Hunter Davis: 2021 DragChamp Jr Racer of the Year

This week’s DragChamp Jr. Racer Spotlight is all about our 2021 Jr Racer of the Year, Hunter Davis.

HANSON, KY- Hunter Davis was introduced to the sport of drag racing from spending countless weekends at the racetrack cheering on his Dad, Pop, Uncles, and Cousins while they raced. Once he turned eight year old, he got his chance behind the wheel and eight years later he hasn’t looked back once.

Hunter made his first passes at Beacon Dragway and they frequented Beech Bend Dragway when he was younger. Now, that Hunter is more competitive in the Junior Dragster ranks they like to travel to higher paying races and they like to run points mainly at Beacon Dragway.

This past year, Hunter won the Laris Motorsports Insurance DragChamp Racer of the Year title posting impressive record of 18 wins in 22 finals during the 2021 race season. Hunter was the Division 3 13+ champion, Beacon Dragway track champion, and Midwest Jr. Super Series Quick 32 champion. He also had a runner-up finish in the Sikeston $5K race.

His Race Car

Hunter’s Junior Dragster is a 2020 Halfscale Swingarm chassis with a Craws ZR-4 engine, CLEANShot Intake, and Shockwave Clutch onboard. He runs 7.90s.

Outside of Racing

When he isn’t capturing wins and championships at the drag strip, Hunter can be found working out which includes running, lifting, boxing, and MMA. Other than racing, his favorite sport would be MMA, because he a UFC super fan.He is also a diehard Kentucky Basketball fan. His favorite food is Texas Roadhouse loaded fries and his favorite movie is the Dukes of Hazard. His daily driver is a 2003 Cateye Chevrolet Silverado LS which he has lowered with 22’s on it.

Hunter’s Major Accomplishments

• 2021 DragChamp Jr Dragster Racer of the Year
• 2021 DragChamp Jr Dragster 13-17 Year Old Racer of the Year
• 2021 Division 3 Jr Dragster 13-17 Year Old Champion
• 2021 Midwest Super Series Quick 32 Champion
• 2018, 2019 Beech Bend Track Champion
• 2020, 2021 Beacon Dragway Track Champion
• 2020 IHRA Division 2 Team Finals Champion with Beacon Dragway
• 2021 PDRA Doorslammer Derby #1 qualifier and event winner in the Pro Jr Dragster class
• Multiple NHRA Wally’s
• Multiple IHRA Ironman’s
• Multiple Midwest Junior Super Series Big Daddy’s

Hunter’s Q&A

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

My biggest goal is to be able to transition my success in juniors over to a big car smoothly when that time comes, and I want to be one of the big names in bracket racing and be known as one of the top guys. Races like The Spring Fling, Fall Fling, Summer Fling, and The Mickey Thompson Million are definitely on my bucket list of races I want to win in the future.

What is your favorite race car, and why?

I would say it would have to be a third-generation Camaro, and my favorite one would probably be the one that Jody Voyles used to race in Limited Drag Radial.

Who has made the biggest impact on your racing success?

My Dad 100% without him I would never be able to be in the position that l’m in.

Who do you look up to in the sport?

Even though my dad doesn’t get to race as much now, I still look up to him a lot because he taught me a lot of the concepts that have helped me become successful. But some guys who I look up to now and see as the best in the sport as far as footbraking would be Charlie Lockhart, and Nasty Nick.

How do you support your racing?

My parents support my racing 100%.

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

I don’t really hate seeing any specific people in the other lane because I love racing people that are gonna give me a good hard race and be a good challenge.

What’s the hardest part of drag racing?

I think the hardest part of drag racing is mental. I think most of the time you end up beating yourself and I think the guys at the top of the sport never psych themselves out and beat themselves by making little mistakes.

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

Giving it back .000 in the semis of a $5k when I treed the other person bad.

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

Most of the time I stay quiet in the car and focus on concentrating, but if I’ve been having a couple bad lights or something I may yell at myself to not be late.

What do you enjoy the most about being at the racetrack?

I enjoy being able to hangout with my racing friends and winning the most.

Do you love to win or hate to lose?

Hate to lose

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

I would say the finish line no doubt.

What motivates you to continue racing?

I really love driving a race car and every year l’m motivated to win every race I go to.

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

If money were no object I’d have the most top of the line RV there is, a brand new stacker, a couple pro mods for heads up racing, a couple pro-charged dragsters for top bulb races, and a 1st, 3rd, and 4th gen Camaro for bottom bulb races.

How often do you use a practice tree?

If i’ve been struggling i’ll use it at my house during the week or in the trailer if we’re still at the races. If I go to a race where there will be pro tree racing then i’ll change my practice tree to the pro tree and practice in the week leading up to the race.

Favorite music, artist?

I listen to a wide range of music and my favorites would be anybody from Hank Williams Jr, Nas, or even Lynyrd Skynryd. Really anything that keeps me locked in and focused.

Where do you spend the most time on the internet?

I would say Youtube, or bugging my dad about race cars for sale on Facebook.

Name one thing people don’t know about you.

I would say most people that I race with don’t know that I was an AAU basketball player before I really started focusing only on racing, and injuries with my ankle and knee were the main reason why I had to stop. But i’m happy that i’m just doing racing now.

Would you rather hang out with a crowd or have a quiet evening at home?

Definitely a quiet evening at home. I like to stay to myself most times.

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

I would definitely like to thank my mom, dad, and my Nanny (grandma) for helping me out the most and giving me all the opportunities in the world to be successful doing the thing I love to do.

What is a piece of advice that you’d like to give to an aspiring racer?

I would just say that you should just never give up on racing if you love it and just know that success won’t come overnight and that it takes a lot of time and experience. And listen to everyone that gives you advice that has been doing it longer than you because it will be useful one day and just keep working hard and you will get where you want to be.

For more DragChamp Jr. Spotlights, click here.