cameron ferré
cameron ferré
the sport : Top Fuel . After licensing in the Paton family ’ s dragster in 2015 , he made his competition debut at the NHRA Carolina Nationals this year , earning his first round win over Tony Schumacher . Now , Ferré has even bigger things planned as he works toward his goals of racing Top Fuel fulltime while building the Racepak brand .
Speaking to Drag Illustrated from his office in Racepak ’ s Rancho Santa Margarita , California-based headquarters , Ferré discussed the evolution of both himself and the brand he represents , as well as what ’ s next for the world of data acquisition .
When we talked a little over a year ago for DRAG ILLUSTRATED ’ S annual Sportsman Issue , you were just starting to lay the groundwork for your move up to Top Fuel . In that time , you ’ ve not only earned your license , entered your first race , and qualified at your first race , but you also earned your first round win over the most successful driver in Top Fuel history . What has that process been like ?
It ’ s honestly been a lot of hard work and dedication and never giving up . I set out to do this when I was nine years old and my goal and dream and desire was to be in a Top Fuel car and I wasn ’ t going to stop until I got it . It ’ s not just getting in the car and stepping on the gas . There ’ s so much more that goes into doing something like that .
That even comes back to my college experience and my daily life at Racepak . I started at Racepak because I wanted to break into the industry and learn and meet people because I didn ’ t come from a motorsports family . I had to figure out how to get into the industry and let people know what I ’ m doing and what I want to do and where I plan on going . Racepak was an amazing fit to execute that . I hope to continue and get a full-time ride , but in the meantime it ’ s a fun journey , that ’ s for sure .
You ’ ve driven and worked on cars in several different classes in addition to your work at Racepak . Do you think that lends to your credibility as a professional drag racer ?
One hundred percent . I started here at Racepak with the intentions of meeting people within the industry . I didn ’ t know anybody from anybody when I went to my first Junior Dragster race ; I literally knew not one person . I went with my dad and a family friend of ours and we just gave it a go . We barely knew how to start the thing , seriously .
My dad is mechanically inclined from being in the body shop industry his whole life and we figured it out as we went , but it wasn ’ t like we could go call so-and-so if we had a question . I
Making Progress
A legitimate first-generation drag racer , Cameron Ferré didn ’ t have the luxury of a family full of racers , tuners or car owners to help him establish himself behind the wheel , so the crafty young man leaned on his natural charisma and advanced networking skills to lay the foundation for a career that has seen him progress from a Jr . Dragster to Top Fuel .
had to figure out a way to get into the industry . I bought a Super Comp car , started meeting people through that , and that ’ s what led to my job at Racepak . I tapped out in Super Comp as far as meeting people and I knew I had to progress .
Next thing I knew , I met Donny Cummins , who ’ s in charge of the Pro systems here at Racepak . I went up to Bakersfield to do the clutch on Leah Pritchett ’ s nostalgia Funny Car and Donny was doing the bottom end on the car . We started talking and I expressed interest in working at Racepak . Sure enough , he called me in for an interview a few weeks later . I was still in college at the time and I thought , here ’ s my dream job and I won ’ t be able to take it because I ’ m still in college . They were actually willing to work around my college schedule because they saw something in me . They took me under their wing
PHOTOS : NATE VAN WAGNEN , CAMERON FERRE RACING
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