Mike Knott has purchased a Top Alcohol Dragster chassis, planning to debut it in 2026. At 35, he aims to compete in the sport’s fastest and quickest sportsman category.
Over the past eight years, Knott has raced in NHRA and PDRA Top Dragster events and Outlaw Dragster competitions in Ohio and nearby states. He progressed from 4.00-second eighth-mile passes to 3.60 seconds, gaining momentum by 2021.
“Things changed a little bit for me after our first heads-up win,” Knott said. “I think the focus shifted from just wanting to go out there, make some passes, and learn … to ‘OK, we can actually run with some of the quickest guys in the country.’”
Between 2021 and 2022, Knott won several heads-up Outlaw 660 races and topped the iconic Night Under Fire, achieving a significant career milestone. “The highlight to this day of my entire racing career was winning Night Under Fire,” he said.
Though work commitments limited his time at the track in the past year, Knott used that period to reassess his racing goals and decided to pursue Top Alcohol Dragster. “We reached a point of progression where it made sense to switch,” he said.
Initially seeking quotes from chassis builders, Knott found the perfect opportunity when Brandon Booher’s car became available. “There’s also a lot of value in having a known setup that works,” Knott said.
The 2010 Spitzer-built dragster gained notoriety in the NHRA circuit for using a torque converter instead of the standard clutch. Booher won the 2013 NHRA North Central Region championship and recorded the world’s quickest torque converter-equipped car performance in 2017.
“This particular car spearheaded the technology that we’re still seeing today with torque converters,” he said. “It was uncharted territory and it was working really well.”
Knott intends to utilize engines from his Top Dragster program while incorporating upgraded components such as a screw-type supercharger. “I’m an old-school guy and I wholeheartedly believe that blown alcohol cars are what that class is supposed to be always,” he stated.
He recently took delivery of the car and plans to prepare it throughout 2025, aiming to upgrade his license and test before the 2026 season. “It’s not realistic to think we’re going to pick up where the Boohers left off and start winning races right out of the gate,” Knott said.
He expressed gratitude toward his wife, Kaylynn, and partners like Born Implement and Motorsports Unlimited. “I’m just a regular guy who gets up and goes to work every day just like anybody else,” Knott said.
He aims to demonstrate that success in racing is attainable without enormous financial backing. “You don’t need to be a millionaire to go out and do these things,” he added. “You just have to work hard, keep your head down, and surround yourself with good, like-minded people.”
