Ava Ward: Cashing Checks and Earning Titles
This week’s DragChamp Jr. Racer Spotlight is all about 2021 Eastern Conference Finals 11-year-old champion, Ava Ward.
ANDERSON, SC- 2021 Eastern Conference Finals 11-year-old champion, Ava Ward has been drag racing her Junior Dragster for the past 4 years. Her Dad and Papa helped get her introduced to the sport by racing everything from cars to boats and 4X4’s over the years. Racing has been in her family as long as she has been around and it is something they all enjoy week after week.
Her home track is Atlanta Dragway where she normally competes in the 10-13 year old class and also runs the Rockingham Dragway points series. One of her favorite highlights of her racing career so far would have to be when she made exhibition runs at the last Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. She said, “it was so exciting to race with stands full of people”!
About Her Race Car
Ava’s current race car is her “Plum Crazy” 2018 Mike Bos chassis which they have owned for the past three years and have ran it the last two. It has a ZR3 engine block on board that her Dad helps maintain. Her car runs 8.90s.
Ava’s Accomplishments
- 2021 ECF 11 year old Champion
- 2020 Race of Champions Runner-Up
- 2019 National Open Winner (Mooresville and Atlanta)
- Local race winner at Atlanta Dragway and Carolina Dragway
- Highest in points for age group at Rockingham Dragway and will be competing in the Race of Champions at Division Finals this year
Outside of Racing
When Ava isn’t strapped into her race car, she enjoys playing Roblox, cheerleading, wakeboarding, and theater. She is a 7th grader at Southwood Academy of the Arts and her favorite cheer team is Clemson. Her favorite movie is I Still Believe and her favorite music artist is Lauren Daigle.
Ava’s Q&A
What’s on your bucket list, future goals, what do you hope to achieve?
I want to race a top dragster one day and I want to race at and win Pomona.
What is your favorite race car, and why?
My old jr dragster because my grandparents bought it for me and I won a lot of races with it. Now my sister drives it.
Who has made the biggest impact on your racing success?
My dad, he is always working on my car and teaching me things to help me get better.
Who do you look up to in the sport?
Kimberly Messer, she owned my current car before me and she won PDRA top dragster her 1st year out of Jrs. I also look up to Antron Brown. He always makes a point to talk to the junior racers.
How do you support your racing, side hustle, sponsor, partner, etc.?
Southside Hotrod Shop, Meguiar’s, and my parents and grandparents!
Who do you hate to see in the other lane, and why?
My sister, Kate because we hate to lose to each other, but we both want to see each other win. We’ve had to race each other twice so far and she won the first time and I won the second!
What’s the hardest part of drag racing?
Choosing what to dial.
What’s your most embarrassing moment in a race car?
When I missed the turn off at Greer Dragway and had to be pushed off the track.
What are you saying to yourself just before you stage the car?
I’m probably singing whatever song is stuck in my head. I don’t get too worked up before I run. I just like to have fun racing!
What do you enjoy the most at the racetrack?
Winning of course and seeing my friends! Next year will be hard because we are losing Atlanta Dragway. All of my racing friends will be racing at different places next year and I really hate that.
Are you superstitious? If so, what are they?
I have a necklace that I always try to wear when I’m racing and I always want my dad to stage me.
Do you love to win or hate to lose?
Love to win!
Which are you better at the starting line or the finish line?
Finish line
What motivates you to continue racing?
Wanting to be a better racer and one day beat dad on the track.
How often do you use a practice tree?
Not very often
What are you really good at?
Making new friends. I love that you meet friends from a lot of different places when racing. The best thing about ECF is I get to see all of the friends I have made in years past.
Name one thing most people don’t know about you?
I have a stuffed animal monkey that I keep in the freezer and sleep with every night!
Would you rather hang out with a crowd or have a quiet evening at home?
Hang out with the crowd of course!
What’s your favorite thing to eat? Individual item, meal, or restaurant?
Chick-fil-a
Who would you like to thank, who helps you the most?
I want to thank my Papa, Dad, and Paige Brown for helping me in the staging lanes.
What is a piece of advice you’d give to an aspiring racer?
Don’t be nervous! Have confidence that you can win.
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