PHOTOS: RICK BELDEN, NHRA / NATIONAL DRAGSTER

Sanford, though, was steadfast. If she was going to be happy, her dream had to become reality.

“ Literally since I was a little girl, I had that tunnel vision to get to the point where I could drive a Top Fuel dragster,” Sanford begins.“ I believe I’ m meant to drive a Top Fuel dragster. I’ ve always had that feeling. If I could do anything in the world, it would be this.”

So when that childhood dream came to fruition in 2017 – at the historic U. S. Nationals of all places, where she qualified No. 14 – Sanford’ s years of diligence paid off. And when she got to race a second NHRA Top Fuel race in St. Louis weeks later, it only reaffirmed what she believed about racing in the class. And, finally, when Sanford went across the world to race Top Fuel in Australia two separate times with the Rapisarda family, it sent the ever-enthusiastic Sanford to another level.

Now there are vision boards only filled with Top Fuel dreams, constant ideas and even bigger goals. Sanford’ s dream of racing in Top Fuel may have been realized, but to her, this is only the beginning.

“ I have big plans and big goals as a driver in this sport,” Sanford declares.“ Having that honor to drive a Top Fuel car made me realize even more that this is what I want to do. Even in Indy, there was so much pressure, but I had this sense of knowing it was going to work out.”

Nothing is concrete as of mid-February, but Sanford is confident a deal will be signed soon that will allow her to her 2018 NHRA debut mid-season and race the rest of the year, with plans for a full schedule in 2019.

Believe it and dream it into reality has become her mantra, and with how it’ s worked out so far, doubting her may not be wise.

“ I believe I have a place out there,” Sanford posits.“ This is all an ongoing process and that’ s what I tell people. You always have to work hard. My

biggest thing is I believed in myself and I had a passion for it. I express that to anyone, and being a younger female, I want to create that platform. If you feel strongly about something and believe in yourself, you can make it happen.”

The 24-year-old Sanford is bubbly, energetic and seemingly always smiling, precisely the type of qualities needed to create future stars in the sport. Sanford has already proven she’ s talented behind the wheel, too, whether it was growing up watching and racing sand drag cars with her father or racing in NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster.

Next up is mastering the boardroom, but Sanford has quickly learned to roll with the punches. There have been the usual rejection letters and e-mails, broken promises and unreturned phone calls that make up the sometimes-harsh world of drag racing sponsorship. It continues to be a rigorous process, but Sanford has kept her smile and her positive attitude, unrelenting in her quest to secure something big.

“ I came into this wanting to be a race car driver and came out a businesswoman,” Sanford laughs.“ For me, it’ s just made me realize how much I love it. Good things don’ t come easy, and the biggest thing I’ ve realized is just to find patience and believe in the process. I like to get things done really fast. That’ s the drag racer in me, but companies don’ t work at that speed. It’ s a matter of surrounding yourself with people who believe in you.”

At the center of that is Sanford’ s mother, Michele, and father, Shane. Her dad is the racer, as Sanford watched him compete in the 300-foot sand drag racing course in his dune buggy growing up, while her mother is the stable force. Sanford took her first trip on the sand course almost moments after she got her driver’ s license when she turned 16, going as quick as 3.50 at 155 mph in a blown alcohol sand dragster. She quickly showed poise and unnerving talent, graduating to the NHRA Top Alcohol ranks. But Sanford knows she is meant for Top Fuel, and she can’ t wait to enjoy the ride.

“ To debut in Indy, that accomplished the dream. I was that little girl who got a lot of eyes rolled at me or people would sarcastically tell me good luck,” Sanford says.“ I have to pinch myself throughout this whole process. I’ m so stoked. It really does feel like a dream.”

One that, without question, has come true.

- JOSH HACHAT DI

March 2018 DragIllustrated. com | Drag Illustrated | 91