By Kris Goracke

Reporter

Racing is as ingrained in the lifestyle of the Trevor Larson family as farming itself. Trevor has been a part of his family’s passion for drag racing since the age of 13, and he has continued pursuing this sport throughout his life.

“Growing up, racing was a family event,” he said. Larson, who grew up on a farm south of Starbuck spent summer weekends drag racing with his family as they traveled to different race tracks between the busy farming schedule.

In his early days, Trevor competed in the Junior division, where drivers raced 1/8 of a mile, reaching top speeds of 85 mph. However, once he reached 16, he transitioned out of the junior class, now racing on a ¼ of a mile with speeds soaring up to 190 mph.

With a family of his own now, Trevor, alongside his wife Kendra, devote weekends to traveling to race events with their children while keeping up with the demands of farming. Kendra, like Trevor, shares a background rooted in racing while growing up.

The racing season for the married couple kicks off in late spring, when the farming schedule is less hectic.

In a highlight for 2023, Larson was winning the national championship. The path to a National Sportsman Championship title involves accumulating points from NHRA national, regional, and divisional events. Each driver earns points by claiming the best five races out of 8 for the divisional points and 3 out of 6 for National points.

For Trevor, the pursuit of this championship started when a friend asked him to test a new car at a race in Kansas. Victorious in that race, Trevor’s winning streak continued, eventually propelling him into contention for the Division Championship by September.

“I hadn’t initially planned to pursue a national championship, but Kendra pointed out the possibility of a top 10 finish, which is quite challenging,” Trevor explained. 

Motivated by the idea, he entered races in St. Louis and Dallas, winning both, followed by a runner-up in Las Vegas, setting the stage for a strong national position. In a whirlwind of 12 races over 14 weekends, Trevor exceeded his goal of top 10 and placed 1st at nationals.

Acknowledging his father’s crucial role, Trevor said, “None of this would have been possible had it not been for my dad. When I left, we had 400 acres of corn left to harvest, plus the beans – all of which he finished while I was racing.”

 Kendra, too, is an active participant in drag racing. Trevor shared, “This year, her goal was to finish in the top 9 in our division, and she secured the 4th position. So, I would say we both had a successful year.”

Drag racing is where two vehicles compete side-by-side in an acceleration contest. Both drivers race in a straight line from a standing start to a finish line 1/4 mile away (in some races, it’s an eighth mile). At a drag racing event, there are a series of individual matchups between two cars; winners of these races continue until there’s one winner left.  

For the Larsons, the heart of drag racing lies in the connections with friends and family. “We have made a lot of friends over the years. We travel, race, and hang out together,” Trevor remarked, emphasizing the long-lasting relationships formed since his teenage years.