Dirt
20 | D r a g
I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
Her dad is suitably impressed and equally en-
thusiastic about what the new 632ci powerplant
will bring to Tricia’s program, led by Bankston,
who purchased the car for her as a birthday pres-
ent shortly before the couple became engaged
last May at their home in Jackson, Mississippi.
“It couldn’t be any better. I’m happy to see the
car back out there, especially with Tricia being
in it,” Pat Musi says. “And now, I don’t think Mi-
chael will ever sell that car; he’s just that kind of
guy. So it’s in good hands. We’re real happy for
both of them.”
D rag I llustrateD recently spoke with Tricia
about what it means to have Popeye II back as
part of the extended Musi Racing family, as well
as where she hopes the car will eventually take her.
You took a break from racing. How does it
feel not only to be back in a fast car, but in
what’s probably your dad’s most famous ride?
Yeah, I took three years off, from 2015, so last
year was my return to driving. And it feels like
coming home. I mean, I get my family back, my
racing family. And driving my dad’s car? That
was a dream since I was a little kid. So now it’s
just ... everything is ... it’s kinda’ hard to take it
all in. I feel like I’ve got a high reputation to keep
up to, you know?
That’s understandable, especially with your
sister also doing so well in Pro Nitrous and
now No Prep, too. So it has to feel good, just to
show that given the opportunity you can get
the job done.
Issue 146
N
early two decades ago, Tricia
Musi and older sister Lizzy each
taped a shiny, new penny as good luck
to the floorboard of “Popeye II,” their
father’s brand-new race car. Remarkably, one of
those pennies is still hanging in there, having
survived tire shake, bumps in the road, wild rides,
and who knows how many quarter-mile passes
and visits to the winner’s circle at the hands of
legendary racer and engine builder Pat Musi.
Today, though, it’s Tricia piloting the bright-
green ‘99 Firebird to victory within the NMCA’s
Nitrous Pro Street ranks, where two wins in three
races have added up to a healthy lead for her at
the halfway point of the 2019 series schedule.
“Last year, I finished third in points. I’m first
in points now, so hopefully we’re on our way to
a championship this year. There’s still a lot of
racing to do, though, and anything can happen,”
she realizes.
With team owner and fiancé Michael Bankston,
Tricia gets the job done with what she calls her
“nickname crew,” including father-and-son helpers
Kyle and Ashton Magnuson, Cake, Quail, Pha-
raoh, Kim, and Dougadoo.
“I know everybody says it, but my guys really
are the best and the car has been great so far, but
we’re gonna’ be making some changes, a new mo-
tor real soon – from Pat Musi Racing, of course
– so I feel pretty good about our chances.”