Drag Illustrated Issue 140, January 2019 | Page 89
NHRA Nostalgia A/Fuel
Drew Austin
A
fter three straight run-
ner-up finishes to the same per-
son, Drew Austin was ready to do
just about anything to win his first
NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series A/
Fuel championship. As it turned
out, he just had to calm down.
A more relaxed Austin meant a more pre-
pared driver and also a more intense driver
when it counted. What it resulted in was a
dominant season that included world records,
three victories and the first A/Fuel world title
for Austin, the son of legendary driver Pat Aus-
tin, as he finally slipped past longtime champ
Kin Bates.
“I learned to back off, let the team do their
deal and trusting them to do it right,” Austin
says. “It was about staying calm and working
at a good pace. I calmed down a little bit and
could get hyped at the right time. Preparation
was key and just being able to stay calm in cer-
tain situations.”
Austin and Bates again dueled in 2018, a thor-
oughly entertaining battle that has pushed both
drivers to new levels over the past handful of
seasons. This time, Austin slipped past at the end
thanks to his victory at the California Hot Rod
Reunion to close out 2018. At the only event he
didn’t win this year – the March Meet to open
the year – Austin set the E.T. record in the class
with an unreal blast of 5.813.
But unlike previous years when a minor slip-
up cost Austin and his team, the team thrived on
consistent, outstanding performances.
“The coolest part of the whole year was seeing
it all come together,” says the 25-year-old Austin,
who earned a spot on Drag Illustrated’s 2017 30
Under 30 list. “It’s really cool to race somebody
like (Bates). It’s been a dogfight and we want to
win every aspect of that dragstrip.”
With a baby on the way in 2019, Austin is ready
to defend his title next year and he may also make
his debut in Nostalgia Funny Car.
“If we’re lucky enough to have the Funny Car
done and it runs well, we might show it, but I
really enjoy A/Fuel,” Austin states. “To do this
with my dad, it’s really exciting and it means a
lot to me.” - JOSH HACHAT
DI DI DI
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JOHN MAROTTEK NHRA NOSTALGIA JUNIOR FUEL // BRAD DENNY NHRA NOSTALGIA 7.0 PRO // ANITA MÄKELÄ FIA TOP FUEL
Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 9
DragIllustrated.com
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