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.
Frank Barnard from New Jersey USA (Comp Number: 1394) 2025 - Category: NOSTBFC, Type: CN, Class: B/FC, Div: 1 "Poison Arrow" Owned by Frank Barnard from New Jersey USA 1980 Plymouth Arrow by Ken Cox | Powered by a 555 cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.060 at Great Meadows NJ 8/3/25 […]
Ed Bliss Jr. from Spring City, Pennsylvania USA (Comp Number: A129) 2025 - Category: NOSTBAD, Type: VN, Class: AA/AD, Div: 1 "River Rat Racing" Owned by Ed Bliss Jr. & John Bliss from Spring City, Pennsylvania USA 2011 Dragster by S&W Race Cars | Powered by a 548 cubic inch Chevrolet by Ed Bliss Jr […]
Jim Cummings from Bridgewater, New Jersey USA (Comp Number: 186N) 2025 - Category: NOSTBAD, Type: VN, Class: A/Fuel, Div: 1 "Seconds of Pleasure" Owned by Jim Cummings from Bridgewater, New York USA 1971 Dragster by Ed Mabry | Powered by a 409 cubic inch Chevrolet by Tom Martino with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 8.805 […]
Jimmy Danko from Landsdale, Pennsylvania USA (Comp Number: 1044) 2025 - Category: ALKYALT, Type: GN, Class: AA/A, Div: 1 "Bustin\' Loose" Owned by Bob Hill from Quakertown, Pennsylvania USA 1948 Fiat Topolino by Precision Racecraft | Powered by a 509 cubic inch Chevrolet by Matt Stambaugh with 2 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 9.547 […]
Doug Polley from Hagerstown, Maryland USA (Comp Number: 100) 2025 - Category: NOSTPS, Type: UN, Class: Nostalgia Pro Stock, Div: 1 "Grumpy\'s Toy X" Owned by Doug Polley from Hagerstown, Maryland USA 1974 Chevrolet Vega by Mike Valero | Powered by a 355 cubic inch Chevrolet by Dave Aleshire with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 […]
Drew Sweetman from Elkton, Maryland USA (Comp Number: 103) 2025 - Category: NOSTBBFC, Type: CN, Class: BB/FC, Div: 1 "Frantic Ford" Owned by Sweetman Bros. from Newark, Delaware USA 1977 Ford Mustang II by S&W Race Cars | Powered by a 452 cubic inch Keith Black Hemi with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: […]
Mike Hall from Pottstown, Pennsylvania USA (Comp Number: 142) 2025 - Category: NOSTBBFC, Type: CN, Class: BB/FC, Div: 1 "Funny Farmer" Owned by Bob Rosetty from Willow Grove, Pennsylvania USA 1971 Ford Pinto by Funny Farm Fabrication | Powered by a 500 cubic inch Keith Black Hemi with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.224 at […]
Cody Helger from Little Compton, Rhode Island USA (Comp Number: 192H) 2025 - Category: NOSTBBFC, Type: CN, Class: BB/FC, Div: 1 "Dazed & Confused" Owned by Helger Bros from Little Compton, Rhode Island USA 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS by Hal Canode - JD2 | Powered by a 540 cubic inch BBC with automatic transmission 1/4 […]
Dave Sano from Dayton, New Jersey USA (Comp Number: 1176) 2025 - Category: NOSTBBFC, Type: CN, Class: BB/FC, Div: 1 "Screamin\' Insanity III" Owned by Dave Sano from Dayton, New Jersey USA 1988 70 Dodge Challenger by S&W Race Cars | Powered by a 535 cubic inch Keith Black Hemi with 3 speed manual transmission […]
Matt Stambaugh from Fredericksburg, Virginia USA (Comp Number: 292) 2025 - Category: NOSTBBFC, Type: CN, Class: BB/FC, Div: 1 "Generation X Racing" Owned by Matt & Robin Stambaugh from Fredericksburg, Virginia USA 1974 Chevrolet Vega by Ken Cox | Powered by a 517 cubic inch Keith Black Hemi by Rick Stambaugh with 3 speed manual […]