’ Mustang this year.
The Junior Street class has been incorporated into a few select drag-and-drive events, and for 2025, Sick The Mag will incorporate the class into our Sick Michigan Miles and Sick Smokies events. “I’m anxious to see the turnout of participants for next year,” said Tom Bailey. “Watching families be a part of drag-and-drive for years, we decided to add Junior Street at two events next year and see how it does.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine, Rick and Jacki Steinke, Dylan MacNicol and Blayne Stark.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com