Drew Skillman on a Roll in NHRA Pro Stock, Winning Three of Past Four Events

Aug 22, 2017

Drew Skillman won the Pro Stock final over Erica Enders at Pacific Raceways in Washington

NHRA Pro Stock driver Drew Skillman says he isn’t a professional driver. He is humble when the topic of his racing career and recent successes comes up. “We’re just passionate about it,” Skillman said. “This is what we love to do. I’m a racer. I’m not a professional racer. I’m a racer. That’s why I’m here. I don’t do this for a living. I do this to have fun, to be around my guys. We come here to win. We work hard.”

When asked after winning the Pro Stock portion of the races at Pacific Raceways in Washington why he continues to race, even when the results are not the best, he said, “mental illness.” “Anyone that does this has something wrong with them,” Skillman said.

Little has gone wrong for Skillman’s Pro Stock team for more than a month. For the first half of the season, the teams in the Pro Stock division were very close. About 10 teams and drivers were challenging for wins at every event. Nine different drivers won events in the first half of the season. Skillman emerged as the top driver in recent events, winning three of the past four and nearly sweeping the Western Swing in Colorado, California, and Washington. “We really thought we were going to sweep the swing,” Skillman said. “We really thought we had the car to do it. We missed it by two rounds. But we made up for it here.”

Skillman won the events at Bandimere Speedway in Colorado and Route 66 Raceway in Illinois. He added his third win of the season at Pacific Raceways in Washington where he beat two-time Pro Stock champion Erika Enders in the final. “I got lucky on that one,” Skillman said, humble as always. “I’m pretty calm in the car. Nothing really fazes me in the car. I was trying to kill the tree and apparently, I did not.”

Pro Stock driver Drew Skillman has won three out of the last four events

Skillman’s team is coming together at the right time. The NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship starts next month and Skillman is putting together great runs before the playoffs start. He gives all the credit to his team and crew. “I had a really good car this weekend,” Skillman said. “Driver was not the best this weekend. My team carried me to the finals this weekend.”

The next NHRA race is at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota. Skillman won the Pro Stock event at Brainerd last year. “We have some stuff in the pipeline that should be very, very good for the Countdown,” Skillman said. “Definitely be at the top of the page every time.”

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