30 UNDER 30
30 UNDER 30
PHOTOS : DRAG ILLUSTRATED ARCHIVES
TREVOR LARSON
For someone who admitted to making a lot of mistakes this year , things sure turned out pretty well for Trevor Larson . The 28-year-old Minnesota native achieved a major drag racing first in 2016 , becoming the first driver in the 32-year history of the JEGS Allstars to double up at the prestigious event , winning in both Super Gas and Super Comp . Considering the talent level competing in the annual event at Route 66 Raceway , and the fact it helped lead the NHRA West Central Division to the team title , it ’ s a significant accomplishment that also earned Larson a coveted spot on the Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 list .
“ I ’ m just honored to be selected ,” Larson said . “ I heard them say there were over 9,000 nominees for this . That ’ s pretty amazing . I ’ m just blessed and honored to be part of all of it .
“ Not everybody sees it , but I know I made a lot of mistakes this year . Sometimes you just get away with it . My goal is to just keep minimizing those mistakes . That ’ s been my focus and I ’ m going to keep working at it .”
That makes it sound like Larson is only going to get better , which could be a scary proposition for opponents after the year he had . The brightest highlight was clearly in Chicago , but it was a weekend that nearly never came to be . Larson qualified at the last Division 5 race at Great Bend , Kan . before the Allstars event , and then fell in the first round in both cars in the regular race . But Larson regrouped quickly , sweeping the Allstars competition by going 9.964 at 156.25 mph in Super Gas and 8.936 at 158.17 in Super Comp
“ Things just came together and worked out ,” Larson said . “ The weekend started pretty rough , but I just tried to stay focused and do the best I could . Me and my dad talk about that all the time , trying to eliminate mistakes and staying focused . We figured out a lot more top-end stuff this year , and the last couple years I ’ ve been calmer and focused .”
Larson ’ s father raced snowmobiles at a circle track , but Larson didn ’ t get his first experience at a dragstrip until a trip in seventh-grade with his brother , Matt . He started racing Junior Dragsters at 13 and has been hooked on the sport since .
“ My brother started racing and I went with him and thought it was awesome ,” Larson said .
“ I wanted to try it and it was so much fun . I just took to it and loved every part of it . I like the competition , but I also really enjoy that it ’ s a family sport .”
Larson is ready to build on his fantastic 2016 campaign as well . He will debut a new car at some point during 2017 and isn ’ t worried about any added pressure or attention that may come
with his 30 Under 30 selection and his historic double-up .
“( The pressure ) doesn ’ t really bother me that much ,” Larson said . “ I just stay focused on what ’ s ahead of me . All I can do is my best and hopefully that will get me some more win lights next year .”
– JOSH HACHAT DI
DI 30 UNDER 30 CLASS OF 2015
Vincent Nobile Leah Pritchett Justen Moser Kirk Wolf Mark Savage Mia Tedesco Rickie Jones Megan Fessel Schumacher Cameron Ferre Matt Sackman Daniel Pharris Preston Tanner Audrey Worm Steven Whiteley Jonnie Lindberg Kyle Dvorak Tera Wendland-Graves Jared Johnston Donovan Stott Brittany Force Tyler Crossnoe Drew Skillman Ashley Sanford John Paul Gutierrez Jon Schaffer PJ North Corey Michalek Jimmy Sackuvich Lizzy Musi Troy Coughlin Jr .
November 2016 DragIllustrated . com | Drag Illustrated | 121