One of Top Alcohol Dragster’s brightest stars will take the plunge into Top Fuel later this month.
Scrappers Racing announced it will field a second Top Fuel car at the NHRA Midwest Nationals, with Julie Nataas making her Top Fuel debut. Nataas, the reigning NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Top Alcohol Dragster world champion, will join fellow Top Fuel driver Jasmine Salinas and Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Jianna Evaristo at the event later this month at World Wide Technology Raceway.
“We’ve had plans for a second team, but things changed with my dad stepping out of the driver’s seat,” Salinas said. “Julie’s licensing with Scrappers and her sponsors made St. Louis the perfect opportunity to trial a two-car team as my dad continues to heal.”
Nataas has been pursuing her Top Fuel license this season while continuing to compete in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. She completed the process over the summer. For her debut, she’ll work with a dedicated crew led by Troy Fasching and Adem Cave.
“I’m excited but serious about this opportunity,” Nataas said. “This has been my dream, and with my experience in the A-Fuel car and sub-three-second passes, I’m ready to get on the track and gain side-by-side experience while I hunt for sponsorship.”
Nataas’s Top Alcohol sponsor, Airmine, will support her debut. Airmine is a Norway-based technology company specializing in weather and pollen forecasting that is expanding globally. Additional sponsors include Red Line Oil, Elliott’s Custom Trailers, and Rockstar Energy.
Her dragster will also feature the Batman logo, a family tradition that started with her father, Thomas Nataas, in 1997. The logo has appeared on all their race cars since Thomas’s Pro Mod car earned the nickname “Batmobile.”
Nataas has a distinguished racing career, beginning in Jr. Dragster and moving through categories like Super Comp, Super Pro ET, and Top Dragster. She also competed in Kart racing and Formula Basic before moving to the U.S. She holds NHRA licenses in Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, and Top Fuel.
The NHRA Midwest Nationals take place Sept. 27-29 in Madison, Illinois.
