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Little Wins Big in Talbert Pro Junior Dragster
PITTSBORO, N.C. (November 18, 2016): In 2015, Kendal Little earned top honors in
the junior dragster category at his home track, Little River Dragway in Holland,
Texas. After winning that track championship, Little and his father decided to
begin the 2016 season competing at the PDRA season opener in Tulsa, Oklahoma,
the second closest stop to them on the tour. When that event was postponed until
the Spring Drags in Rockingham, N.C. the Littles decided to make the trip east.
It turned out to be a good decision.
Little not only won the postponed season opener, he won the Rockingham Spring
Drags, as well. “Winning Tulsa and Rockingham in the same weekend got us off to
a great start,” told Little. “So me and my dad decided to chase the series and
see what we could do.”
Following the series was a second good decision by the Little family. Kendal
added another win at Dragstock XIII and two semi-final finishes in Memphis and
Virginia for an overall win/loss record of 23 wins out of the possible 32 rounds
of competition at the races he attended. His incredible performance this season
earned him the 2016 PDRA Pro Junior Dragster Championship. He had such a lead on
the competition that he didn’t have the chance to build up nerves before the
championship was his. When Courtney Howard lost in the semi-finals of the
Sunshine State Shootout, Little knew he was untouchable.
“I definitely had a lot of breathing room,” told the college freshman. “I felt
very confident in the weekend going my way and clinching the championship early.
Luckily that’s the way it happened. [This championship] is definitely different
[from the track championship] with all the hours traveled and money spent on
hotels, getting from place to place. With the PDRA you race the top notch
competition from around the country.”
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Incredibly, this was Little’s first season competing for a national-level
championship. He says that competing in various parts of the country due to
moving for his father’s military service helped prepare him for chasing the
series.
“Definitely got to thank my mom and my dad,” thanked Little, who’s a third
generation driver. “My mom lets me and my dad travel around the country. My dad
for everything he puts into it, taking the time off of work to pursue this, the
money and time he puts into it. He’s still active duty in the Army. He puts his
racing to the side sometimes, even when I don’t want him to, just so I can race.
Craws Racing Racing, Mike Bos Chassis, TT Jones Racing out of Huntsville Dragway,
Six B Apparel, Shultz Performance and Noble’s Performance. Coming back from one
race we accidentally hit a deer and the crew from Nobel’s came and picked us up
at around two or three in the morning. We really appreciate them helping us out
in a pinch. I also want to give a big shout out to the Cheatersquad.”
Little aged out of junior dragster categories this year and certainly made the
most of his last season. He’s not looking back, however. During this transition
season, Little has already had some seat time in full size cars and dragsters.
“The first time I ever drove a full size car we entered a big money bracket
race,” he storied. “I think it was $5,000 to win that day. I didn’t even plan on
driving. I just went for my dad to spectate and somebody asked if I wanted to
drive the dragster. It was pretty exciting. It definitely got my attention
quickly about how different everything is [from a junior]. The competition is a
lot harder, but I ended up doing pretty well. I went four rounds, which I don’t
think anybody expected me to get past first round. I’ve been driving for people
ever since.”
The Little family is wasting no time for Kendal to make the complete transition
to full size racing. Last weekend they sold the complete junior dragster race
setup and Kendal drove his father’s Camaro in a local bracket race. This winter
they plan to purchase a dragster to compete in big money bracket races and class
racing on a local and national level.
As if all his on-track success isn’t enough, Little is also a talented
basketball player. This fall he entered the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor on
a basketball scholarship, pursuing a degree in Business Marketing. It seems
Kendal Little is the whole package. One thing is for sure, he’ll certainly be a
racer to watch for years to come.
Photo: Gary Rowe /
PDRA660.com / RaceWorks.com
ABOUT THE PDRA
Based in Pittsboro, North Carolina, the Professional Drag Racers
Association is the top sanctioning body in the United States for the sport
of eighth-mile drag racing. The PDRA’s professional categories include Pro
Extreme, Pro Nitrous, Pro Boost, and Pro Extreme Motorcycle along with Top
Sportsman, Top Dragster, Pro Jr. Dragster, and Top Jr. Dragster. The 2016
PDRA schedule consists of nine national events. For more on the world’s
premier eighth mile drag racing organization visit
www.pdra660.com.
Follow the PDRA:
Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram,
YouTube.
PRESS CONTACT: Lisa Collier
Professional Drag Racers Association
lisa@pdra660.com
704.692.4636
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