Madeline Rodgers: DragChamp Jr. Racer Spotlight

Madeline Rodgers is in this week’s DragChamp Jr Racer Spotlight. Learn all about this DragChamp Pro Member in her spotlight below!

MOUNT VERNON, OH- Madeline Rodgers has been racing Junior Dragsters since 2020, making her first pass at just 11 years old. She was introduced to the sport by her grandpa, who used to race at their local track, Pacemakers Motorsports Park. Watching him compete became a family tradition, and one day, after seeing other Junior Dragsters at the track, Madeline told her grandpa she wanted to race too.

She has now moved up to the 7.90 Junior class and competes in both IHRA and NHRA sanctioned events. While she considers National Trail Raceway her home track, she also travels to various events throughout the year.

Get to know more about Madeline below!

His Race Car

Madeline’s Junior Dragster is a 2023 American Race Car, custom painted by Boitnott’s Customs and powered by a brand-new Blossom Super Rhino 3.1 engine. She helps her grandpa work on the car as much as she can, but she knows none of it would be possible without him. On race days, she’s responsible for prepping the tires, getting the interior ready, reviewing data from her most recent run to determine what the dial-in should be.

Outside of Racing

When Madeline isn’t behind the wheel of her race car, she enjoys traveling, visiting family, hanging out with her boyfriend, building LEGOS, and reading. Her favorite TV show at the moment is The Rookie, and her all-time favorite movie is Up. She has a diverse taste in music, with favorite artists including That Mexican OT, Limp Bizkit, Slipknot, and Zach Bryan. One thing many people don’t know about her is that she wants to become a nurse. Her favorite food is alfredo pasta, and when she’s not pursuing her hobbies or career goals, she works at Chipotle and serves as a member of the Teen Advisory Council of Knox County, Ohio.

Major Accomplishments

Madeline’s major accomplishments in racing include winning the track championship at Pacemakers Dragway for two consecutive years. She has competed at the World Finals twice, and in her second year, she reached the quarterfinals in the shootout and advanced to the final 13 cars in the main event.

In 2024, she was invited to race in the JDRL National Shootout at Summit Motorsports Park, where she claimed the win. Madeline is especially proud of this win, as it came just two weeks after her engine broke. She and her crew worked tirelessly to install a new engine in time for the race, and their hard work paid off with the win.

Madeline’s Q&A

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

In the future I would love to win the Jr track title at National Trail Racway. I would also like to race in the Jr Street and High School classes at National Trail Raceway as well. A major goal of mine is to race in my big car.

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

I hate seeing Kendylle Brown in the other lane. She is such a good racer and very intimidating to be lined up against.

What’s the hardest part of drag racing? 

The hardest part of drag racing is definitely the defeat when something happens to your car.

Do you love to win or hate to lose?

I enjoy winning races because it’s always fun to win. I hate losing because most of the time when I lose, it’s due to something I shouldn’t have done—like 85% of the time, I mess up.

What do you enjoy the most at the racetrack?

My favorite thing about drag racing is making new friends and getting to hang out with different kids from all over.

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

I believe I am much better at the starting line rather than the finish line. I am typically very good at getting a light below a .20 with the rare outlier.

Where do you spend the most time on the internet?

I spend most of my time online on TikTok and Instagram.

What advice would you give to young aspiring racers?

My advice to young racers would be not to give up. Don’t let one loss define you, don’t let one bad reaction time ruin your day, don’t let anything or anyone bring you down. 

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

I would like to thank my grandpa for making all of this possible and always supporting me. I would like to thank my mom as well for being one of my biggest supporters and cheerleaders. I would finally like to thank my boyfriend for being so supportive and stepping up to help whenever it is needed.

For more DragChamp Jr. Spotlights, click here.

Want to become a DragChamp Pro Member like Madeline? Check out the details here.