NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Only a select few racers in the near-75-year history of NHRA have won six or more world titles. After an incredible performance that defied reasonable expectations, Stock and Super Stock ace Justin Lamb became the 15th driver on that revered list. Lamb earned his sixth NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series world championship with an exceptional effort at the final division race of the season, and it culminated in not only the division and national titles in Super Stock, but also a double-up event win in both Stock and Super Stock.

“First of all, I had great cars; they’re really, really good,” said Lamb, who campaigns the RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro in Super Stock for the Stone family of Stone Chevrolet Buick GMC in Tulare, Calif. He pilots a second RAD Torque Camaro in Stock. “But also, I didn’t race as much as I have in past years — so when I was there, I put in even more effort than I normally do. I’m exhausted because I put everything in, but I’m not sure I’ve ever driven better.”

The last part of that sentence might seem like a curious statement from a racer who has claimed an incredible 34 national event wins and 36 trophies at the division level. Lamb stated, however, that although winning never came easy, there was a time when things fell his way more often. Chalk it up to luck, skill, or surging competition; it’s different these days.  

“It’s not like when I was 25, and all I cared about was drag racing,” he said. “My priorities are different, I have people relying on me, and I don’t know — maybe I’m not as good. So, it was very rewarding to know that when the chips are on the table, I can still do it.”

The triumphant day came a week after a disappointing outcome there in Las Vegas, when Lamb logged shocking first-round losses in both categories at the national event. At that point, the championship had a strong possibility of landing with Jimmy Hidalgo Jr., the defending Super Stock champion. But Lamb reset his tone to one of determination and reflected on all that had transpired to get to that point.

Early season final rounds at national events in Pomona and Las Vegas gave him a strong start, and after victory at the spring Las Vegas divisional, Lamb won the Seattle national. A championship picture began to take shape, but Lamb wasn’t altogether convinced. Longtime friends and fellow racers Jeff Devey and Dan Lafferty came in clutch with encouragement. Devey offered his Chevy Cobalt to Lamb for the Seattle divisional, and Lafferty got the car to the track. Lamb flew in and won the race, and he realized he had to keep going.

“I figured I’d go to Seattle and see what happened, but then I won it, and that meant I had to keep going,” he said. “We went to Bakersfield, but I was sick, felt terrible, and didn’t do well at all. Then Christopher Dodd was like, ‘Come drive my car in Dallas.’ ”

In an unfamiliar though strong race car, Lamb went rounds at the Dallas divisional, incredibly lining up next to Hidalgo in the quarterfinals. When Lamb went red by -.002-second, the championship chase wasn’t over, but the hill was steep.

“I wasn’t totally sold on winning the championship,” admitted Lamb. “But when I had the chance at the last divisional, I thought, ‘So many people have helped me get this far, I have to do whatever it takes.’ ”

He was 52 points behind Hidalgo entering the weekend.

“Jimmy Hidalgo Jr. is really good, and to even compete with him — I just have a lot of respect for him,” said Lamb. “Hidalgo is probably the best one doing it right now. I felt like I had to give it everything at the end to even have a chance.”

On Sunday at the final Lucas Oil Series event of the season, Lamb was at his best. In the first round, his near-perfect .001-second reaction time and .002 margin of victory indicated that skill, as well as luck, were at his disposal. He charged through eliminations with steady and quick reaction times, managing the finish line as though it were life or death. A fourth-round victory secured the Pacific Division championship, and he was still going rounds in both categories.

“I was exhausted at that point, and I hadn’t eaten all day,” he recalled. “I was so tired I almost parked the Stocker, but my wife said, ‘Do you want to mess up the rhythm?’ So, I kept going in both.”

The win lights continued to illuminate, and once the Stock victory was in the bag, there was little time for celebration. He came to the starting line knowing that the championship could be his, if only he could set one more win light glowing.

Lamb launched the SS/BM Chevrolet off the starting line with a .015 reaction to Craig Gualtiere’s .013, and a fierce fight ensued. Lamb’s triumph came with an 8.825 (8.81) over a 9.575 (9.55) for an .008 margin of victory. Twelve years after securing his first series title and for the first time since 2018, Lamb was the world champion.

“This feels pretty special,” said Lamb. “There was a time when it almost seemed like I couldn’t do anything wrong, but a lot of the close races haven’t gone my way since 2018, and I’ve felt like I haven’t done much right. Fortunately, Larry Stone and his family stuck with me through changing engine combinations and revamping the car, and it’s a great car.

“This is super rewarding, and I was grateful to even have a chance,” he said. “If you had told me at the beginning of the year that it would end up like this, I wouldn’t have believed you. I didn’t even plan on doing the points races, but I made the effort to make the best of it, and it worked out.”

Lamb extended great gratitude to wife Jeanine and children Jayce and Jovi; dad Chris and mom Carole; the Stone family; Dan Provost and Tammy Pigeault of RAD Torque Systems; engine builder Jon Richardson; Luke and Jessica Bogacki and the This Is Bracket Racing Elite and Elite Jr. members; Mike Mans and wife Kelli; Gary “Pirate” Tackett; Jeff and Joyce Devey; Trey Vetter; Brian, Mindy, and Dylan Hough; Dan Lafferty and Nikele Wood; and Ryan Mangus.

He thanked Stone Chevrolet, RAD Torque Systems, Matco Tools, Goodyear Race Tires, Liqui-Moly, Palmer Electric, Moser Engineering, Redback Boots, Sunoco, and Lafferty Drilling and Blasting.