Getting licensed to drive an NHRA Pro Stock car is all part of the process.
Sienna Wildgust, 17, is in the hurry-up and wait mode as part of that process to start her driving career as part of the powerhouse KB Titan Racing team. Sienna’s father, Scott, drives in the Pro Mod class.
Wildgust, of Stratford, Ontario, Canada, attempted to get her Pro Stock license in her Chevy Camaro, Jan. 9-12 at Bradenton (Fla.) Motorsports Park but was unable to get it because Mother Nature didn’t cooperate to allow her to finish the needed requirements.
“We just went testing and I wasn’t able to get my license do to the weather,” Wildgust said. “I wasn’t able to get in as many days of testing as we were hoping and with the wind, we couldn’t do enough passes. So, that postponed me getting my license. We’re hoping to go back (to Bradenton) again a couple of times to get me comfortable for Gainesville, Fla. Gainesville is my goal, but we are not sure because how busy everybody is.”
The season-opening 2024 NHRA race race is the Gatornationals, March 7-10 in Gainesville.
Wildgust said she made several half laps in her Pro Stock ride – so the session wasn’t a waste.
“That was my second test session,” Wildgust said. “I was able to launch and do burnouts in my first test session (in November in Bradenton) and then I was able to make some runs, but I wasn’t able to go as far as I wanted because of the weather.”
Although Wildgust doesn’t turn 18 until June she will be able to compete in Pro Stock’s NHRA’s ranks before then.
“As of January, that will technically be my 18th birth year, so I can compete in March before my birthday, so I can still compete when I’m 17. It just has to be in your 18th birth year,” Wildgust said. “I’m doing everything I can to get my Pro Stock career going. I’m pretty much on standby anytime they call me to go testing.
“There’s a lot of stuff to do in between (getting a license). I’m trying to get sponsorship and marketing and plan out my year as well. It is pretty much a waiting game until I get in the car so I’m trying to do everything I can outside the car to benefit my season.”
Wildgust is hopeful to make her Pro Stock debut at the Gatornationals but if that gets delayed, she plans on competing in at least 10 races this season.
“As of right now, I have the first 10 races covered (with funding) and we are hoping as the year goes on, we can find some more funding to be able to do the full schedule (21 races),” Wildgust said. “I always wanted to make drag racing my career. I kind of knew I had to pick Pro Stock or a fuel car or that kind of stuff to try and make a living off it. I was just amazed by Pro Stock. It is the hardest class to drive. I like a challenge and I also wanted to stay in a door car and Pro Stock is where it is at for me.”
So far on the dragstrip, Wildgust has competed in the PDRA ranks and she also has piloted a Junior Dragster.
“I also went to Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School and got a couple of licenses there in the Firebird Super Gas car and the dragster in Comp Eliminator,” Wildgust said.
Wildgust is scheduled to graduate from high school in June – and she acknowledged that her friends don’t grasp the career path she has chosen.
“I don’t think they really understand what I do, and it is hard to explain to someone what I’m doing if they don’t know (racing),” Wildgust said.
Wildgust is grateful that she has the opportunity to compete in Pro Stock with KB Titan Racing, which includes a stable of world championship drivers and crew chiefs.
“I’m working a lot with Dallas Glenn,” Wildgust said. “I couldn’t pick out one piece of advice that he has given me that has been the best because he’s treating me like gold. He tells me so much. He tells me everything he knows and that has been really cool. Also, every time I have tested Greg (Anderson) always checks in with me to see how I felt and see how I did. He has always been there to support me as well.”
