Next Level Guaranteed Million win moves Tyler Bohannon into exclusive club By Nate Van Wagnen
At just 23 years old , third-generation racer Tyler Bohannon made bracket racing history when he became just the second winner of the Great American Guaranteed Million at Capital City Motorsports Park in late November . He walked away with a seven-figure check , a championship belt , a custom trophy , and bragging rights as the winner of the highest paying drag race in 2021 . “ For a kid my age , you ’ re looking for that one thing that will move you up to that next level with the guys you ’ ve looked up to your whole
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life ,” says Bohannon , who defeated Stephen Mc- Crory in the final round . “ A race like that is what I personally think does that for you . It changes the way people look at you when you come to the racetrack .
“ This sport , to me , has been everything ,” Bohannon continues . “ I ’ ve quit every other sport I ’ ve ever played . Racing has always been No . 1 in my life . For me to be able to accomplish that goal is a pinnacle moment in my racing career because it takes you to that next level .”
The 2018 DI 30 Under 30 honoree closed out the season – or started a new one – with a $ 20,000 win at the New Year ’ s Nationals over New Year ’ s weekend . It was rewarding for Bohannon to deliver a couple standout performances at the tail end of the season for everyone who supports him , including his father , Chuck .
“ Just a lot of good people came together to help me get there ,” Bohannon says . “ My dad ’ s given up just about everything to help me make it in this sport . He knew I never wanted to do anything else and it was a dream of mine to make this my life . He ’ s given up literally everything to try to make that possible . That ’ s something I ’ ll never be able to pay him back for . J . P . Schuster has given
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me a car to win with the last couple months . Jeff Taylor Performance and Mickey Thompson Tires and a lot of other people give me the equipment to give me the best chance .”
While it will be hard to top a million-dollar win , Bohannon is chasing another big accomplishment this season : an NHRA Lucas Oil Series world championship .
“ I was raised as a Stock / Super Stock racer so I still have a big itch to win a world championship ,” says the Kentucky native . “ That ’ s goal No . 1 , as well as the bracket racing we can do when we ’ re not at NHRA events . Just try to ride the wave while it ’ s here .”
Bohannon will also continue to put on races of his own through TB Promotions , the race promotion company he started with Brian Whitworth . The duo will expand from the three races they held in 2021 and will host races at World Wide Technology Raceway near St . Louis and Kil-Kare Raceway in Xenia , Ohio .
“ We ’ re actually adding another event , so we ’ ll have four this year ,” Bohannon says . “ We ’ re taking it to some new venues and trying to continue to grow those events and make them better for the racer .” DI
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PHOTOGRAPHS BY HOLLOWAY SAUNDERS |