2022 DragChamp Racer of the Year

Lucas Walker is your 2022 DragChamp Racer of the Year presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance

02/01/23 – Welcome to the 2022 DragChamp Racer of the Year Top 10 List presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance. We ranked the best racers of the year to complete the Top 10 List. Read below to see which racers made the biggest impact over the 2022 season.

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Want to check out previous Top 10 Lists, click here.

DragChamp Top 10 List

1 – Lucas Walker

Lucas Walker is your 2022 DragChamp Racer of the Year! The 2022 Bottom Bulb Racer of the Year made almost 30 final round appearances in 2022 which secured the overall Racer of the Year title. Although he races off the bottom, Walker cashed twice last season in big dollar top bulb finals including the Spring Fling and the Turkey Beach Bash. Walker raced from coast to coast and seemingly found his way to the final round on almost a weekly basis. To showcase his talents, Walker was forced to change cars mid-race at the Spring Fling and still managed to collect the $30,000 payday in a car he’d never driven. His $40,000 victory at the Turkey Beach Bash came after laying down nothing total in the final (.000 dead on with a 0). In addition to his top bulb success (leaving off the bottom), Walker made noise at numerous prestigious races including the New Years Nationals, Southern Big Buck Nationals, WFC, Alabama 2-Step, and more. While competing at the large big money races (SFG, GABR, Fling), Walker won at least one No-Box final at each event he attended.

2 –Cory Gulitti

Cory Gulitti put on a clinic at the biggest races in 2022. The young Texan traveled the country racking up big checks at the SFG, the Fling, Loose Rocker, VMP, Michigan, and more. According to Caroline McCarty, Cory was a perfect 13 for 13 in final rounds during his 2022 campaign. We counted nine major victories including a dragster shootout victory at the Fall Fling, two $50K SFG victories, a $25K victory, and numerous $10K’s. Gulitti also posted a semifinal finishes at an SFG $100K race and a Fling $30K. To cap off his impressive season, Cory earned his first victory in a doorcar when he doubled up at a Loose Rocker event. In addition to finishing 2nd in the Racer of the Year standings, Gulitti was also crowned the 2022 Top Bulb Racer of the Year.

3 – Kyle Cultrera

Kyle Cultrera lands in the 3 spot on the year end Top 10 List after winning six major events on the season. Cultrera was unstoppable during a two-week stretch in September when he won back-to-back hundred granders at the Summer Fling and Superbowl of Drag Racing. The Maine-based big money bracket racer also won two $20K’s, a $10K, and a $6K during the season in a variety of race cars. Kyle closed the season with a $75K runner-up in Florida.

4 – Kevin Brannon

KB earns the #4 spot after winning five major races during his 2022 campaign. Brannon kicked off the season winning the Spring Fling Million in Vegas last April. He followed with a $30K runner-up at the Spring Fling Galot just a few weeks later. Throughout the season Brannon racked up wins including two $20K’s and a $5K before closing the year with a $75K SFG victory in Florida.

5 – Matt Dadas

Perennial Top 10 finisher Matt Dadas finds himself on another Racer of the Year Top 10 List after winning at least five major races in 2022. The Ohio based runner ran himself in a $10K final, won a $5K and a $50K at the TB Promotions 50K, won and semi’d a $75K SFG race, and won $30K at the Fall Fling.

6 – Will Holloman

Willywood secured a Top 10 spot after posting five major victories. Holloman won a $5K, $10K, $20K, $40K, and a $50K during the season. He added a runner-up finish in an SFG $75K race, made the split in the OG Million and the SFG Half Million.

7 – Nick Hastings

As usual, Nick Hastings showed out on the biggest stages throughout the 2022 season. From local races to Million dollar races, Nick continues to excel winning on a seemingly weekly basis which is why he’s been the Bottom Bulb Racer of the Year for three consecutive seasons (2019, 2020, 2021)! Nick continued his domination in 2022 to secure another Top 10 spot. The highlight of his season had to be in September when he won $100,000 at the BTE Labor Day 250K and followed it with a $100,000 runner-up the following week at the Fall Fling.

8 – Gage Burch

While it’s hard to keep track of everything Gage Burch wins each season, there’s no doubt he’s one of the best off the bottom in the country. Throughout any given season, Gage easily accumulates more weekend doubles that anyone. While he normally races in South Florida, Gage travels the country to the largest events each season. Even though the venues change, the results are the same, Gage finds his way to the winners circle. To close the season, Gage made all three finals at the New Years Nationals winning 2 of 3 finals. Burch also picked up wins at the BTE Labor Day 250 and the Loose Rocker Super Pro $75K in addition to multiple big money doubles at Bradenton.

9 – John Labbous Jr.

‘Lil’ John Labbous, the 2022 Super Class Racer of the Year, strung together a huge season in Super Comp and Super Gas to earn the Racer of the Year title. Between both classes, he won four times in eight final rounds including a stretch were he made three straight NHRA national event finals. In the national points chase, John finished #3 in Super Comp and #4 in Super Gas. On the LODRS side, he earned the Division 2 Super Gas championship and finished 2nd in Super Comp. In addition to his .90 accomplishments, he also earned a $75,000 payday at VMP over the summer.

9 – James Hidalgo Jr.

Cooter Hidalgo, your 2022 DragChamp NHRA Class Racer of the Year, won the NHRA Stock World title and finished #8 in the Super Stock standings. The Stock Eliminator champ won four times in six finals between Stock and Super Stock while also earning national event victories in both classes. Hidalgo also finished second in both classes in the Division 4 points chase. In route to his first national championship, Cooter was a perfect 3 for 3 in his Stock Eliminator GTO.

10 – Pete D’Agnolo

Pete D’Agnolo grabs a Top 10 spot after earning the NHRA Super Stock world title. D’Agnolo picked up four wins in five finals including a huge victory at the U.S. Nationals. In addition to his success in Super Stock, D’Agnolo enjoyed success on the big money bracket racing scene earning a $30,000 payday at the Summer Fling in Ohio.

10 – Austin Williams

Much like Labbous, Austin Williams enjoyed a banner year running Super Comp and Super Gas. The highlight of the season for A-dub surely included his victory at the NHRA U.S. Nationals which was the 2nd of three straight national event wins. Williams finished the season with 5 wins in 6 finals, posted a #2 finish nationally in Super Comp and a 7th place finish in Super Gas. On the divisional side, Austin won the D4 Super Gas championship and finished tenth in Super Comp.

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And remember, look for our DragChamp Top 10 List nominations Facebook post every Monday evening. You can nominate your favorites in the comments of the post for consideration on the list.

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