of years , I ’ ve always kind of paid attention to the [ Top Dragster ] class because I knew that ’ s probably where I ’ d end up ,” Wilson says . “ Rikki ’ s one of the toughest in the class , so that was probably my most nervous round of all year . I have a lot of respect there for her and what she ’ s been able to do .”
More meaningful moments continued throughout the season . She runnered up in the Super 64 Shootout at the PDRA ProStars race driving Duane Allen ’ s ProCharged dragster . Another runner-up finish followed in Top Dragster at the Northern Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway .
In the opening round of eliminations at the PDRA Brian Olson Memorial World Finals , Wilson sat strapped into her car towards the back of the staging lanes . One by one , her championship challengers lost . When Nick Meloni lost on a double breakout in the pair ahead of her , she was declared the 2022 PDRA Top Dragster world champion . She went on to win that round over Allen , who went red in the same car Wilson drove earlier that summer .
“ That was probably the hardest part all year long , just refocusing in that couple of seconds right there ,” Wilson says . “ Just being able to refocus and go out there and win first round was big , so it ’ s been cool . It was a lot of mountains . A lot of lows . A lot of highs . But stressful . Glad it ’ s over .”
Going into 2023 , Wilson isn ’ t dead-set on defending her championship . She ’ s more focused on enjoying time with family and friends at the races . At the forefront of that plan is an expanded schedule for her son , Wyatt , who isn ’ t old enough to compete in the PDRA Jr . Dragster classes yet but runs a pretty consistent local schedule .
“ Even at 6 , that was probably the highlight of 2022 – not the championship , but watching him kind of fall in love with the driving part of it , and the competitiveness that it takes as a youngster ,” Wilson says . “ Getting to teach him and spend time with him and watching him learn the agony of defeat ... it ’ s been funny , but it ’ s been fun . I ’ ve probably enjoyed that the most in 2022 .”
Along with inspiring her son to be a better racer , Wilson also wishes to inspire young girls coming up in the sport to be independent and develop a diverse set of skills .
“ There ’ s really no one female that I know of at my age that ’ s kind of worn all the hats , that can do it all ,” says Wilson , a senior project manager for a medical software company . “ Someone who can go put their car together , drive their stuff to the racetrack , and take care of their own stuff . And I ’ m talking change transmissions , troubleshoot , read the Racepak , tune it , whatever . The whole nine yards .
“ So that ’ s my goal from a legacy standpoint ,” Wilson continues , “ is to really show that it ’ s possible ; that it can be done if you pay enough attention .” DI
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