Dirt
early on Friday before qualifying and we make
it happen. She’s so good with Paxton during the
day while I’m racing and working on the cars.”
Racing with his wife and son has brought a
lot of joy into Plourd’s racing successes, but he
remembers a time when going to the races was
purely to make a paycheck in order to keep racing.
“When I decided to go race full time, winning
the races I went to was important to earn a living. I would go to races praying I would win at
least some money. At that time, I had a home
back in Seattle, Washington, but I didn’t have a
lot of expenses at home so I was able to do it. At
one point, I had the idea to run two cars and I
kind of got in over my head for a little bit and all
I could do was bank on that next win. That really
takes a toll on you and your racing because you’re
basically showing up to the track almost needing
to win and we all know how hard that is. Drag
Racing is extreme luck and skill combined – there
are literally no guarantees. This sport, honestly, is
almost like gambling in a way – you have to take
your skill and hope it’s better than the other guy/
gal’s skill and that you’re lucky enough to come
out with the win. You need both – skill and luck.”
Plourd thanks Lucas Oil for being there and
supporting him since the beginning. The partnership started with a small amount of help and
has blossomed into a big time partnership with
Plourd. The assistance from Lucas Oil has allowed Brad to focus on his racing instead of the
pressure of having to win the “Happy Gilmore
Check” at the end of the weekend in order to
continue racing.
“When I got married, I wanted to slow down
on racing a little bit because I didn’t want to be
on the road as much anymore,” he says. “When
you have a home base with a beautiful wife at
home like Katie, you don’t want to be gone long.”
The birth of their son Paxton has opened
Plourd’s eyes to a new chapter of his racing career.
“I’m not that kid driving across the country
anymore,” Plourd admits. “I feel like I’m driving
as good as I’ve ever driven and I feel partly a
reason for that is I know I have a beautiful wife
and beautiful son when I come back to the pits.
Racing is still very important to me, but racing
is secondary to my family. Racing has been my
whole life for as long as I can remember, but I
feel like the pressure is off now because I get to
come home to them.”
Although Plourd’s priorities have shifted since
his early years in the sport, he still feels he’s growing in his driving and the best is yet to come.
“Every time I go out, I feel like I’m getting better,” says Plourd. “That’s weird to say because
about five years ago, I thought I knew everything,
but now I think I learn something new every
run I make. The results may not show it all the
time, but I’m racing better than I’ve ever
raced before.”
As for if Paxton will be encouraged to
race when he becomes of age, Plourd says
he will gladly turn over the keys to his
blue 1966 Nova to his son when he’s ready.
“The blue Nova is my baby,” he says. “I’ve
had it since I was in high school. We’ve
already given the car to Paxton and when
he’s ready to race, it’s all his. Around here,
he can race locally when he’s young; you
don’t have to be 16. We’ll get him in the
car earlier than most kids if he wants to.”
Plourd couldn’t imagine racing without
the love and support of his wife, Katie, and his
parents Bernie and Ronna, as well as his in-laws,
Richard and Pam Yeager, but he’s tremendously
grateful for the companies that have stuck by
his side through the years, including Lucas Oil,
Hoosier Tire, BTE Transmission and Converters,
and Huntsville Engine.
“The driver always gets the glory, I guess,” says
Plourd, “but I know I couldn’t do it without all
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40 | D r a g
I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
Issue 110
PHOTOS: SADIE FLOYD
BRAD PLOURD