91°µÍø

The youngest, and perhaps most exuberant champion of the Dodge NHRA Nationals, was Super Gas winner Koy Collier, who turned 18 on Sept. 23, the day that qualifying and time trials began for the event. It was significant because had the event been held a week earlier, Collier would not have been eligible to participate.

While the St. Louis race was technically his first national event, Collier does have extensive experience. He is not only a graduate of the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League, but he has also been racing his family’s Camaro at NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events for more than a year. When most racers dream of winning their first event, they also dream of beating the toughest opponent possible in the final round, and for Collier, that scenario came true when he stopped reigning national champion Jacob Elrod in a close 9.91 to 9.92 battle.