Jr. Dragster Racing Sibling Team: Peyton & Hailey Shook
This week’s DragChamp Jr. Racer Spotlight is all about Florida sibling duo, Peyton & Hailey Shook.
Featured photo by KC Photography
NORTH PORT, FL- Peyton and Hailey Shook have both been racing Junior Dragsters for the past five years in and around the state of Florida. Peyton was introduced to the sport of drag racing through his Dad’s friend, Bob Bjorkman who drove a beautiful ’69 Camaro in 5.50 Index. From there, Peyton really wanted to get started racing but had to convince Hailey to want to do it with him. Peyton showed her the Disney movie, Right on Track which is based on the Enders’ sisters junior drag racing in a male-dominated sport. Hailey ended up watching it almost everyday and then worked to convince their parents to let them race.
Needless to say, their tactic work and they both now compete in the 7.90/ Advanced Junior dragster class at their home tracks, Bradenton Motorsports Park and Immokalee Regional Raceway.
Want to stay up to date with Peyton & Hailey? Follow their family Facebook racing page, PH2 Racing Team.
Current Race Cars
Peyton’s current car is a 2017 Halfscale with a ZR4 3 & ¾ motor built by his Dad and a Shockwave clutch. It runs 7.90 but will be running in the 7.70 range at IHRA races.
Photo by KC Photography
Hailey’s car or better known as the Toxic Burst is a 2012 RPC and has a ZR4 motor with a Shockwave clutch that her Dad and Brother helped put together. She got her car in October 2018 and it is black and green with a cool pin strip down the middle of it.
Photo by KC Photography
Accomplishments
Peyton & Hailey’s all sibling first final was at Immokalee Regional Raceway on March 14, 2020 since then they’ve had a total of six sibling finals and they are tied with three wins each. They also compete for Wallys & Eagles. They each have 2 Wallys and Hailey has 4 Eagles & Peyton has 2 Eagles.
Peyton’s Accomplishments
- 2020 Immokalee Regional Raceway Track Champion
- Back-to-Back Turkey Bash & Snowbirds Wins
- FTI Farm Team
- Won free tuition for Super Gas Course at Frank Hawley’s drag Racing School
Hailey’s Accomplishments
- 11.90 Back-to-Back wins at Turkey Bash Race & The Susan Keen Memorial Race
- Multiple race wins at Bradenton & Immokalee
- 2018 New Years Nationals Runner-up
- Baby Gators Win
- Threepeat wins at Bradenton in 2021
Outside of Racing
When they aren’t racing, Hailey participates in the theater program at her school and spends time on TikTok & Youtube. Her favorite food is strawberries and whip cream and her favorite TV show is Forensic Files.
Peyton is a Senior at North Port High School and is also dual-enrolled at Suncoast Technical College in their Industrial Machinery Maintenance & Repair program. When he isn’t in school, he works at a fellow racers Dad’s transmission shop. His daily driver is a 2004 Chevy 2500 HD all stock with a 6.0 gas motor.
Peyton & Hailey Q + A
What’s on your bucket list, future goals, what do you hope to achieve?
P: My goal is to win another track championship and win an Ironman. Nobody seems to have Ironman races in FL.
What is your favorite race car, and why?
P: C2 Super Gas Corvette because I’ve always liked the sleek design and can spot them a mile away.
Who has made the biggest impact on your racing success?
P: Definitely my dad because even though he never did a lot of drag racing himself, he researches a lot about it and uses his mechanical skills to help me become the racer I am today. He also has funded my whole racing program on no sleep. We joke about it but it’s true. He works early Saturday mornings and then pick us up to go racing all on no or very little sleep because he’s been up late every night making sure motors and cars are running right.
H: My dad & brother, they keep my car consistent
Who do you look up to in the sport?
P: David Rampy is who I look up to with over 100 NHRA National event wins, the man is a legend.
How do you support your racing, side hustle, sponsor, partner, etc.?
P: My mom and dad support my racing. All our winnings go back into racing. My sponsors are FTI Performance/FTI Farm Team, Dixie Paint & Body Shop Inc. and Mr. Marcite, Inc. My side hustle lately has been working on the competitor’s cars for them and teaching them about Jr. Dragsters and how to fix, take care of them and the tree.
Who do you hate to see in the other lane, and why?
P: I hate to see my sister in the other lane because I know her car will be dead on and all I can do beat her on the tree, which usually I do.
H: I really don’t care who I see in the other lane but at least when I see my brother, I know it’s going to be a good race.
What’s the hardest part of drag racing?
P: The hardest part of racing is consistency, being able to win week after week and not slip up with small room for error.
H: For me the hardest part of drag racing is coming to terms with the fact not everyone thinks girls should be racing still. But mostly the people at my home tracks don’t think like that. But it’s still hard when you get bullied for a passion of yours.
What’s your most embarrassing moment in a race car?
P: Being -.002 red and being dead on with a 2 first round of the 10K race against an 11.90 car.
H: When I fall asleep in my car.
What are you saying to yourself just before you stage the car?
P: Every round I say to myself just be decent on the tree and don’t give it back.
What do you enjoy the most at the racetrack?
P: Definitely the competition considering it’s always there wherever I go.
H: I enjoy the people at the track, when we first started racing, we barely spoke to each other and now I can say we’ve turned both of our home tracks friends in to family. We even do things together outside of the track.
Are you superstitious? If so, what are they?
H: I am a little superstitious of many things, but my main thing is if I don’t get my send off fist bump from my dad/fill in crew chief then my head isn’t really in it.
Do you love to win or hate to lose?
P: I hate to lose
H: I really love to win but I do not hate to lose. I do beat myself up about it but in the end, I have to let it go or it will mess me up at the next race. I try to learn from it.
Which are you better at the starting line or the finish line?
P: Better at the starting line.
H: I think the starting line
What motivates you to continue racing?
P: I keep racing as much as I can so one day, I’m the reason no one wants to race.
If money were no object, what would your racing operation look like? Car, trailer, class, race schedule, etc.
P: My operation would be a 53 foot Vintage Trailer with living quarters, a 5500 Kodiak totter and a 2000’s rounded body extended cab S-10 that runs 5.40’s and race every single week.
How often do you use a practice tree?
P: I use the practice tree almost every day, just out of fun. It’s in the garage so when I walk by it I just pick it up and do a couple hits and walk away from it. I try to be consistent .010-.015 every time. During Corona when we couldn’t race for a little bit my mom found Corona Lockdown Practice Tree League that helped me a lot on the tree and it was fun to do it with other kids from other states.
H: I rarely use a practice tree UNLESS it is for a little competition between me and my brother or my parents.
What is your favorite sport? Favorite team?
P: Indianapolis Colts even though I’m born and raised in FL my dad grew up in Indiana and those are the teams we mostly watched together. Also, I’m named after Peyton Manning.
Who would you like to thank, who helps you the most?
P: Again my dad!
H: The people I would want to thank most of all is my parents, my brother & grandparents. They’ve always helped me with racing.
What is a piece of advice you’d give to an aspiring racer?
P: A piece of advice I would give to an aspiring racer is the best thing you can do is ask questions to other racers that have great success. How do they look at the tree? What’s there finish line strategy and how do they analyze their opponent? Also, when you don’t win for a while don’t give up, your win will happen eventually.
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