DragChamp Racer Spotlight with David Myhre

David Myhre stops by DragChamp to talk about striking gold in California, adding another championship to his belt, and crushing the West Coast competition.

SHERIDAN, CA – David Myhre began illuminating win lights 20 years ago when he climbed in the cockpit of his first junior dragster. Since then, he’s earned multiple impressive titles, including the 2020 NHRA Division 7 Super Pro championship.

At the NHRA Division 7 Summit Team Finals, David won the Super Pro High Roller gamblers race on Friday (with a lifter change after third round), was runner up in the Pro gamblers race, and won the Super Pro main event to punch his ticket to the Dodge NHRA Finals in Las Vegas. He also claimed a quarterfinal finish in his S-10 in the Pro class to round out a solid weekend of racing.

Myhre calls Sacramento Raceway his home track but he’s often in the staging lanes in Arizona, Oregon, Nevada, or Idaho. You can find David behind the wheel of his 2010 Racetech dragster going 4.60s or dialing 6.40s in his 1994 Chevrolet S-10. He competes in both top and bottom bulb events as well as top dragster races.

Collecting Checks in an Unusual Manner

David’s bucket list event would be making the trip from California to the Million Dollar Drag Race to test his skills.

He’s collected checks at numerous big money bracket races including a win at the 2019 Western States $10K, win and runner up at the 2019 Redding September Big Bucks race, and winning two races at the California Gold Rush last year.

Myhre had just bought new wheels and tires and quickly realized there was an issue the first day at the California Gold Rush. He borrowed Paul Nero’s Hoosier R&D and drove that combination to a $10,000 win on Friday.

During second round on Saturday, a tire shake next to his opponent’s red light initiated another change. This time, he borrowed Logan War’s wheels with little bubbas (Mickey Thompson) just before third round of competition.

The combination worked, as Myhre drove to his second consecutive final to face off against Justin Lamb…again. Myhre turned on the final win light and earned a $25,000 payday on Saturday. He said, “Basically, everyday I changed wheels and tires, won with Hoosiers on Friday and Saturday on Mickeys.”

We have even more details about David Myhre in the following Q&A.

Tell us what you do for a living.

Manager/Sales of California Custom Iron, Inc. We fabricate custom steel stairs and railing throughout California.

How did you get introduced into the sport?

My dad introduced me to junior dragsters so our family could spend more time together on the weekends.

What is your favorite race car and why?

My S-10 is currently my favorite race car and I would take that over a dragster any day. After building the truck, and running off the bottom, racing started to become fun again. It costs less and it’s more versatile for all track conditions.

Who has made the biggest impact on your racing success?

My Dad and Mom for everything they have done. Also, my good friend Rob Knoles is my main crew chief, when he is not racing his Camaro.

Who do you look up to in the sport?

I have some close friends but I have always looked up to Luke Bogacki. I had the privilege to spend a month with Luke when I was 21 years old. I flew out to Alabama and just absorbed as much as possible from him racing his Vega and dragster.

I was fortunate enough to drive his Vega for the Bowling Green Ten Tuck on Sunday, when he had to leave after Saturday. I was able to make it four rounds before losing to Edmond Richardson.

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

Any of my friends, like Robert Butler, who seems to meet up with me in the late rounds of the big races when he goes .001 against me. I would say Jake Guadagnolo, too. In 2018, we would either race first round or the final. I’d also have to include Jeff Lassalle in no box, where he seems to have my number.

What’s your most embarrassing moment in a race car?

I knew I did not have to change the delay box crossover against my friend, Steve Casner, because he’s faster than me. He changed his program to 8.90 last second and I did not catch it. It was just a good learning lesson to never assume someone’s program or dial.

Do you love to win or hate to lose?

The only time I hate losing is when I perform badly or make simply stupid mistakes. Winning is amazing! If I wanted to go racing “just for fun” I would be nostalgia racing in a front engine car.

What motivates you to continue racing?

I love to work on race cars and change up combos to try different things and make the race car better. In another life, I could see myself as a crew chief for a top fuel car.

If money were no object, what would your racing operation look like?

Oh, that’s easy, who doesn’t think of this? I’d have a newer Freightliner style motorhome and stacker trailer. A bracket dragster with a blower going 4.40’s or faster would be badass…and/or a pro stock style top sportsman ride with a blower going 6.60’s.

How do you support your racing (sponsor, side hustle, etc)?

I have always had help from my parents from the start, but I have also had help from CRE Transmissions and Convertors (Steve Casner), GZ Vacuum Pumps, and Wes May Carbs. I don’t use them just for their products but friendships as well. Although, I’m not going to lie…my checking account would look pretty good if it wasn’t for racing!

What are you saying to yourself just before staging the car?

“Don’t be a b*tch and hit the tree.” It helps me get up for the moment.

Besides racing, what do you do in your free time?

I work on the race cars A LOT, but just being with friends is what matters.

Name one thing most people don’t know about you.

I recently got a divorce in 2019 after nine years together, which was a huge turning point in my life. Most don’t know about it, except my close friends.

Who would you like to thank?

My Parents, Steve Casner, Eathon Lanfri,and Rob Knoles. They have helped me throughout my racing career the most.

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Check out our other DragChamp Racer Spotlight articles on drivers like Sheldon Gecker, Randi Lyn Shipp, or Gage Blevens.