DragChamp Racer Spotlight: Duston Wurtz

Duston Wurtz pulled off an amazing feat over the Memorial Day weekend. Racing at the West Coast Classic bracket race at Auto Club Dragway, Duston ran himself in the final round of a $20,000 main event.

Even more impressive, Duston never lost a round on the day. He carried two entries all the way to the final round. Driving his Undercover dragster, Duston posted a .013-pack in the quarterfinals and a .012-pack in the semifinals to park both entries in the final.

Dustin’s performance earned him a spot on the DragChamp Top 10 List. See it here.

We learned more about Duston Wurtz of Nampa, Idaho in this Q&A.

DC: How long have you been racing?

DW: Seven years. I started out foot braking in a 1966 Mustang that my father and I picked up for 5,000. It had a basic stock 302 with an automatic C4 transmission.

We rebuilt the car into a street/strip car and ended up winning four local track championships in two years. I eventually traded it for a hard tail dragster that I eventually sold to start a business with my father.

We started the business so we could get even more serious about drag racing. A few years later I purchased a 2001 Undercover dragster from Mark Kidd and completely rebuilt the whole thing to what it is now.

DC: Which class or classes do you compete in? Where do you normally race?

DW: I compete in Super Pro for the most part. I do a lot of big money bracket racing out here on the West Coast. Sometimes I will compete in local events or the local NHRA Division 6 Lucas Oil Series races. I just recently won my first Wally in Top Dragster at the Division 6 opener at Firebird Raceway.

DC: Tell us about your current race car.

DW: It’s a 2001 Undercover that my dad and I just fully rebuilt. I run Penske Air dump shocks, Bob Book Racing 1250 carburetor, A-1 8-inch converter, Goethe Enterprises driveline, and of course I am always on #TeamstickyMickeys

DC: Please list your major racing accomplishments.

• I have won four local track championships in the footbrake categories
• One win in Pro bracket at Nightfire in Boise – 2017
• Semifinal finish in a $50k shootout at the 2016 Spring Fling in Vegas
• Semifinal finish in a $20k at the 2016 Spring Fling in Vegas
• Top Dragster win at the 2019 NHRA Division 6 Ignitor Opener in Boise
• 2019 West Coast Classic win for $20k, raced myself in the final round
• Various other small wins out here on the West Coast

DC: What’s on your bucket list, future goals, what do you hope to achieve?

DW: One of my biggest goals is to race myself in the final of the million in Vegas. Or I would like to at least win the Million and put another car deep into the rounds… that is a bucket list goal!

DC: Tell us what you do for a living?

DW: I own a few vape shops in Boise, Idaho and also own an e-liquid manufacturing company. We take pride in helping people quit smoking cigarettes.

DC: Who do you hate to see in the other lane, and why?

DW: Rayce Kidd and Tanner Theobald. Every time I get up against those two it is always a tight race.

DC: What’s the hardest part of drag racing?

DW: For me I feel one of my strongest areas is reaction times but I also feel the hardest part for me is staying focused all day on cutting a good light.

DC: What are you saying to yourself just before you stage the car?

DW: Last weekend when I raced myself in the final at the West Coast Classic, I put a piece of tape on the dash and wrote in a sharpie on it, “Enjoy the moment! BE PERFECT”. I looked at it every time I went to the water box. It really helped clear my mind and keep me focused.

DC: Which are you better at the starting line or the finish line?

DW: It just depends on the day, but sometimes I am better at the finish line than the starting line.

DC: What motivates you to continue racing?

DW: The art of the sport continues to motivate me. I love to learn new things and always keep learning. I am a member of Luke Bogacki’s Thisisbracketracing.com Elite where we are always training. I’d like to get a few more big wins under my belt.

DC: How often do you use a practice tree?

DW: 8-15 times a month.

DC: Who would you like to thank, who helps you the most?

DW: My girlfriend, and soon to be wife, Hailey Phillips and our son Maddox. They support me 100% at every race.

I would also like to thank my father Tim Wurtz. He has taught me most everything I know about racing and has driven me to be successful.

I also have to thank my Mom Jennifer Wurtz. I wouldn’t be here without her.

For more great sportsman racing content, check out the DragChamp racer blogs here.