Steve Hamilton, The 40-year-old from Lake Villa, Ill., has been racing for over 17 years. He began his racing career at Great Lakes Dragaway in the track's weekly points program, and eventually moved up to IHRA's Quick Rod class. He earned his Top Fuel license in 2000, and made appearances at two IHRA national events in 2002.

Hamilton has announced he will race for John Mitchell Racing's Montana Express Top Fuel team during the 2004 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series.

Eric Shelton , current Pro Stock driver from Atlanta, GA, Started out in Pro/ET class and learned the ropes at the Atlanta Speedshop Dragway where he raced every weekend. Eric began totravel to other tracks and steadily honed his skills against different competition. Eric worked consistently on his car, making sure every component was properly tuned while searching for more horsepower, always striving to try something to go faster. After getting the Duster to run 11.17 seconds in the quarter, Eric moved on to his first chassis car, a 1980 Plymouth Arrow. By 1991, Eric was running bracket points at two tracks running Saturday nights in Dallas, GA and Sunday afternoons in Covington, Ga. After 32 consecutive weekends and 248 passes that year, Eric finished 5th in Super Pro and on to the ET finals, where the Arrow made 9.70 passes with the Shelton-built 340 smallblock Chrysler. After sitting in the stands at the Southern Nationals and watching Super Gas eliminations, Eric promised himself that he would no longer be a spectator. Eric sold the Arrow and began his Dodge Daytona project. Beginning with a TAKASH RaceCraft Chassis and VFN body, Eric completed the car himself. NHRA National and Divisional Competition was next on the menu.

A surprise for their fans, friends, and competitors --- In 2004, the team will feature a brand new Jerry Hass built 2004 Dodge Stratus RT. With the new aerodynamic body style, new power plant and new spirit. They hope to be one of the best NHRA Pro Stock teams. They look forward to meeting all the fans at the track this year.

Shelton's 2000 Dodge Avenger R/T Pro Stocker

Ronnie Hood, will ago down in history as the first Black driver to win an NHRA Pro Mod event at the 47th Annual U.S. Nationals.

Hood's '63 Corvette Pro Mod

The record, a 6.71 second quarter mile at 206 mph, was unheard of in the Top Sportsman category prior to Hoods's accomplishment. Hood finished the '96 season as the number seven driver in the IHRA points standings.

Harold Martin
Current Pro Modified star from Detroit and formerly a General Motors development engineer, has embraced technology like few other racers. He has pushed the envelope of technology to etch his name in the record books. Harold has contributed to the automotive industry with innovative and revolutionary designs that resulted in 10 world patents. Each of the patents yielded products that were sold worldwide. He has also implemented and directed several OEM Powertrain programs that led to the development of the first automotive computer control system in addition to numerous OEM production programs.

Martin's Pro Mod Grand Am

Phil Coleman
Based out of Detroit, started racing in the early seventies in his hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana and at surrounding tracks in Ohio and Kentucky. Coleman stayed in the sport until his business DMI Computer Services needed more direction, limiting his involvement. Today however, Phil is back in full stride and making his present felt at tracks all across America match racing his professionally built, 706 CU IN., 1800 HP Pro Modified Camaro. The car travels in excess of 220 MPH in less than 6.3 seconds and is the backup car to team driver, Ronnie Hood's '63 Corvette. Phil is excited about his full time return to the drivers seat for the 2004 racing season and being able to utilize all of Coleman Motorsports' technical and human resources.

Coleman's Pro Mod Camaro

Harry Lartigue
Pro Stock Bike owner, rider and tuner since 1976. Went professional in 1978. He got off the bike in 1992 when drag bike racing became a jockey sport. He always had a ten pound disadvantage. He also helped spring the pro careers of Michael Phillips, Reggie Showers, Redell Harris and Peggy Llewellyn.                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Michael Phillips
In 1993 Advanced to the semifinal in his professional debut; Qualified for all 11 races. 1994 Made first career final round appearance, earning runner-up finish at Gainesville; Finished a career-best fifth in the final standings. 1995 Notched his first career-win sweeping the class at the Slick 50 Nationals in Houston; Runner up at Atlanta; Tied career-best with second straight fifth-place finish in the final standings and recorded career-best time and speed Advanced to the semifinals at Pomona 2. In 2002 Competed in his first full season since 1995. In 2003 Phillips earnd is second career win, riding his Calmes Motorsports Suzuki to the finish line in 7.133 seconds at 189.07 mph, ahead of three-time series champion Angelle Savoie. Phillips is the third Black to win the Pro Stock Bike category in the last four races of 2003.

Phillips will always be an important historical figure as he was the first Black to win an NHRA pro title.

Redell Harris, is a rising star in Pro Stock Bike and sponsored by Master P's, No Limit Inc.

Steven Thomson
From Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., is the 2003 Pro FWD NOPI Fast & Furious Champion. At the end of 10 gruelling events he won a total of 1750points to take first place and bring home the trophy.

Thomson's of Pacific Performance has again entered the record books as a proven performance race shop.The 2003 civic coupe produced 850hp at the wheels from b18c motor(no nos). That by itself is an outstanding achievement.

Thomson's 3/4 tube-frame FWD 1999 Honda Civic HB

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Wanda Exum
When people spot Wanda Exum climbing out of her Altered, they usually stop and stare.

They usually think she's just sitting behind the wheel of someone's race car or just steering it while it was being towed someplace. Wanda is one of the few women drivers found on drag racing tracks around the Carolinas. Even when they see her wearing her fire suit and helmet, they still ask if she's the driver. They assume her husband is the driver, not her. It's really comical to Wanda.

Wanda didn't move from car enthusiast to driver until her husband, Thurman stopped driven and became her crew chief.

Wanda has excelled in the male-dominated International Hot Rod Association Top Dragster class. Every chance she gets, Wanda talks with women, especially college students, about drag racing. One goal, she said, is to change the perception of drag racing as a dangerous, male-dominated sport. She's made about 20 appearances at Rockingham.

Wanda's racing career has picked up speed since she graduated from Roy Hill's Drag Racing School in Rockingham in 1993.

The Greensboro resident has driven her S&W, 150-inch Altered to a best elapsed time of 6.83 at 196 mph. "Her car is very unique," said Steve Earwood, owner of Rockingham Dragway. "In fact, it's one of the most exciting cars out there. It's a front engine, short-wheel base. That makes it fairly erratic and you have to be pretty talented to handle it on the track."

Wanda, works as a business administrator with a Greensboro company and the mother of two grown sons who have not been attracted to drag racing. They contend their parents' past-time is "too loud, too dirty, and too hot. Her love for fast cars can be traced to her childhood in Rocky Mount.

Safety is always a priority with Wanda. She feels safe because she knows that Thurman makes sure that everything is in place before they get to the track. Wanda has not been involved in any major crashes.

"She's the fastest Black female in the nation in drag racing," said Wayne Clapp, founder and executive director of the Association for Minorities in Motor Sports.

Association for Minorities in Motor Sports also recognized the contributions of pioneering minority racers such as NASCAR's Wendell Scott, Bill Lester, Harold Mills and Willie T. Ribbs.

Wanda's plans are to keep racing until she can't get in -- or out of -- the car anymore. "Not everyone can drive a race car or have the nerve to do so. I'd be remiss in not using that talent."

Thurman Exum
Thurman, a professor in motorsports technology at N.C. A&T, raced for a while but now stays active in drag racing, in a different way. In 1993, his wife Wanda expressed an interest in driving. He didn't listen to her for about a year. Finally, she kept insisting that she wanted to drive. He had a new car built for her and sent her to Roy Hill Drag Racing School. Thurman builds engines for his wife Wanda and serves as crew chief, often staying up till the wee hours preparing the car for the next event.

Thurman says he gets a thrill out of watching Wanda race. "Wanda's one of the few minority drag racers, and being a female, it's enjoyable seeing "Wanda progress as a driver and wining rounds. In fact, she probably can drive better than I can now". With Shell Oil Company as their sponsor, they race in International Hot Rod Association events from North Carolina to Canada. They haven't won a national event yet, but they are getting there.

Thurman says, They have fun at this. They use this as relaxation. When they go racing, Thurman can forget about everything. This comes as no surprise, as he has fun at anything to do with cars. It's all part of his continuing love affair with the automobile, whatever phase it may be in.

Danny Booker
Based out of Pomona, CA raised the bar for black sportsman racers on the west coast with his 1994 racing operation. Booker's, reputation as a meticulous detailer, along with the color coordination of his Chevy Lumina, support vehicles and team uniforms, along with the car's performance was unmatched.

Booker was the first black sportsman racer in So. Cal. to make a seven second pass in a door car. In 1995, Booker's hard work paid off when his team won best appearing crew at the World Finals in Pomona. He should have also won best appearing car at that same event in 1995.

Booker left drag racing in the late '90s to concentrate on his business affairs and to secure the finances needed for his son Daniel, college fund to UNLV.

Bookers's Chevy Lumina

Booker will return to drag racing this year with his cousin Ron Weems to form a two car team. Booker will drive his Chevy Lumina and Weems, a Chevy S-10 truck. Booker will compete in Super Comp, Super Eliminator and possibly Comp Eliminator.

Geneva Williams
From Columbia, MD., has been around racing since, as she puts it, "She was knee high to a grasshopper." Her dad and her brothers were all drag racers and she supported them faithfully, all the while saying, "Hey, I bet I can do that!"

They finally gave her a shot in 1998 when they built her first racecar, in which she promptly turned 11 seconds in the 1/4 mile. Now in her fifth year, she is now turning 7.97 seconds at 173 mph, and 5.05 seconds at 148 mph. She aspires to compete professionally in the NHRA Pro Stock class. In just this short amount of time, "Gee Wiz," as her friends and fans call her, has discovered that drag racing is her true passion.

William's 1968 Camaro

In 2003 Gee Wiz was running at the top of the Outlaw Pro Street class. She broke her own track record of 2002, which was 5.10 @ 139 mph in the 1/8 mile, by going 5.05 @148 in the 1/8 mile.

Gee Wiz has set a lifelong goal to go 200 mph in 6 seconds. Prayerfully, when she gets her professional job in Pro Stock, this dream will become a reality.

She is truly grateful to God, the Wiz Racing family, and her BOSS - The Wiz (who is also her brother and crew chief).

Melvin LeForbes
from So. Cal. was one of the first black sportsman racers to win a National event, the 1986 Chief Nationals in Super Gas. LeForbes still competes in the sportsman ranks, Super Comp & Super Gas with his wife Deanna.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

LeForbes' Super Comp Dragster

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Dwight Strickland
Of Duarte, CA., at the age of 8, attended his first drag race with Wesley Johnson a very experienced racer for 30+ years.

It was at this time that Dwight found the sport he wanted to compete in.

Dwight had tried other sports, Baseball, Football, Basketball etc; but racing cars got his attention because of the competitive nature and the skills that it takes to navigate a vehicle at high speeds.

Through Mr. Johnson, Dwight was introduced to another racer, Randy Fabbro, Randy took him under his wings and taught him the skills of maintenance and repair and most important he taught him the safety skills and encouraged him to pursue the sport of racing cars.

After attending many racing events for several years with Wesley Johnson and Randy Fabbro, Wesley gave Dwight the coming of age opportunity to drive his 1966 Ford Mustang down a race track to obtain his National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) credentials to operate a race car.

Several years later Dwight purchased a car of his own a 1978 Ford Pinto and installed a big block 460 Chevy engine to compete in the Super Gas class, he still own the vehicle today.

Strickland's Super Gas 1978 Ford Pinto

After successfully competing in Super Gas Dwight had a desire to move up another class, Super Competition.

Dwight's brothers John Strickland Jr. and Larry Strickland gave him the encouragement to race two cars, so he began to build a Dragster from the frame up, installing a big block 502 Chevy motor that he purchased from Reher Morrison Motors, a racing engine manufacturer that specialize in building racing engines.

After a short period, they had the dragster assembled and ready for competition.

Dwight have worked to afford his own race vehicles and have done much of the work to assemble and install all the components on his own.

Dwight have attempted to secure sponsorship on several occasions only to be let down with promises.

With the assistance of his family, too include his brothers John and Larry, his Mother Barbara Strickland, sister Wendy Strickland Busby, his Uncle Wayne McGhee and a very close friend Charles Hunter, Dwight is given the support needed to continue his quest to win a championship.

With the good Grace and Blessings of his Lord and Jesus Christ, Dwight feels that he have accomplished a great deal, especially in years 2002, 2003 and 2004 placing in the semi finals at racing events in Las Vegas, Sacramento and going deep into rounds four and five in other racing events in Phoenix, Arizona, Sonoma and Pomona, California.

In September 2003, Dwight won the National Open at LACR (Palmdale).

In 2004 at the 50th Anniversary in Indy qualified #4 in Super Comp. Also in 2004 qualified #1 in Super Gas at the finals In Pomona.

"The opportunity to race has been educational for me I have met many people from all walks of life and have gained knowledge from this experience."

"To sum it up, it all began when the Late Wesley Johnson decided to take me on an outing, to the Drag Races when I was just a child."

Strickland's Super Comp Dragster

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Willie Evans, crew chief for many-time Super Stock World Champ Jeff Taylor and the late Vinston Holmes.

Paul Pittman, based out of Bloomington, Minn. Won the NHRA Champion Auto Stores Super Gas crown in 1991.

Bracket Masters Racing Team (BMRT) of Baton Rouge - Jr. Dragster program

The BMRT Jr.Dragster Team

is for drivers 8 -16 years of age. Children who will drive the Jr. Dragsters must become members of the NHRA Castrol GTX Jr. Dragster League. The main thrust of the Jr. Dragster program is to teach children about the different "systems" that make a car run. BMRT would like to teach them how to build and maintain a car. They want them to know about the many careers associated with the automobile industry, and to instill in them that there is more to a car than just driving. It takes many types of engineers, biologists, chemists, physicists, mathematicians and other disciplines to build an automobile. The after-the-sale people involved in the automobile industry are just as diverse.

BMRT Jr.Dragster Drivers The Herbert's

Scholarship Program Children participating in their Jr. Dragster Program can earn a $500 College Scholarship upon graduation from High School. They must have a combined GPA, equal to or greater than 2.5, good conduct, and the written recommendation of one of their teachers. Children competing for the Scholarship must submit an official BMRT Scholarship Form (Essay Cover Letter) and participate in an interview by a board, made up of members of BMRT, a teacher and/or members of the BMRT Board of Directors. The scholarship will be awarded upon submission of proof of acceptance to an accredited Trade School, 2-year or 4-year college or university. BMRT is the sole authority on the validity of the acceptance criteria. After acceptance to college, and approval by BMRT, there is no restriction on how the money can be used once awarded. Five (5) $500 scholarships may be awarded each year.

Jeremy Herbert

BMRT Jr.Dragster Team Helps Barbara Get Ready For A Run

Toshia Helps Jeremy Get Ready For A Run

Liz & Jeremy Herbert

Bracket Masters Racing Team has been chosen by NHRA to take part in delivering information from their Youth & Educational Services (YES) program to the youth of their area. The (YES) program takes into account all the things mentioned above and puts it into a format that can be taught in High Schools and Elementary Schools. Members of Bracket Masters go into schools and take part in Career Day Programs and deliver the (YES) educational materials along with showing the (YES) video.

Barbara Herbert After Her First Pass!

They take two team cars and show the many systems that are needed to drive the cars. They also point out the many different craftsman that are necessary to construct the race cars, as well as, the careers necessary to operate a successful racing organization. They also show the education necessary to achieve success in these same fields. In addition, the (YES) materials can be used by teachers as a part of their regular curriculum. For more information about Bracket Masters race team, go to: www.bracketmasters.com

BMRT President O. A. "Skip" Holbert & Grandson Jeremy Herbert

Naasia Flournoy, is a 10-year-old from Carson, CA., who competes in the NHRA Jr. Dragster class.

She is the fourth member of her family to take up the sport. Her grandfather, Eddie - father, Rodney and sister, Thais all participated in drag racing.

Braylen Bennett
The 10 year old from Rialto, CA., is a third generation drag racer following in the foot steps of his grandfather, Daniel, and father, Greg.

Braylen will compete in the NHRA Jr. Dragster class a smaller versions of full-scale dragsters powered by Briggs & Stratton engines and capable of reaching 80 mph in the 1/8 mile.

Amanda Smith
from Reading, PA., started drag racing in junior dragsters at the age of 8. Now at age of 12, Amanda has done very well in school and on the track. Amanda became the first black female to win an NHRA Divisional race in 2002, and was National runner-up in 2003. For more information about Amanda and her race team, go to: www.amandasraceteam.com
                                       

The future is in our hands, as seen from our past and present contributions and accomplishments. We know we've only scratched the surface. There are more Black drag racers and stories about Blacks in drag racing to be told. As we find the stories, we will present them to you.

Join Black Dragracers.com in helping to make the future the brightest and best it can be.