FIVE NHRA CAMPING WORLD DRAG RACING SERIES DRIVERS ELIGIBLE FOR 2023 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 2, 2023) – NHRA officials announced the five NHRA Camping World Drag Racing competitors in contention for the 2023 NHRA Rookie of the Year award.
Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Chase Van Sant is one of the five candidates for the annual award that names the sport’s top rookie in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Currently sixth in points, Van Sant has advanced to four semifinals and four quarterfinals this season. Van Sant rides for the White Alligator Racing led by former champ Jerry Savoie.
Pro Stock driver David Cuadra not only joined the Pro Stock ranks this season but also his family. Father Ferando Sr. and brothers Ferando Jr. and Cristian are all competitors in the class. Cuadra made his Pro Stock debut at the Four-Wide race in Charlotte where he joined his family in a Cuadra-Quad.
Eric Latino, hailing from Port Perry, Ontario, drives for the KB Titan Racing juggernaut and is also a co-owner of the team. Latino made his NHRA Pro Stock debut in Norwalk this season and has qualified for six NHRA races.
Top Fuel driver Dan Mercier hails from Saint-Michel, Quebec. This season he has qualified for six national events, including the Norwalk race where he picked up a round win over Top Fuel veteran Doug Kalitta.
Jerry Tucker competes for Pro Stock giant Elite Motorsports. Tucker has qualified for all 2023 Pro Stock events this season while advancing to one semifinal and four quarterfinals. He has round wins over Pro Stock stars Erica Enders, Bo Butner and Troy Coughlin Jr.
Last season, Camrie Caruso was awarded the 2022 Rookie of the Year title. Other recent winners include Pro Stock’s Dallas Glenn in 2021, and Top Fuel drivers Justin Ashley in 2020 and Austin Prock in 2019.
The NHRA Rookie of the Year award recognizes the top rookie competitor who also represents the future of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. The nation’s leading auto racing journalists select the winner through a voting system based on the following criteria: number of events competed in, performance on and off the racetrack, participation in NHRA promotions, and relationships with fans, sponsors, and media.
Bob Hankins from Sonora, California USA (Comp Number: 759) 1969 - Category: FUELFC, Type: FN, Class: AA/FC, Div: 7 "Blue Blazer" Owned by Bob Hankins from Sonora, California USA '69 Chevrolet Corvette by Jack Eskelson | Powered by a 398 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi with 2 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: Unknown at Unknown […]
Arnie Behling from Anaheim, California USA (Comp Number: 736) 1970 - Category: FUELFC, Type: FN, Class: AA/FC, Div: 7 "Big John Mazmanian" Owned by John Mazmanian from Whittier, California USA '70 Plymouth Cuda by Woody Gilmore | Powered by a 426 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi with 2 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 6.895 at […]
Tom Sturm from Garden Grove, California USA 1970 - Category: FUELFC, Type: FN, Class: AA/FC, Div: 7 "The Swapper" Owned by Tom Sturm from Garden Grove, California USA '70 Dodge Challenger by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 392 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.900 at Irwindale CA […]
Dale Armstrong from Seattle, Washington USA (Comp Number: 785) 1971 - Category: FUELFC, Type: FN, Class: AA/FC, Div: 7 "The Swapper" Owned by Tom Sturm from Huntington Beach, California USA '70 Dodge Challenger by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 392 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: […]
Tyler Shenuk from Chicago, Illinois USA (Comp Number: 6) 2026 - Category: NOSTPS, Type: UN, Class: Nostalgia Pro Stock, Div: 4 "Pennzoil" Owned by Chris Shenuk from Chicago, Illinois USA 1991 Pontiac Trans Am by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Pontiac with 4 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: […]
Kevin Lawrence from Palos Hills, Illinois USA (Comp Number: 376) 2026 - Category: NOSTPS, Type: UN, Class: Nostalgia Pro Stock, Div: 3 "AC-Delco" Owned by Kevin Lawrence from Palos Hills, Illinois USA 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 500 cubic inch GM with 5 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile […]
Bill Kubiac from Douglasville, Georgia USA (Comp Number: 2269) 2026 - Category: PROSTREET, Type: QN, Class: X255, Div: 2 "Bill Kubiac" Owned by Bill Kubiac from Douglasville, Georgia USA 1990 Ford Mustang by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 434 cubic inch Ford with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: Unknown at Unknown | […]
Randy Scriber from White Bear Lake, Minnesota USA (Comp Number: 570) 1971 - Category: FUELFC, Type: FN, Class: AA/FC, Div: 5 "Bill Schifsky/Cox" Owned by Bill Schifsky from Minneapolis, Minnesota USA '71 Ford Pinto by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 426 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi with 2 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile […]
Mart Higginbotham from Carrollton, Texas USA (Comp Number: 405) 1970 - Category: FUELFC, Type: FN, Class: AA/FC, Div: 4 "Doran Chevrolet / Mike Burkhart" Owned by Mike Burkhart from Dallas, Texas USA '70 Chevrolet Camaro by Don Hardy | Powered by a 440 cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.360 at Epping […]
Gary Southern from Glendora, California USA (Comp Number: 604) 1966 - Category: FUELFC, Type: FN, Class: S/XS, Div: 7 "Stinger II" Owned by Roger Hardcastle & Pat Akins from Riverside, California USA '66 Kellison Astra by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 392 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: […]