For 14-year-old Sean Serra, last year’s trip to Winner’s Circle at Bristol Dragway in the NHRA Junior Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals was many years in the making… more than 60 to be exact. He hopes to repeat the effort during this season’s event, scheduled for July 6-11.

While the Reinholds, Pa. native only has been on the track for a little more than five years, his family has been involved in drag racing since the 1940s.

Sean is a fourth-generation driver, and his pedigree runs strong. His great-grandfather raced dragsters and stock cars when the sport was still in its infancy, while his grandfather Charlie, raced front-engine dragsters against top drivers like “Big Daddy” Don Garlits during the 60s and 70s.

For 14-year-old Sean Serra, last year’s trip to Winner’s Circle at Bristol Dragway in the NHRA Junior Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals was many years in the making… more than 60 to be exact. He hopes to repeat the effort during this season’s event, scheduled for July 6-11.

While the Reinholds, Pa. native only has been on the track for a little more than five years, his family has been involved in drag racing since the 1940s.

Sean is a fourth-generation driver, and his pedigree runs strong. His great-grandfather raced dragsters and stock cars when the sport was still in its infancy, while his grandfather Charlie, raced front-engine dragsters against top drivers like “Big Daddy” Don Garlits during the 60s and 70s.

Interestingly, Serra’s grandparents visited a 1966 event at Bristol Dragway to help run the timing system for the race. Even more interesting, the trip was part of their honeymoon.

Serra’s father Craig races a seven-second dragster, and his older brother, Jeffrey, races in Top Alcohol dragster. Sean is responsible for the upkeep not only on his Jr. Dragster, but also that of his younger sister Miranda. In addition, he helps with his family’s business, Total Racing Components, a distributor of high performance racing equipment. For Sean, his family history helps encourage him on the track.

“It is motivating,” he explained, “because I am always trying to compete with their accomplishments. I hope to move up to the sportsman ranks and, hopefully, some day drive professionally.”

Being able to place an all-important “Wally” trophy on his mantle did not hurt his efforts to match his family’s accomplishments.

“It’s been my goal since I’ve started racing to win a Wally,” he said. “Every round at the Eastern Conference Finals is exciting, especially when you know the next few seconds could get you a Wally.”

“Since the win, I’ve been more confident in my driving and I feel like I get more respect from other racers.”

Before he can take to the track, however, Sean must make sure his grades, and attitude, are on par with his father’s standards.

“Keeping up grades is number one in our house,” said Craig. “He is honestly worse on himself than we are. If he gets a low B, it kills him.

“When we started racing with our oldest child, we wanted to teach sportsmanship. Our kids always shake hands, win or lose. If you lose graciously, you are a better winner. Anything I can do to keep them hanging out with good kids is a plus.”

The trip to Bristol, one they anticipate all season, means a lot to the entire family. They treat it as a vacation and enjoy their time in the hills of Thunder Valley.

“Although it’s a long haul,” said Sean, it’s one of the most fun because of the change in scenery and knowing that you’re on your way to the biggest race of the year.”

While the race is the biggest of the season, Sean’s father is quick to stress that the life lessons learned are most important.

“That race is make or break,” Craig said. “When he would lose, he would think he was letting himself down. But whatever he wants to do in life, if it is to become a doctor or lawyer, he has learned new things, knows how to work on a car and is a good sport.”

For the Serras, the family that races together stays together. When asked about his young family’s desire to continue the tradition, Craig Serra has an interesting take.

“It’s simple. They were screwed up from the beginning,” he said with a laugh.

The Serra family is just one of many families that will compete in the 2009 NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals at Bristol Dragway.

More than 600 junior dragster racers from NHRA Divisions 1, 2 and 3, and select tracks in Division 4, will compete in the 2009 Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals.  Each NHRA member track may send up to three teams of 10 racers to participate in the race. Team members earn points for their home track, with the top scoring team winning the conference final.

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