Julie Braskett Turns Promise Into Reality At Frank Hawley School

With the help of the folks at  Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School, California-girl Julie Braskett made good on a promise she made to her father before he passed away: that she would get her NHRA competition license. Participating in the 8.90 Super Comp class, Braskett recently earned her license in one of the drag racing schools’ Florida locations and fulfilled her pledge.

Julies’ father, Dave Braskett, from the popular “Braskett and Burgin” team, left behind a well known history from the Gasser era with partner Gary Burgin. The younger Braskett spent many years by her fathers’ side and it’s understandable that drag racing is in her blood. From the time she was a youngster at the tender age of six she was helping her Dad while he competed in assorted circuits. Julie explains, “I basically grew up at OCIR, Pomona and Ontario. I was a drag racing girl with nitro in my blood for sure. I had made a promise to my father that I would get my license and just over the last six months, I have been back heavily into the scene where I am now garnering a name for myself. I’m meeting so many of the drag racers that knew my father on top of meeting so many who may not have known him and all that he did in and for the sport. He was truly a pioneer. So, I’m pretty much out at every event that’s somewhat local.”

After overcoming her initial apprehension of the dragster she was piloting, Braskett explains that everything quickly fell into place and her passion came into focus.  “When I made those last couple of full passes, I knew this is what I wanted to do,” she noted. “This is my passion and when I finally started to just floor it like I was instructed to and got over my fear, there are no words to describe the rush and what it felt like to make it to the other end. I was yelling in my helmet and it was just an amazing ride.”

Braskett reflects on her experience with touching thoughts, “I had my dad’s picture with me in the pocket of my fire suit the entire time. And I know if he were still here, we would have a nostalgia car and he’d be my crew chief. It’s sad, but I did keep my promise to go get my license. I wasn’t sure I was going to do it, but I did.”