Tom Hammonds
Tom Hammonds lives to compete.

Even as he sat atop a bulldozer Tuesday morning, set to break ground on his new racing headquarters inside the Holt Industrial Park in Crestview Fla., the 6-foot-9 former NBA star was in a competitive mood.

Hammonds aimed the dozer toward the biggest tree he could find and proceeded to go one on one.

"This the culmination of a lot of hard work and a lot of prayers just to have a chance to build our own professional race shop here in Holt," said Hammonds as he and his crew began clearing two of the 10 acres he owns, which will house Tom Hammonds Enterprises, LLC. The 11,000-square-foot facility will include an in-house engine program, a machine shop, offices and a showroom for the cars.

"It's a dream come true," the 39-year-old Hammonds added. "God willing, this is how I'm going to spend the next 30 years, hopefully going out there and racing, winning races and having fun."

After a three-year hiatus from professional drag racing, Hammonds plans to return to Pro Stock in 2007 behind the wheel of a Rick Jones-built Chevy Cobalt. He last competed at an Pro Stock event in March 2003 in Gainesville.

"I'm excited about this program, because for the first time, I will be able to put a full 100-percent effort into racing Pro Stock," Hammonds said. "When I raced before, I was still playing in the NBA, and then when I retired from basketball, I was devoted to other business ventures. I couldn't give my full attention to racing, and given the limited amount of time we had on the track, I still think we were pretty successful."

He already has his sights set on the season's first race, the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals to be held Feb. 8-11 in Pomona, Calif.

"I've always loved racing and I tell you what, Pro Stock is probably the most competitive you can get," he said. "So I don't know if I'm jumping back from the frying pan to the fire, but I've got faith and I think everything will be just fine."

Hammonds starts the porocess of clearing his land.

The former All-American and two-time All-ACC selection at Georgia Tech has moved back to the Hub City for the first time since 1985, when he led Crestview High to the school's lone state championship in any team sport.

While earning his degree in business and industrial management, Hammonds was an NBA Lottery pick when he was chosen ninth overall by the Washington Bullets in the 1989 draft.

After a 12-year NBA career -- spending time with the Bullets, Charlotte Hornets, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves -- Hammonds called it quits in 2001, due mostly to deteriorated cartilage in both ankles.

He began his racing career in Pro Stock in 1997. In 2002, he had a career-best two second-place finishes and finished 14th in the season standings.

Two years later, Hammonds completed the final coursework in the GM Minority Dealer Development Program and opened Tom Hammonds Chevrolet in Darlington, S.C.

As a dealership owner, he was forced to step down from the racing circuit and commit all of his time to the business.

After playing tug-o-war with his future and his desires, Hammonds decided last December to sell the dealership and return to the NHRA full-time with his own team.

"It was a tough decision, but when I was working at the dealership I really missed that competitive side," he said. "There's nothing like competing your whole life, then going in and sitting behind a desk.

"I enjoyed the business, and GM has actually come to me recently with an opportunity to get more stores. But racing is what I want to do now."

Chevrolet immediately jumped back on board, along with Mac Tools and Industrial Depot as the three premiere sponsors for Hammonds' race team. He is still looking for one more major partner to complete the package.

Hammonds' Chevy Cobalt

"Team Chevy is proud to support Tom Hammonds upon his return to NHRA Pro Stock racing in 2007," said GM drag racing marketing manager Fred Simmonds in an interview with dragraceusa.com. "Tom was a valued member of our team when he raced his Pro Stock Chevy Cavalier several years ago, and we're looking forward to renewing our relationship with one of the class acts among professional athletes."

Drawing from his first-stint in the sport, Hammonds has brought back Jimmy Oliver as his primary engine builder. Oliver, a 30-year veteran in the business, is regarded as one of the top three engine builders in the country.

"It's fun to do something like this from the ground up," said Oliver, who is in the process of moving down from Columbus, Ohio. "Tom's a good driver, he's team-oriented, he has a goal and he knows how to get there, so I think he will do well.

"I think this can eventually be a championship team. Tom is motivated to do it and he has the right program. If we can all execute the program, there's no reason we can't make it to the top."

Hammonds is still seeking a crew chief to complete the team and is confident he will find the right person for the job.

"I know what it takes to win and I know how to win," Hammonds said. "I know that it takes hard work. But on top of the hard work, it takes good people.

"That's one of the main things I learned throughout the dealership process. You get good people, let them do their job, take care of those people, then you work your butt off. That's really the secret to success."

One of his reasons for choosing Holt to base his team is the proximity to the Emerald Coast Dragway, where he will do the majority of his testing. Although the strip is only an eighth of a mile -- half the distance of the standard quarter-mile tracks used in NHRA -- Hammonds said it is adequate enough to meet their needs.

"I'm just so excited about being back and having the chance to make a difference in this community," he said. "I'm looking forward to having people come out and see what's going on. We will have an Open House when everything is up and running.

"I think this is outstanding for this area, just to have a full-fledge professional race team come out of Holt and the Crestview area."

With all of the fun that Hammonds looks forward to behind the steering wheel, he still keeps the business aspect in perspective.

Hammonds breaks ground with, from left, his mother Ruth Brunson, mechanic Mark Houston, engine builder Jimmy Oliver and engine shop assistant Tim Roberts.

"It's a business and it will be run like a business," he said. "We've got a lot of work ahead of us. In order to be competitive in this sport you've got to concentrate 110 percent on your own program.

"We had a lot of success the first time around, but I think the thing that can now take us to the next level is having our own shop here in this area."

Hammonds also hopes to bring in some local talent, such as mechanics and drivers, to join his team when the time comes.

"There is a lot of talent in this area that we can use, and we want to tap into that," he said. "I don't have to go to North Carolina. I can find people right here."

Hammonds also has three sons -- Tom IV, 21, Keelan, 11, and Kaison, 7 -- who he hopes to bring on board when they are ready. Tom IV is playing college basketball at North Florida after transferring from East Carolina last season.

"Heck yeah, I'm going to have those boys in here helping out," the elder Hammonds said. "They can come in here and clean up or sweep the floors or something."

Hammonds has now put basketball behind him, other than watching a game every now and again. But his philosophy for success is still the same, whether on the court or on the drag strip.

"It takes a team. No matter what you do in life it takes a team effort to be successful," he said. "I'm a big believer in that you get out of something what you put into it. If you devote 100 percent of your time and effort into something, you're going to get good results, regardless of what it is. I'm confident that we can be competitive and that we will be successful." I just thank God everything is coming together."

Hammonds's Outlaw Pro Street Camaro

1992-94 Hammond campaigned a Camaro in the world's fastest street legal cars, and was the quickest & fastest Pro Street car in the game at the time.

Hammond's Camaro was the car that started the whole Outlaw Pro Street class back in the day because of his height, Hammond, had to put the seat so far back and they wouldn't allow the car in Pro Street. So the promoters created the Outlaw Pro Street class for the event. The Camaro was a beautiful car and is a piece of drag racing history.

Peggy Llewellyn
Peggy Llewellyn, who rose to prominence as NHRA's first female African-American Pro competitor during the 2001 season, will return to the Pro Stock Motorcycle class this year as part of a new team fielded by Texas-based Ford dealer Karl Klement and his wife, Kim.

“It has always been my plan to get back out there,” said Llewellyn. “It's something I wanted to do, but I wanted to make sure it was something I could do.”

Llewellyn recently enrolled in Bryce's Pro Stock Motorcycle program at Frank Hawley's NHRA Drag Racing School in Gainesville and immediately caught Bryce's attention.

“George called me around Halloween and told me about Karl and how he wanted to put together a team," said Llewellyn, who at 5 feet 2 inches tall and 115 pounds is the perfect size for a Pro Stock Motorcycle rider. "Then it was on fast-forward, and I was back at the school again.”

The team plans to build two new bikes, a Suzuki GSX-R and a Buell V-Twin, and after extensive testing race whichever is quicker when the 2007 Pro Stock Motorcycle season begins at the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals March 15-18.

Drag racing 'roots' are firmly planted. Her dad, Eugene Llewellyn, actually planted the need for speed seed. He is the owner of Southeast Cycles in San Antonio, Texas and an avid drag racer himself.

There family outings consisted of loading her father's Honda nitro funny bike onto the trailer and heading out to Alamo Dragway. She can remember looking forward to racing each weekend with enthusiasm because besides watching her dad race, her brother and she would get to race against each other on our Dandy 'pocket rocket' bikes. The racing bug bit her (again) while pit crewing for her brother in late 1994. The same feeling she would get when her brother and she would race, the intensity and excitement of racing all came back to her.

She asked her father if he would build her a dragbike, mind you he already had an idea of what kind of dragbike he wanted to build her, he just wanted to make sure she was going to be 100% committed to the project. He didn't want her to get fed up and abandon the whole thing. Her father sat her down and went over the cost and time it would take to build a dragbike. Within a week she had bought a GS1150, her dad and brother totally gutted the bike and sent the bare chassis to Robbie at RLM (in San Antonio) to get raked. She had already used all of her savings, but her drive and determination wouldn't let lack of money be a problem for her. She took on a second job, worked some overtime and used her quarterly bonuses to finish her dragbike. In the meantime, her father and brother wanted her to get a feel for a dragbike, although she had rode motorcycles since she was seven years old, piloting a dragbike was a different concept. Her father and brother would have her practice burnouts and dry-hops in front of the shop. Her dad and brother decided in order to get the full effect of racing down the quarter mile, she would need to go out to the track and actually do some shakedown passes on her brother's dragbike. On the weekends if her brother went out in competition early, she would get to make some passes on the bike. Her brother had a KZ900 1428cc with a 3-speed automatic transmission. Her brother gave her some informal training on piloting the bike. Her first couple of passes were in the 10's and 11's. She was just getting acquainted with the dragbike, so her brother told her not to worry about the e.t. She had to get used to the launch, as well as using body finesse if the bike should get out of shape or starts to drift and most importantly keeping the bike on the 'power band' by being able to hit all her shift points. The third weekend on the bike she took all the informal training and turned in a 9.18 @ 140mph! She was already looking past just racing at the local track. Turning her hobby into a 'career' as a professional racer like Dave Schultz and John Myers was highly unlikely, ESPECIALLY for a woman. She decided she would hone her skills, get her license and race the Division 4 circuit. All that changed in July 1996 when Stephanie Reaves (the first women to ever receive an NHRA PSB license and qualify for a national event) along with Angelle Savoie and Karen Stouffer qualified for the Mile-High Nationals in Denver. The prostock motorcycle class was forever changed. These women came into a male-dominated sport and proved they were a force to be reckon with. Without these pioneers, it would be impossible for her to even consider a career in drag racing, at that point she reassessed her priorities. It took 2 1/2 years before her bike was finished, but she had decided to make racing a prostock motorcycle her #1 goal. In 2000, she got the opportunity of a lifetime. The chance to compete in NHRA PSB for the 2001 race season for Harry and Joann Lartigue of Lartigue Racing! After getting the job, she was scheduled to go to Houston to do some test passes on the bike.

She don't remember being that nervous, but her dad was. They first practiced burnout and dryhops, but she really couldn't wait for was a full pass. They were looking to do some 8.20's mind you the fastest pass she had ever gone was 8.93 @ 147mph. Geez! that's what a prostock bike does at half track. Harry wanted her to get familiar with the launch, the shifting (which is a lot quicker), just the whole process of riding a prostock bike. It's funny, but Harry said when he taps her on the back to go ahead and stage. Well, she was so anxious that she did her burnout, pulled up and turned on her first bulb, then second, the lights blinked and she took off. She know she banged every gear. She did keep the bike straight, although it drifted on the top end a bit. She was disappointed 'cause the run was over so fast! It was like she popped the clutch, bam, time to pull the clutch in! Just like that. Well Harry and her dad came to the other end. Harry asked her how that felt. Honestly, she didn't know her mind was still at the starting line. He also asked her what do you think you ran. Well, she was thinking maybe an 8.50 (remember she told us she banged every gear). She was totally floored when he told her she ran a 7.77!!!! A 7.77! holy cow. She was so pumped, she did 3 or 4 more passes in the 7's, so that day, her first day on a psb she was able to upgrade her bracket racing license to a psb license. They only competed half the season and out of the six races she qualified at three. She was also up for Rookie of the Year. "I look forward to returning to the circuit in the future. The competition has become fierce, we have Harleys and Buells that add excitement & growth to our class, and a crop of talented new riders. There is also the possibility of the first six second pass this season. I hope the right opportunity will present it self, so that I will be able to add myself to the NHRA PSB history books!"

Jonathan Womack

2004 NHRA Division 4 Sportsman Driver Of The Year.

Of Houston, Texas., made history by becoming the frist black to win a NHRA National Championship. Womack won the 2004 Super Gas National Championship at the 40th Annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals-Pomona, Calif.

Not only did Womack achieve his championship status at the young age of 23, but it also took place in only his third full season of Super Gas competition.

There has never been a lack of excitement at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals when it comes to determining the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series champions. Just two years ago, for instance, four different drivers had a mathematical chance of passing the points leader at that event.

Womack Family Racing Super Gas 2000 Corvette Roadster

Fast-forward to 2004, and Jonathan Womack was the leader going into the event, needing only to win three rounds to hold off the only other contender: Stalba. Womack rose to the occasion with a holeshot-aided 9.928 to 9.916 win over Chip Rumis in the third stanza. But it was only after the win light came on in that round that the real drama began.

Said Womack, "I remember the car launched crooked, but I got it straightened out, and everything was fine for the rest of the run. Then, after I crossed the finish line and started pumping my fist while beginning to apply the brakes, I saw what I thought was a puff of smoke, but it was actually water. One of the freeze plugs, which must have been leaking at the start, popped out of the block, and I couldn't slow the car down.

The Team Checking Over The Car Before Returning Sunday Morning For Round Four

" Then, right before the sand traps at the end of the shutdown area, the car did a complete 360-degree turn, then turned some more; the front of my car was pointing toward the starting line when I finally came to a stop. Fortunately for us, that was the last round of eliminations Saturday night, so we were able to take an hour or so to check the car out before returning Sunday morning for round four."

" This is just as awesome as it gets, especially when you consider that we weren't even thinking about going for the title at the beginning of the year," said Womack. "Our primary focus was just doing well at the Division 4 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events, and we were fortunate enough to do very well at those as we went through our schedule without ever going out in the first round."

Of the races that Womack claimed for his points total, he started off strong with a semifinal finish at the NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals in April and a win at Texas' Cherokee County Motorsports Park in June.

" That win at Cherokee really set the table for us," said Womack, "but at that time we still weren't thinking about going after the title."

But Womack had the bar raised for him following his national event victory in Dallas in September.

" That put us in the hunt for the points," said Womack. "And after we were runner-up at the Division 2 race in Gainesville about a month later, we added the Division 7 points meet in Las Vegas and the NHRA Finals to our traveling schedule."

At the Las Vegas event, Womack went at least four rounds to improve on one of his prior events, and by reaching the semi's at the Finals, he ended up with a 633 to 605 point advantage over Stalba.

Said Womack, who makes a living as a barber in Houston, "I'm living a dream because I'm the two things I've always wanted to be: a barber and a drag racing national champion. My ultimate goal is to race in Pro Stock. I love Pro categories, and I love the Pro Stock class. I know that it will take a lot of help with financial banking from sponsors, but we're already working on things now that will help us toward that goal. Winning the championship this year in Super Gas certainly will be a big help to our prospects."

Womack was emphatic about thanking those who have made his racing career possible.

" I have to thank my parents Warren and Madelyn and my brother Warren Jr. My parents have provided me with financial and moral support, without which I wouldn't be racing," said Womack. "I'd also like to thank the guys at Hoosier, Dennis Faerman of Faerman Racing Engines in Houston, Jimmy Arabie Sr. and Jr. at Arabie Racing Transmissions in Baytown [Texas], and all of the Division 4 racers. In addition, I thank the racers in Pomona who helped me go over my car after the spinout in the first round. Even Pete Bothe, the guy I had to run on the next round Sunday, offered to help. All of that made winning this thing all the more special. Like I said, I'm living a dream."

Womack Family Racing Members Are From Left To Right: Warren Womack Jr., Warren Womack Sr. And Jonathan Womack

Steve Hamilton
Steve's 16 years of racing experience enables the team to focus on a professional presence and great fan relations. His racing career started in the early 1980's in most basic class, "bracket racing". His first taste of racing was from a friend Wayne Simons whom took Steve to Great Lakes Dragway in WI. That day proved to be the turning point in Steve's life. He entered a race for all Buicks and won races against all of the areas top racers. In fact, he won the overall title that day!

Now having the bug, Steve set out to build a basic race car. He competed in the street class in his first year of racing and finished in the top 10 at his local track. The next year, he stepped up to the top level "super pro" at his local track and again finished in the top ten.

Steve also began traveling across the country to many big money bracket races for several years, which he was always considered a threat to every other driver. Next, Steve tackled the challenging class of super comp in a 170 mph dragster. Instant success on the local level permitted him to move up to the NHRA professional sportsman level. This is where he met many professional racers, including 1999 Top Fuel World champion, Tony Schumacher. In fact, they both raced side-by-side in super comp. Tony was the first person to oversee and sign Steve's Top Fuel licenseced side-by-side in super comp.

In 2006, Steve decided to go back to his roots and race in the Top Dragster class until some thing shakes loose in Top Fuel. While some might think this is a step backwards, the truth is the cost of racing in top fuel is astronomical and while Steve is still chasing that dream, he has decided it's best to keep racing until an opportunity presents itself.

Steve has signed Mellos Peanuts and Popcorn company for the 2007 season.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

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.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

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 has return to drag racing and will compete in PSCA Outlaw Street & the NHRA Top Sportsman.

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' Chevy S-10 Truck

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

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.