Drag racer Gary Pritchett will make his NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series debut in the driver’s seat of Travis Shumake’s Top Fuel dragster at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals. Pritchett, a veteran of Top Alcohol Dragster racing, has spent years as a nitro crewmember.
Pritchett finished second in the 2024 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series North Central Top Alcohol regional points. He previously raced for 12 seasons with Team CAPCO before moving to Delaware with fiancée and sportsman racer Jessica Eastburn.
The announcement follows Shumake’s recent success, where his dragster achieved a personal-best 3.724-second pass at 323.12 mph during qualifying at the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas. Pritchett’s debut comes alongside co-crew chiefs Troy Fasching and Adem Cave, with tuning assistance from Rob Flynn and Arron Cave.
“This has been a lifelong dream of mine,” Pritchett said. “I grew up racing with Arron and Adem and working on Bunny’s car. I’ve worked for, and with most of the folks out here my entire life, and I’m honored to get a shot at the big show.”
Shumake, who would have qualified for his fifth event of the season, recognizes the competitive landscape for the 2024 Rookie of the Year title. “I’d rather be a second-year rookie and duke it out with Julie [Nataas] and whoever else next season,” he said.
“More importantly, I’m still not sure I’m sitting in the car correctly,” Shumake added. “To finish the season standing on the starting line with a cigar in my mouth, watching my buddy fulfill a dream in my bad-ass hot rod, surrounded by our friends and families—that’s what drag racing is all about.”
Pritchett brings additional partners to the track, including Hoopes Fire Prevention and Spell Paving, joining Shumake’s existing sponsors. Red Line Oil, CAS, and the Napp Brothers, along with familiar names like Boninfante Friction and Fatheads Eyewear, also support his venture.
