BY KELLY WADE | PHOTOGRAPHS BY RICK BELDEN

HE FINAL round of the final race of the 2022 season was a stunning analogy for Taylor Vetter ’ s first full season in the Plan B Motorsports Top Alcohol Dragster . Throughout her 16-race push , Vetter experienced the full range of experience and emotion , and it all culminated in a stunning crash in the very round that came with a trophy at the season-closing NHRA Finals in Pomona . Unhurt but furious with herself , Vetter emerged from her slightly bruised supercharged , clutch-driven rail a woman intent on winning again – but doing it better .

“ It wasn ’ t the normal experience someone would have after winning their first national event ,” admits Vetter , who defeated Top Alcohol Dragster series champion Joey Severance in the final round , but did so as her dragster became unruly approaching the finish line . Although she averted crossing the centerline , the out-of-control dragster rolled on its side , slid , and smashed into the guardwall .

“ I was just so frustrated with my driving . My team and Nick [ Januik , boyfriend and tuner ], everyone was so excited to get our first win at the last race of the season . But to this day , it ’ s hard for me to celebrate . I know how it could have ended – I drove like an idiot and wrecked my car . I ’ d rather just try winning a national event the normal way .”

Vetter didn ’ t choose an easy education when she opted to race one of just a handful of blown alcohol dragsters in the country . The more common choice is the injected A / Fuel combination , but Vetter – the only female currently competing with a supercharged engine setup in the category – enjoys the challenge of performing a burnout at the correct rpm , swapping feet , and hitting the shift points as she aims her 280-mph dragster down the quarter-mile .

“ If my only option was to race A / Fuel , I really don ’ t know if I would ,” she says . “ We have a brand-new Chase Copeland car coming , and that was the plan before I crashed . So , I ’ ll definitely be back in a blown car , and I want to strive to be a better driver . At the end of my first full year , there are still times I mess up , either with staging rpms or hitting my shift points or making sure I get the ‘ chutes out early . I ’ ve learned a lot about the car , and I feel way more comfortable in it than I did , but I want to be better .”

Vetter ’ s diverse orientation season included her first No . 1 qualifier award – earned at the regional event in Las Vegas – and two semifinals

appearances in addition to the victory in Pomona . It also included two non-qualifying attempts on the big stage , at both Reading and Dallas .

“ Last year was a freaking roller coaster ,” says Vetter , who races with the support of Red Line Synthetic Oil ; NGK NTK Performance ; Torco Race Fuels ; Star Racer Belts ; and CP Carrillo . “ You really don ’ t know what to expect your first full season , but we jumped right into it . I ’ m thankful we have such a great crew – they ’ ve gelled well together , and they have a good time and joke around , but they ’ re just so consistent . It ’ s huge to have a good crew and a good tuner . Nick had a really big learning curve this year , but he picked it up quickly . I ’ m really proud of him and this whole group .

“ I think the biggest thing I learned this year was just to be patient . I ’ m so competitive , and I wanted to get comfortable in the car so bad – there were runs it would go up in smoke , and I ’ d be so frustrated because I just wanted to get down the track . But we ’ ve accomplished things this year that a lot of others haven ’ t . There are people who have been out here for years and haven ’ t won a race , and now each of our crew guys has a Wally . It ’ s definitely cool , and I ’ m proud of that – but I still want to win a national event the normal way .” DI

104 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 181