MEGAN MEYER
PHOTOS : IAN TOCHER
As the daughter of world championship tuner / driver / car owner Randy Meyer , 23-yearold Megan Meyer had some big shoes to fill when she kicked off her Top Alcohol Dragster rookie campaign at this year ’ s NHRA Gatornationals . She reached the finals and semifinals in her first two regional event appearances in 2015 , so expectations were reasonably high for 2016 . Those expectations were surpassed as Meyer raced to the final round at her first three races , breaking through to win the NHRA Four- Wide Nationals in just her second national-event start .
“ We had a lot better results than what we were expecting or even going for ,” Megan freely admitted . “ I know we had a great race car and group of guys with us , but since Gainesville was my first national event , we just didn ’ t know what kind of pressure it would put on me . Everything fell into place and it all worked out for the best for us . It was a phenomenal start and it ’ s still just mind-blowing how awesome it was . Especially the way the season ended , it just makes you think back and be really fortunate for the kind of success we had so early .”
When Meyer went to three more final rounds at the Topeka and Chicago national events and St . Louis regional race , she was poised to be a national championship contender . Her championship hopes were dashed , though , when her Racers Evolved dragster struggled through first-round losses and a couple DNQs at the final races of the season . The unusual decrease in performance was certainly not due to a lack of effort .
“ We were running two cars at a lot of the races at the end of the season . It took away from the
opportunities as far as motors , parts , and tires . We ran into little issues with that but we tried to make the best of it . There wasn ’ t really one thing causing it , I think it was just a bunch of little things that added up . We changed motors about five times in my car , which is kind of unheard of . I think we went through four or five cranks and oil pans this year . We got really limited on parts as the year went on . When we went on the five-week tour , we were really struggling . By that point it was too late to order new parts or go back to our inventory because we just about used everything up .”
The ultra-competitive Meyer was quick to point out the positives of her rookie season , which saw her earn round wins in over half of the 85 passes she made in competition .
“ There ’ s a lot of different ways you can look at it ,” added the former Junior Dragster driver . “ We have all of that data now that we can take next year when we go to those tracks . This year was the first time at those tracks for this car and myself , so there were a lot of firsts this year that we won ’ t have to deal with next year . This year also helped us with our marketing program . I was able to build an incredible racing resume this year . It helps to be able to go to companies and show them that I was number two regionally and number four nationally in my rookie year .”
With a full season now under her belt , Meyer can move on to her sophomore season , but her list of competitors will grow by at least one name in 2017 . Her 21-year-old sister , Rachel , is slated to begin her Top Alcohol Dragster rookie campaign in a new Copeland-built A / Fueler , fulfilling the sisters ’ childhood dream of racing side-by-side in the sport ’ s quickest and fastest sportsman category . – NATE VAN WAGNEN DI
Photograph By Shawn Wagner DragIllustrated . com | Drag Illustrated | 119