The Jr. Dragster program was introduced by the NHRA back in 1992 as a way to help grow the younger generations’ interest in the sport. Since the program was conceived, new racers been able to experience racing before they could ever get a drivers license. By and large, over the last 24 years, these youngsters have competed for trophies, savings bonds, or both. But nowadays, these racers are getting more of a taste of what it’s like to run for the big money like their adult counterparts. And they’ll do precisely that on the grandest scale yet when the I-64 Motorplex in Owingsville, Kentucky hosts the first Kentucky Big Bucks Bonanza next month, with the possibility to win $100,000.
The Bonanza is part of the growing trend in bigger money-paying Jr. Dragster races (or money paying at all) that have begun to pop up around the country. This particular race at the I-64 Motorplex is the largest paying event ever for Jr. Dragsters. Racers will have the chance to win purses that range from $1,000 all the way up to $100,000 on Saturday during the races’ main event, given they can lure in the needed car count to make the six-figure payout. Think about that for a second: a child could pay for their ENTIRE college tuition at most public schools by turning on the win light in the finals!
If that $100,000 payday seems too good to be true, that’s because there’s a slight catch to it. In order for the full payout to be distributed there must be over 325 entries, which is no different than the vasty majority of big money bracket races. At a very steep $500 single day entry fee with a $150 buy-back, that could be a tall order. But, the allure of bringing home a six-figure payday for racing just like the grown-ups do could bring the young racers in record numbers.
Are there enough parents out there willing to shell out the $500 fee for a tech card to make Big Bucks Bonanza’s historic payout possible? Only time will tell, however there might be a few younger looking twenty-something racers thinking of posing as teenagers to get a crack at that money!