Growing up in a motorcycle racing family, Miranda Herrera surprised her father by choosing to drive a dragster instead of a bike. Now 26 and a chemist in the nuclear medicine industry, she said, “He was shocked when I said I wanted a dragster!”
Miranda, who has owned her dragster for ten years, put racing aside to focus on college and her career. “I decided to put more time and effort into myself,” she stated.
After hearing successful racers praise Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School, Miranda signed up for the School’s Super Comp licensing course. She attended while supporting her brother, Gaige, who clinched his third NHRA Gatornationals win.
“I had experience with my dragster, but it was still a great learning experience,” Miranda said. She appreciated Hawley’s focus on the mental aspects of drag racing, which helped boost her confidence.
The small details Miranda learned at the School proved valuable. “Frank told me not to put my helmet’s face shield down before the burnout in humid conditions, so it wouldn’t fog up,” she explained.
Frank Hawley, the School’s founder, praised her talent. “Miranda has a car waiting for her, so the competition should be on the lookout for another Herrera on the track!”
Now, the fourth-generation drag racers plan to spend more time together at the track. Miranda’s new skills from the School will help her progress alongside her brother as they navigate their busy schedules.
Miranda is the first female in her family to earn an NHRA license, following in the footsteps of her father, Augustine, and previous generations. She is determined to succeed in her dragster career.
Ainsley Jacobs contributed to this article
