The transition between jet propulsion and piston-driven horsepower is a transition Mexican drag racer Juan Cantu is proving seamless.
Cantu, a native of Monterrey, Mexico, will compete in this weekend’s NHRA Four-Wide Nationals as a Top Alcohol dragster competitor after spending time piloting a jet dragster in an NHRA exhibition capacity.
Cantu will drive the Rich McPhillips Top Alcohol Dragster, the same one motorsports icon Tony Stewart drove on his road to Top Fuel racing. Stewart also won last season’s NHRA Vegas Four-Wide Nationals.
“I have a dream of racing in Top Fuel one day,” said Cantu. “And if I want to get there, I need to start and compete with the best in Top Alcohol. I know this race won’t be easy, and I will have a lot of eyes on me, but I’ve been preparing physically. I lost 30 pounds for this race. And I’ve been working on my mental game as well.”
Cantu is no stranger to the The Strip at Las Vegas as he participated in Jet Car exhibitions in Las Vegas for several years.
“I chose to race in Las Vegas because when I’ve raced there in my Jet Dragster, people gave me a lot of support,” said Cantu. “I also got my Top Alcohol Dragster license at the facility. However, I’ve never raced against three other cars at the same time, so that will be something new for me. I’m going to try to stay focused on my own lane.”
Cantu is racing with sponsorship from CompassBlue DEF, a Mexican company dedicated to the production and distribution of transportation supplies, founded with the mission of being an ecological, reliable, economical, and efficient option for companies that require the supply of international quality Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF).
“I’m honored to represent a Mexican brand at the NHRA Four-Wides,” remarked Cantu. “The car I’ll be driving is the one that Tony Stewart raced in Las Vegas last year. He won the event, and I would love to bring a national event Wally home to Mexico. I’m grateful for the support of CompassBlue DEF and for the trust that the McPhillips team has in me.”
