MacKenzie Roberts: Jr DragChamp Racer Spotlight

This week’s DragChamp Jr. Racer Spotlight is all about Kansas Junior Dragster driver, MacKenzie Roberts.

BENTLEY, KS- MacKenzie Roberts is a 3rd generation drag racer who has been racing Junior Dragsters for the past 8 years. Having grown up around racers, she spent most of her childhood in the garage or out at the racetrack helping out her Dad and Papa. Once she turned 6 years old, she got her chance to wheel her first race car, a Junior Dragster. Her home tracks are Kansas International Dragway and Mid America Dragway.

Fast forward to 2022, MacKenzie now holds multiple Junior Dragster titles including: 2022 2nd place finisher in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Division 5 championship, 2021 Kansas International Dragway Points Champion, and King of the Track winner at Kansas International Raceway. She also received an invitation to race in the KOC Series Jr Dragster $10,000.00 Invitational presented by DragChamp at Christmas on the Coast coming up December 16-18, 2022 at Gulfport Dragway. 

Her Race Car

MacKenzie’s current race car is a 2005 Hardens that she has owned for five years. It has a Blossom engine and a Shockwave clutch which powers it to run 7.90s.

Outside of Racing

When MacKenzie isn’t piloting her Junior Dragster to a win, she can found playing or watching her favorite sport, volleyball. Her favorite volleyball team is the University of Kansas Jayhawks and she has goals to one day become a D1 volleyball player herself. Her daily driver is a 2007 Dodge Caliber and she likes to spend time on TikTok and Snapchat. MacKenzie’s favorite movie is Lilo & Stitch and her favorite TV Show is Grey’s Anatomy. Something most people don’t know about her is that she has been on the Honor Roll at school for 3 years in a row.

MacKenzie’s Accomplishments

• 2021 Points Champion Kansas International Dragway
• Featured on Positively Kansas tv show
• 2nd place Division 5 2022
• 2x Wally winner
• King of the Track Kansas International Dragway
• Multiple local race wins

MacKenzie’s Q&A

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

Become a Top fuel dragster driver, win 50 Wally’s, become a Pediatrician, be a D1 volleyball player, and go to Hawaii.

What is your favorite race car, and why? 

My favorite race car is a Leah Pruett’s blue and white Top Fuel Dragster, because it blew up in half and she is still alive.

Who has made the biggest impact on your racing success? 

My dad Andrew Roberts, and my grandpa Wayne Roberts.

Who do you look up to in the sport? 

I look up to Leah Pruett.

Tell us what you do for a living? 

I go to school for a living. I am hoping to become a pediatrician or a D1 volleyball player.

How do you support your racing, side hustle, sponsor, partner, etc.? 

Milton’s Trucking and WR Motor Sports sponsor me, my parents help me as well.

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

I hate to see younger kids in the other lane because I feel like it’s unfair for them because they don’t have as much experience.

What’s the hardest part of drag racing? 

Cutting a good light, and learning to drive the finish line.

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

My first time racing, I drove in the field after the turn off.

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

I just take a few deep breaths and stay focused on the tree.

What do you enjoy the most at the racetrack? 

Hanging with my family and my friends.

Do you love to win or hate to lose? 

Heck yeah I love to win, and would definitely hate to lose.

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

Starting line right now

What motivates you to continue racing? 

It’s something I’m compassionate about and the amount of new friends I make.

If money were no object, what would your racing operation look like?  Car, trailer, class, race schedule, etc. 

Full blown top fuel dragster operation, 2 big rig trailers, hospitality suite, and the biggest tv I can find.

How often do you use a practice tree? 

Not as much as I should, lol

Favorite music, artist?

Favorite song- That’s What I Like by Bruno Mars 

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

I would rather have a nice evening at home, because I could watch Christmas movies.

What’s your favorite thing to eat?  Individual item, meal, or restaurant? 

I love to eat Steak w/ cottage cheese, my favorite thing to snack on is pickles definitely.

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

I would like to thank my dad Andrew Roberts, my mom Tamara Roberts, my grandpa’s Milton Quiring and Wayne Roberts, my grandma Laura Roberts, my aunt Shanna Quiring, my older brother Brayden Good, my younger brother Karson Roberts and my cousin Nevaeh Quiring.

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

Try to have fun, ask lots of questions, don’t be shy because everyone is very helpful, and be confident even if you don’t know what you’re doing. 

For more DragChamp Jr. Spotlights, click here.