NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Top Fuel driver Ron August Jr. enters this weekend’s In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals with new livery on his dragster to honor veterans of the United States armed forces. His dragster will banner the signage of Clovis Veterans Memorial District in an effort to remember those who fought for our freedom throughout Veterans Day weekend.

“I am grateful for the Ron August Racing team supporting our veterans and wish him and the team the best,” said Lorenzo Rios, CEO of the Clovis Veterans Memorial District. “This weekend, it is appropriate that we take a moment to recognize how blessed our country is to have Americans who freely volunteer to stand up and accept the tremendous responsibility to uphold and defend our American way of life against all enemies, both foreign and domestic, through their oath of service to the Constitution of the United States.” 

August has been drag racing for more than three decades. He won the 1993 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Division 7 championship in Super Eliminator (precursor to Top Dragster) before moving to Top Alcohol Funny Car, in which he competed from 1995 to 2010 and won the spring Las Vegas event in 2006. He was licensed in Top Fuel and competed in 2009-2011 with stints driving for Mike and Jeff Strasburg, Mitch King, Barry Paton, Allen Hartley, and Dexter Tuttle. While spending the better part of a decade assembling his family-run Top Fuel team, he had opportunities behind the wheel of Mike Fuller’s front-engine Nostalgia Top Fuel dragster and Rich Guasco’s famed Pure Hell altered.

August’s Tony Shortall-tuned entry made its debut at the 2021 NHRA Sonoma Nationals and competes at West Coast events. The Pleasanton, Calif., resident scored his first Professional round-win at this event last season and recorded career-best marks of 3.878 seconds and 321.12 mph on his most recent attempt down the dragstrip during eliminations at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals.

“I consider myself very lucky to be able to race with my family, and it’s important to remember those who fought for our freedom,” said August. “The opportunity to show our gratitude while racing on Veterans Day is a great honor. I appreciate Clovis Veterans Memorial District for working with us to present this to NHRA fans.
 
“We’re excited about the progress of the car. The performance has gotten better each time without a lot of damage beyond the normal maintenance. We want to keep moving forward this weekend.”