BOBBY STARR SHINES BRIGHT IN JR. DRAGSTER SHOOTOUT
After a full day of qualifying on Thursday, the festivities continued into the evening with the inaugural 16-car Jr. Dragster Shootout presented by Hangsterfer’ s during the traditional WSOPM Racer & Crew Welcome Party presented by Strange Engineering. At the end of the night, 15-year-old Bobby Starr took home the $ 1,500 payday after defeating Danika Miles in the fourth and final round.
The Jr. Dragster Shootout was an invitational featuring a mix of competitors ranging from local Bradenton regulars to second-generation touring racers like 2024 PDRA Pro Jr. Dragster world champ Ashley Franklin. Starr was determined to prove he belonged in that mix.
“ When I got that call, I was surprised, honestly,” Starr told FloRacing’ s Courtney Enders after the win.“ I was like,‘ Whoa, we gotta go show them what I can do. Show‘ em what the‘ Starr’ is.’”
With WSOPM racers and teams watching from the Welcome Party, the Jr. Dragster drivers had the opportunity to reverse the roles and race in front of their heroes in the Pro Mod ranks, with Starr saying,“ It just drives me to be the best one here.” Who knows, maybe it was even an audition for a future move up the ranks.
“ I want to run Pro Street in PDRA,” said Starr, who thanked parents Bob and Danielle, younger brother Caden, and supporters like Speed & Truck World.“ I want to run the 10.5 stuff. Maybe some 275. I like the steel cars – steel cars and big motors.”— NATE VAN WAGNEN DI DI DI
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