There’s a strong likelihood at six-foot, six-inches and 280 pounds that Tyler Brayton will never become the stereotypical Pro Stock Motorcycle rider.

However, if the defensive end for the National Football League’s Carolina Panthers chooses to race NHRA Super Comp or Super Gas, he’s got the right credentials. Brayton recently graduated from Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School with both licenses.

“It started as just a passion for old cars,” said Brayton, who is in CompetitionPlus.com’s Spartanburg, S.C. hometown for training camp.

Introducing No. 96, And A Licensed Super Comp Racer … Tyler Brayton …

There’s a strong likelihood at six-foot, six-inches and 280 pounds that Tyler Brayton will never become the stereotypical Pro Stock Motorcycle rider.

However, if the defensive end for the National Football League’s Carolina Panthers chooses to race NHRA Super Comp or Super Gas, he’s got the right credentials. Brayton recently graduated from Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School with both licenses.

“It started as just a passion for old cars,” said Brayton, who is in CompetitionPlus.com’s Spartanburg, S.C. hometown for training camp. 

“Back in high school my dad and I had a little project car that ended up just being a daily driver. But in college, a buddy and I would go up to his house and he would help me work on my car and stuff like that. Well he had a race car and I asked him ‘Can anyone do this?’ He said yeah and told me all about bracket racing. “

Brayton, who is in his second year with the Panthers, has always had a love for fast cars. All it took was one time racing at a local track while playing for the Oakland Raiders to get the need for speed burning within. That, and the fact he went five rounds in the street class.

He tried unsuccessfully for nine years to find the right time to procure his license. His recent trip to Hawley’s school finally fulfilled the desire.

“When I was still playing for the Oakland Raiders, I really wanted to attend Frank Hawley’s School in California,” Brayton said. “Then I transferred to North Carolina last year and my racing aspirations got temporarily put on the back burner while we got settled in. I was so happy to finally be able to work going to his class into my schedule.”

Brayton made his passes at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Fla, in one of the school’s Super Gas Firebirds and later slithered his way into the Super Comp dragster to complete the necessary cross-grade passes to take the step up to 8.90 racing.

“That first pass was just a blur and when I was done, I was physically shaking from all the adrenaline,” Brayton said. “You know I was like trying to play it all cool. The speed of that car and the power was just shocking.

“After I finished licensing in the Firebird, I was like 'it took me way too long to get here in the first place',” Brayton explained. “I have no idea when I will be able to make it down here again and well, I want my Super Comp license, too. I’m so glad I did that because now I can drive either car or class and the dragster was such a major kick in the pants.”

Brayton has no visions of drag racing grandeur once his football playing days are complete. The experience will suffice for now. 

 “I don’t ever plan on being a professional drag racer,” Brayton confided. “I just love that there are so many ways to participate in this sport and I can’t explain how happy I am that I finally made it to one of Frank Hawley’s classes. It was so much more than I ever hoped it would be.”

And, who would have ever thought that Hawley’s drag racing instruction might somehow indirectly improve his approach to sacking opposing quarterbacks.    

“I actually wrote Frank a letter just to let him know how much I appreciated his teaching ability,” he said. “He has a God given ability to be a teacher. I think Frank could teach you anything and not just drag racing. Whatever the subject was, he could take that subject matter and teach it proficiently. He held my attention the entire time and I just thought he was an awesome teacher.

“Let’s face it, I went down there simply to drive a fast car and get my license. But I ended up benefitting, I feel like, more from the classroom time that we had then from the driving part,” he continued. “The things he spoke about in regards to the whole sports physiology side of drag racing are things I have learned to be true from my own sports experience, but I never understood how or why. Frank just did an outstanding job of explaining things that I can apply to not only drag racing, but football and just life in general.”

 

 

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