Ever wonder what it's like to hurtle down a drag strip at 780 mph before you can even drive legally on the street? Meet Mckenzee Hogan, a 15-year-old drag racing phenom who's been behind the wheel for over half her life.
Mckenzee's journey began at age seven when she sat in a dragster at Charlotte's 4Wide event. Within months, she was making test passes in her neighborhood driveway, much to her racing father's delight. Fast forward eight years, and this homeschooled tenth-grader is now piloting her fourth race car – a purple and green 2023 Mike Boss junior dragster bearing her birthday, 514, as her racing number.
The accomplishments she's already racked up would make veteran racers envious. At just 13, Mckenzee clinched a championship at her home track, Gallot Motorsports Park. She's claimed victories at major venues like Summit Motorsports Park in Ohio and competes regularly in the prestigious PDRA circuit, where she races against a field that's refreshingly balanced between boys and girls.
What makes Mckenzee's story special isn't just her speed on the track but the community she's found there. "It's one giant family," she explains, describing how competitors support each other through wins and losses alike. Before each pass, she shares a special moment with her parents – each saying their own prayer, a ritual that keeps her calm behind the wheel even when reaching speeds that would terrify most adults.
Despite throttles getting stuck and even blowing up a motor on track, Mckenzee remains undaunted. Her advice to younger girls interested in the sport? "Practice helps you get better, and you lose more than you win. But don't give up and keep trying." With plans to move into faster classes when she turns 16 and eventually transition to "big car" racing, Mckenzee Hogan is just getting started. Buckle up and follow her journey – this is one young racer whose story is accelerating fast.
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