Competing at the highest level of NHRA drag racing in the Top Fuel class is no easy task.

However, Jake Opatrny is continuing his journey behind the wheel of a 11,000-horsepower Top Fuel beast as competes in his third career race at the Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance May 19-21 in Chicago.

This is Opatrny’s second race this season as he also ran at the seaso-opening Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. In Chicago, which is a hometown race for Opatrny, he will once again be driving the Leverich family dragster.

“(Chicago) is close for the Leverichs because they're out of lower Michigan,” Opatrny said. “I live in a town called McHenry, which is about an hour north of Chicago.”

Chicago is returning to the NHRA national circuit for the first time since 2019. Opatrny was last at the track as a fan. Opatrny took the leap into the Top Fuel ranks debuting in September of 2022 at the Midwest Nationals is St. Louis.

“We're going into it (the Chicago race) with a new primary sponsor and we are super stoked to be there at the return to Route 66,” said Opatrny, 28. “We are ready to throw down some laps out there and put some numbers on the board. I have to give a big shout-out to my primary sponsor, the Chicago Federation of Labor.”

The Chicago Federation of Labor is an umbrella organization for Unions in Chicago IL.  The CFL is affiliated with over 300 labor unions and represents over 500,000 workers.
 
Proud Union Home is a campaign developed by the Chicago Federation of Labor to help Union members and supporters show their pride in America’s labor movement and middle class. Proud Union Home offers generalized merchandise such as yard signs and garden flags to doormats t-shirts, and more.  
 
Other sponsors helping make this latest venture possible for Opatrny are Foundation Mechanics, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 9 out of Denver, Colo., International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 117 out of Crystal Lake Ill., International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 701 out of DuPage County Ill. Also on board are Automotion Training & Consulting, Burromax Mini Bikes Goodson, Mark’s Mixers, Specialized Auto Craft, Superior Engine, Hi Tech Cam, Smith Systems, Edge Welding Supply, and DA Lubricants/Penn Grade.
 
At this event, Opatrny also is working with Mission 22, representing the 22, a day campaign bringing awareness to veterans suicide.
 
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America will also be on Opatrny’s car as he is a mentor involved with the program.

“I'm excited to run at my home track,” Opatrny said. “I will have a lot of friends and family there, I’ve driven them nuts for basically my whole life, and now they will finally have an opportunity to see me do this in person.”

Opatrny acknowledged that with each lap he makes the more he absorbs about being a Top Fuel driver.

“Every race I run, I'm learning more and more about what it takes to field these cars,” he said. “I'm still green when it comes to the business. So, every race I run, every race I go to, driver, crewman, or spectator is a learning experience. My primary goals every weekend revolve around safety and learning.

“I absolutely, (one) hundred percent (believe we can qualify in Chicago). I think the car could run a career best right out of the trailer. But there is only one way to figure that out.”