Special Section honors at several non-PDRA events. In high school, Cashwell took construction, carpentry, and welding classes. He’ s considering trade school with interest in drafting or CNC machining.
4
COLEMAN COATS
The son of Butner Motorsports crew member Richard Coats, Coleman Coats graduated from South Johnston High School in Four Oaks, North Carolina, where he was the soccer captain. He occasionally helps his dad, along with driver Marcus Butner and tuner Jay Cox, on Butner’ s Pro Nitrous Camaro. The father-son duo is also working on a car for Coleman to run in Bracket Bash at local PDRA races. Coleman works with Butner Construction and plans to take welding classes at Johnston Community College.
5
WILL CREASMAN
Will Creasman, a Laris Motorsports Insurance Top Dragster presented by Derrick Wolfe Trucking racer, graduated from Erwin High School in Asheville, North Carolina. Creasman competed in Jr. Dragsters since he was 7, winning several races in PDRA competition. He recently moved up to Top Dragster, where he won the Summit Racing Equipment PDRA ProStars race last year. He helps take care of property and equipment and works at the family business, where he’ ll continue to work while attending technical school in the fall.
6
JORDAN DENNY
Jordan Denny, a former Jr. Dragster driver, graduated from Brentsville High School in Nokesville, Virginia. Denny, whose father races in MagnaFuel Top Sportsman, is a three-time track champion at Maryland International Raceway. He’ s enrolling in the HVAC program at NOVA Community College.
7
ASHLEY FRANKLIN
Ashley Franklin, the 2024 Pro Jr. Dragster world champion, graduated from Liberty University Online Academy. After joining older sister Amber Denton as a Pro Jr. Dragster world champion, Ashley moved up to Top Dragster, where she’ s No. 7 in points after the North vs. South Shootout. She plans to attend Liberty University to get a degree in business administration, which she’ ll use as she continues to work in the family business, Franklin Electric, in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
8
KAIDEN GROVES
Kaiden Groves, who competes in the Pro Jr. Dragster division, graduated from Chopticon High School in Morganza, Maryland. The winner of Maryland International Raceway’ s King of the Creek in 2024, Groves also completed the Diesel Technician program at the Forrest Career and Technology Center and will continue to work as a diesel mechanic for Cullins Truck, Tarp and Dump Body Liners LLC in hopes of running one of their future shops.
9
JOHN KRIEGER JR.
John Krieger Jr., a Pro Jr. Dragster driver, graduated from Phoebus High School in Hampton, Virginia. Last season, he finished in the top 10 in points in Pro Jr. Dragster and at Virginia Motorsports Park. He’ s currently in the top five in VMP’ s points program. Krieger also helps his younger sister with her Top Jr. Dragster. He signed a career offer with Liebherr Welding before graduating and is scheduled to start with the company after representing VMP at the NHRA Eastern Conference Finals in July.
10
LAVAR LEWIS JR.
LaVar Lewis Jr., a Pro Jr. Dragster racer, graduated from Hanover High School in Hanover, Virginia. He also attended two years at an automotive technical school to become an ASE-certified tech. On-track, he won the 2024 Virginia Motorsports Park track championship, finished runner-up in the VMP track championship in 2022, and is a two-time Division 2 Wally winner. His plans after high school include pursuing a career in the automotive industry and continuing to develop his personal business in audio installation.
11
DANIKA MILES
Danika Miles, who was homeschooled, is an accomplished Pro Jr. Dragster driver and newcomer to Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by COMP Cams. Her best points finish came in 2023 when she finished second, and she’ s made it in the top 10 in five of the last seven years. She also helps her father, Gabe, run his Top Dragster entry. Miles says she takes drag racing very seriously and plans to continue working with the family race team with the goal of eventually racing professionally in the NHRA.
12
RYLEIGH NEBEL
Ryleigh Nebel, who recently aged out of Pro Jr. Dragster, graduated from Chopticon High School in Morganza, Maryland. She qualified at all PDRA events she attended in Pro Jr. Dragster, while also winning two back-toback points races at Maryland International Raceway in 2023 and taking runner-up honors at the IHRA Bracket Finals in 2022. Nebel, whose family has also competed in Bracket Bash, plans to attend community college.
13
ZACH SHIRKEY
Zach Shirkey, a Pro Jr. Dragster and Bracket Bash competitor, graduated from Churchville Christian School in Churchville, Maryland. He started in Top Jr. Dragster and has since moved up to Pro Jr. Dragster and Bracket Bash, with plans to move up to Top Dragster. With a passion for the marine industry, Shirkey earned his Yamaha Marine Certification and pursued specialized training to become certified in applying Propspeed to marine vessels, both while still in high school. He’ s also worked at Island View Marina for the past four years and was recently promoted to yard manager. His ultimate goal is to take the reins of the business.
14
ETHAN STEDING
Ethan Steding, the 2021 Pro Jr. Dragster world champion and reigning Liberty’ s Gears Pro Street presented by Menscer Motorsports world champion, graduated from Chartiers Valley High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Steding’ s father, Kurt, is a WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive championship contender, and younger sister Lily currently competes in Pro Jr. Dragster. In between high school studies, Ethan has been running jobs for the family business, P2 Contracting. Eventually, the plan is for him to take over the entire company and other companies the Steding family owns.
15
CHRIS SUPPERS
Chris Suppers, the 2022 Pro Jr. Dragster world champion, graduated from Brentsville High School in Nokesville, Virginia, where he wrestled and played football. He also was a part of the Brentsville Turf Toro Grounds Academy, which promises to“ cultivate the next generation of turfgrass professionals.” Suppers, whose success in PDRA included numerous event wins and a ProStars title, plans to get a bachelor’ s degree in Turf and Agriculture.
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