3/26/2014
Willamette Speedway
Getting Up To Speed With…Matthew Drager
Getting Up To Speed With…Matthew Drager
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Doc’s Photos)
Matthew Drager has had a brief racing career so far. But in that short tenure in the driver’s seat he has had the time of his life fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming a race car driver. After a several years of working on pit crews for local teams Matthew got into racing Kage Karts first at tracks like Salem Indoor Speedway, Albany Motorsports Park, and Willamette Speedway. A few years later he would move up into a full blown IMCA Modified and has been having a ball so far.
Historically running part-time Drager looks to hit 2014 hard with a full race schedule that will see him primarily at Willamette Speedway but he also has dates where he will travel to some regional race tracks to gain some valuable experience. A fact some folks may not know is that he is a third-generation driver following in the footsteps of his grandfather Ed Hood as well as his father Brian Drager who was a regular fixture at Willamette for over a decade. Now let’s get up to speed with Matthew Drager.
Driver: Matthew Drager
Home Track: Willamette Speedway
Hometown: Albany, Oregon
Occupation: Mechanical Engineer
Age: 25
Years Racing: 3
Classification: IMCA Modified
Team: Drager Performance
Car: 21A
Chassis: 2013 GRT by Drager Performance
Sponsors: Drager Performance, GRT Race Cars, Hooligan Design, MD Design, Rickard Engineering and Design, Mary Hood, Renate and Mo Savoie
Special Thanks: Kirsten (Wife), my family, and my hard working crew
BD: Matthew the first time I met you were wrenching on Craig Hanson’s team when they were racing at Cottage Grove. Since then how have you liked being a race car driver?
MD: I’ve really love it. It’s been my dream and goal for as long as I can remember. It’s a lot of work by everyone involved but Saturday nights make it all worth it.
BD: Racing is something deep in your family from dad and beyond. How did you get bit by the bug?
MD: Well actually my mom’s stepdad, Ed Hood, used to race. He ran Cottage Grove, Eugene, and Lebanon in the 1970’s. When my mom and dad got together he built a car for my dad who ran from 1987 to 2000 mainly in the Late Models but spent time in Modifieds as well. He raced at Willamette for the most part but would travel when he could and even ran on the pavement at Roseburg, Shasta Speedway and Eureka.
My uncle Robert Hood also announced at Willamette in the 1990’s and one of my favorite memories is from 1998 when my Dad won the Late Model A-Main, I can still quote how Robert called the finish of that race. Nobody ever pushed me to race but I’ve had the bug as long as I can remember and never had a choice. Now that I’m racing it’s cool because it truly is a family sport and there is often three generations of Dragers in the shop working on the car.
BD: Now a fact that some fans may not know is that you were actually part of the Oregon State University marching band in college recently, correct?
MD: That’s right; I was part of the Oregon State Drumline for six years while I worked on my engineering degree, playing snare, and drumset. I got to travel to sporting events around the country with the teams and got to experience a lot of things that I wouldn’t of if I hadn’t been a part of the music program.
BD: Is there a story with you racing the #21A?
MD: When my dad raced karts he was always #12. Every time he went out of town he had to add a letter so he eventually just put an “A” next to it for Albany. When I started I wanted to run 12A after him but he wouldn’t let me. I jokingly flipped the 1 and 2 making the 12A into a 21A and decided to keep it.
BD: Have you set any goals up for yourself where you would like to be in the future?
MD: Well long term I’d like to be a guy that can show up at any track and be competitive in any track condition. Thinking short term the next step is to get some top 3 finishes and a win. That’s a lot easier said than done in the Modified class where we have a lot of great drivers with great equipment. The past two years in the Mods have been a huge learning experience and we are making gains in both driving and setup. We’ve been working hard all winter to put this car together and I hope that I can get the job done as a driver.
I need to give a special thanks to everyone at Drager Performance and GRT Race Cars. Joe and Katie Garrison of GRT have been great to work with from ordering parts to setup questions and with Drager Performance having a full chassis jig and parts selection we are able to keep our equipment in better shape. I’m really looking forward to this summer as it’s my first full year out of school and I’ve been able to put in the time to make sure my car is prepared to start the season.
The 2014 season is quickly approaching and Willamette Speedway is the place to get your racing fix. Saturday April 5th will kick things off with the test and tune open practice while the “Cabin Fever Season Opener” will be held the following Saturday on the 12th. Be sure and log on to www.trophymotorsports.com for the latest information regarding Willamette Speedway.
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage