BY THE time Garrett Griffith turned 9 , he was already begging his father for a Jr . Dragster . It turned out to be one of the best investments the Griffith family could have ever made .

Griffith has become a dynamo in the bracket racing ranks , as the now 19-year-old has picked up a number of marquee wins , including a $ 100,000 victory two years ago . This year , he won a $ 25,000 race at the Fall Fling , the warm-up race at the Summer Fling and a pair of $ 10,000-to-win races at Edgewater Raceway , along with a number of other victories that has made 2021 his best year to date on the track .

“ It ’ s been a pretty good season . I don ’ t know that there ’ s been too many weekends where we haven ’ t gone out and won a little money ,” says Griffith . “ It ’ s been pretty amazing and I ’ m blessed to be able to do it at my age . My mom and dad hook me up with some pretty good equipment and that ’ s very crucial in this sport .”

Griffith ’ s parents have been key in his rapid development at a young age , starting with the Jr . Dragster purchase a decade ago . His father , Chuck , raced before Garrett was born and now is instrumental in his son ’ s success . Whether Griffith is driving his blue ’ 02 Chevy S-10 truck , his ’ 78 Malibu or his dragster , his family is usually there every step of the way – making it all that much more special .

“ There ’ s nothing better than having them out there , getting to spend time with my dad and go racing with him ,” Griffith says . “ Whenever I have a little success , there ’ s nobody more proud than him . He loves the sport and he looks forward to it every weekend , and if he ’ s not there , he ’ s watching on the live feed .”

That passion has rubbed off on his son and Griffith is at a racetrack nearly every weekend . There ’ s no offseason as far as he ’ s concerned , and while Pro Mod may be the long-term dream for the young standout , Griffith is plenty content racing in the high-pressure situations that big-money bracket racing presents .

“ It seems like bracket racing is at its peak right now ,” Griffith says . “ It would be nice to keep racing like this and keep having some success . We ’ ll try to keep this going .” – JOSH HACHAT DI

IT ’ S TRUE what they say : friendships can really shape your future .

Luke Fath became friends with Corey and Colin Kalitta before he even hit double digits , and as one would expect of the children of one of drag racing ’ s most treasured lost racers , Scott Kalitta ’ s boys eventually wanted to take their friend to the dragstrip .

Fath ’ s first trip to the pits of NHRA legend Connie Kalitta was when he was just approaching the teen years . Once he got a taste of that thunderous nitro , though , there was no turning back .

“ I vividly remember that first race ,” he recalls . “ Cars were running when we first arrived , and I could hear them from the parking lot . I remember thinking , ‘ what the heck is that ?’”

For the next handful of years , Fath would venture to Michigan in the summer and attend the drag races with Corey and Colin . Between Chicago and Norwalk one summer , Fath , then just 19 , was offered a position in Kalitta Motorsports hospitality . Two weeks later , he began the move to Michigan .

After nearly two years in hospitality , Fath began taking on small marketing tasks , such as contributing to sponsor packets or assisting on the social media side of things for one of the most notable and decorated groups in NHRA history . Soon , he was moved over to the marketing team in a full-time role .

Day to day , Fath manages branding on the Kalitta Motorsports entries , from paint schemes and crew shirt designs to sponsor placement on the race cars . He has a hand in sponsor communications and on-site activations , as well as social media .

The role recently allowed one of the most memorable moments of his still-young career .

“ This year at Indy , we got to surprise Connie with his 1964 Bounty Hunter dragster recreation ,” details Fath , now 26 . “ Chad [ Head , Kalitta Motorsports General Manager ] gave me the directive to take that project and run with it , make it happen , and somehow keep it a secret . It was everything from the car design to t-shirts and planning the surprise for Connie . Having him turn around and see the car in Indy on Friday was the proudest moment I ’ ve had there .”

Kalitta was initially speechless at the reveal , then smiled and began telling the gathered group how the original car was the first to break 200 mph during qualifying at Indianapolis in 1964 . “ The smile on his face said it all ,” says Fath . “ It was pretty neat .” As for what ’ s on the horizon , Fath says he ’ s right where he wants to be . “ This is such a family . I can ’ t see working anywhere else ,” Fath asserts .

“ I want to see this team into the future and be part of what ’ s to come .” – KELLY WADE DI

PHOTOGRAPH BY CHRIS SIMMONS

104 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 172