For most, the idea of strapping into a racecar and being forced to drive it only with your feet may seem impossible, but for Matt Stutzman, it’s just another box checked off on his long list of remarkable accomplishments. Throughout his entire life, Matt has redefined norms as a professional American archer. Born without arms and given up for adoption as a child, he went onto become a Paralympic Medalist, Guinness World Record Holder, and now a racecar driver who just joined the four-second-club.

The Iowa resident most recently won the gold medal at the 2022 World Para Archery Championships in Dubai and is looking ahead to the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, France. While his incredible skills as an archer has garnered national attention, he has always had a passion for cars and motorsports, specifically drag racing.

A viral video, posted by Stutzman, shows his innate ability to successfully complete a burnout, stage the car, and drive through a four-second pass in his beautiful 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, powered by a blown 540 cubic inch big-block Chevy powerplant.

“That four-second run felt really good and smooth. But, when I got out at the top end, I wondered what a 3-second pass would feel like,” Stutzman says.

Matt utilizes his feet just as easily as one would their hands and is able to shift gears and steer the car using his feet while using his toes to hold down the line lock, let go of the transbrake button and even activate the fire suppression system and pull the parachutes, if needed. A custom lever gives him the ability to pop his seat belts off so he can exit the car in less than 10 seconds.  Not only does he drive his own racecar that has very few modifications, he tunes the motor, adjusts the chassis, checks valves, and everything in between. Stutzman’s need for speed and love for cars, that began at 10 years old, is now a reality, and he is loving the ride he’s on.

Having started drag racing in 2012 as an amateur bracket racer, Stutzman currently races competitively in the Top Sportsman class at his local track, Eddyville Raceway Park in Eddyville, Iowa. He owes his success in drag racing at this level to his family and friends, especially longtime best friend and partner, Jessica Wasson.

“My family inspires me and are my biggest motivation in life,” Stutzman says. “Archery is an individual sport, but drag racing is not. Jessica has always been a huge supporter on all my adventures, as crazy as they are.”

It took months for Matt and his team to strategically plan safety protocols to make sure the car is safe, reliable, and goes down the track consistently every time. More than anything, he wants other competitors to also feel safe when they are racing in the lane next to him. Having reached his longtime goal of obtaining his WDRA license and certification, he wanted to be clear that he would not receive any special exceptions. The goal for Stutzman and his team is to conform to the same rules that everyone else must abide by.

The one thing Matt Stutzman loves most about drag racing is the community that have welcomed him into the sport. While he takes great pride in pushing himself to do as much as he can on his own, the feeling of support from his fellow racers and competitors is always appreciated.

“In the car world, the love and respect that I get from everyone is amazing. They look at me as a racer and not as a guy without arms,” Stutzman says.

For Matt, his archery career and drag racing hobby balance each other. While archery can very easily be over practiced, the time he spends at the racetrack doubles as a mental reset for when he returns to his profession as a competitive archer. He also considers both sports to be very similar because of the mental aspect. Like archery, drag racers typically get one shot at the tree, which requires every bit of mental preparation, focus, and precision.

“Both sports really are similar because once you shoot the arrow, you don’t get a second shot. In drag racing, you get just one chance at the tree and you don’t get that chance back,” Stutzman says.

When asked what’s next for his drag racing career, Matt Stutzman has his sights set on going NHRA racing. His goal is to compete at a professional level and make the transition from his career in archery to a career in drag racing. It’s clear that Stutzman operates at full throttle in all his adventures. With his love for drag racing, positive outlook on life, and relentless persistence, there is no limit, or speed limit, that Matt Stutzman can’t reach.