Former boat racer and now seasoned NHRA sportsman drag racing competitor Summer Richardson will make her Top Alcohol Dragster debut at this weekend’s Southeast Division Baby Gators at the Gainesville Raceway, the first in what is presently anticipated to be a six-race rookie campaign. Richardson, from Santa Clarita, California, will drive an A/Fuel Dragster leased from and tuned by Randy Meyer, with backing from she and husband Travis’ own Swoop Motorsports and a unique new ambassador partnership with OnlyFans.

Richardson, who has competed in Super Comp and Top Dragster over the last five seasons, recently earned her Top Alcohol Dragster license in Houston, clocking an impressive 5.18 at 272 mph on her first full run to the 1/4-mile. “I couldn’t believe I just ran in the teens like that right out of the gate. That’s a very special group of drivers that have done that,” Richardson says.

A social media management professional, Richardson has turned her attention to the Swoop Motorsports brand and her racing career in hopes of reaching her ultimate goal of competing in Top Fuel.

“This season is all about stepping up into Top Alcohol and getting some races under my belt in this category as a transition into Top Fuel in the near future,” she says.

Richardson is one of a select few who has been near 200 mph on water, and in excess of that mark on land, as well.

“I was racing boats on a mile course, reaching speeds close to 200 mph, and it was just becoming unsafe. As the fastest solo female powerboat driver, I was just trying to beat my previous best speeds every time I raced. Many fans know me from Lake Havasu City as as a five-time “Queen of the Desert”  at the Desert Storm Shootout, which is a huge event every year. I also raced a few times in Lake Of the Ozarks in Missouri at their shootout events, which is a very large event, as well.”

Richardson had very limited exposure to the sport of drag racing prior to jumping in with both feet and making the move from water to asphalt.

“We went to a few drag races when I was younger, and my family always had muscle cars, but nothing to the extent of what I’m doing now. My dad had me race a Vega our friends had at the Irwindale Speedway. It was my very first time ever drag racing. I was so nervous to do a burnout that I went around the waterbox (now burnouts are my favorite part of driving). I remember it did a wheelstand off the starting line and it shook me up a bit because I wasn’t expecting that, but I made a clean pass and ran a good e.t..

“After that, I signed up for Frank’s school and got licensed in Super Gas and Super Comp. My family later bought my first dragster from Chad Langdon [Top Fuel racer Shawn Langdon’s father]. It was a great car. I was the guinea pig for my family, as now my husband and my dad both drag race, as well, and I actually helped sign off their licenses. The irony! I drove in Super comp for two years, and then licensed at Tom Bayer’s school for Top Dragster and have been competing in both categories the last two seasons.”

I knew I wanted to be competitive and drive big, powerful machines — something with the same speed-factor of the powerboats. I always had my eyes on the Top Fuelers in NHRA, and I promised myself that I wouldn’t waste anyone’s time by switching to a new sport, because if I was going to do so, then I’m going all the way to the top as a professional driver. Hopefully I can use my platform to race for various causes or something I’m super passionate about. I have some bigger plans in mind.”

“My sights are still set on Top Fuel. I’m taking the right steps and everything is unfolding as it should. I would love to license in Top Fuel at the end of this season…it’s a goal of mine. But the journey getting there has been humbling, to say the least.”