Two first-time drag racers proved that experience isn’t always the deciding factor when Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels staged its annual Dragster Adventure at Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School.
The annual program, held July 14 at National Trail Raceway near Columbus, Ohio, gives Mickey Thompson employees and select customers the opportunity to experience competitive drag racing in purpose-built dragsters under the guidance of veteran instructor Frank Hawley and his staff.
For more than 20 years, the dragsters at Frank Hawley’s school have rolled to the starting line on Mickey Thompson tires. Once a year, the company gives a group of employees and customers the chance to find out what those tires feel like from the driver’s seat instead of the sidelines.
“This gives people the opportunity to experience, firsthand, why we do what we do, and they make memories that they’ll talk about for years,” said Jason Moulton, Mickey Thompson’s director of motorsports. “For people who might be a little shy about getting started in racing, Frank Hawley’s school gives them an opportunity to do it right and to be successful at it, but it all starts with the fun of it. That’s what the Dragster Adventure is all about.”
The school’s structured curriculum took participants from classroom instruction to making quarter-mile passes in dragsters capable of running 10-second elapsed times at approximately 126 mph.
Moulton said watching first-time racers gain confidence behind the wheel is one of the highlights of the annual event.
“It’s great to watch younger people who have never been in a drag car, or even been around the industry a lot, understand the passion behind it,” Moulton said. “Frank has a fantastic sense of humor, but you know he’s also serious when it comes to safety. He and his team can take someone who’s never driven anything more powerful than an SUV and get them going in a dragster running 10-second elapsed times at 126 mph in a matter of hours.”
The day’s friendly competition came down to two Mickey Thompson employees making their drag racing debuts.
Regional Sales Manager Mason McMillen, who joined the company just months ago, advanced through eliminations and defeated Brand Manager Chris Holt in the final round to earn the event title.
“Frank was extremely knowledgeable, which made me comfortable getting in the car for the first time,” McMillen said. “I was impressed by the amount of power these cars have.”
McMillen said the experience extended beyond simply making passes down the racetrack.
“The competition was a lot of fun, and the entire crew was extremely helpful,” he said. “I would highly recommend this to anyone.”
Although Holt finished runner-up, he recorded the quickest elapsed time of the day with a 10.48-second pass. The longtime automotive industry veteran admitted he had never driven a dragster before arriving at the school.
“The instructors and gear made me very comfortable,” Holt said. “By the time I made my first pass, I felt confident in the vehicle and myself driving it.”
Holt admitted his tardiness on the starting line in the championship round cost him the victory.
“I had a reaction time of 0.09 seconds earlier in the day, but I guess I took a nap at the line and had a 0.3-second reaction in the final,” he said.
Even without the trophy, Holt left impressed by both the cars and the experience.
“It was smooth yet bumpy,” Holt said. “When I went back to the staging lanes, I couldn’t wait to do it again.”
“I wish I knew this school existed at a younger age,” he added. “I grew up watching and attending races, but never thought I’d be the one making 10-second passes. To experience that thrill, going that fast, and that controlled in a legal environment, it’s definitely the way to go.”
For Hawley, introducing newcomers to drag racing remains the reward after decades of operating the school.
“To see everyone come out, a little nervous in the beginning but having the time of their lives by the end of the day, it’s incredibly rewarding,” Hawley said. “We’re grateful to have Mickey Thompson help facilitate that, not only by helping introduce new people to the sport, but also by producing the world’s best tires for our cars to run on.”
McMillen closed out the day with the winner’s trophy, while every participant left with firsthand experience behind the wheel of a competition dragster and a greater appreciation for the performance products they help build and sell.
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