Racing Ahead
Drag racing is not for sissies. Paying for the cars and the competition fees isn’t either. “It’s not a cheap sport,” Trussell said.
Boss Hawg of Bentonville and 4WConcepts, both of Bentonville, are Jensen’s current sponsors. Ultimately, Jensen hopes to gain more sponsorships and win more competitions.
Her dad believes in improving each car to its maximum capacity. The competition is guided by restrictions and regulations, with classifications or indexes for each type of car. The hot rod that Jensen drives has a sticker of certification on the inside, he said, pointing out that the car has been inspected by the National Hot Rod Association. The chassis is certified as a 750 index car. All the improvements he makes are certified.
It’s that fine-tuning that motivates him — and giving his daughter sage advice. Though she’s only been racing for about a year, Jensen hopes to better her standing, gain experience and win some bigger money in competitions. For now, she really enjoys taking on some heated races. Other racers don’t see her name before the race — but hear it. They may think she’s a male, she said.
When she walks around before a race, others don’t know she’s a competitor. She doesn’t wear makeup, she said, because you get hot, sweaty and smell a little like fuel fumes. So, when she takes off her helmet after a race, her fellow male competitors are often surprised.
“(Realizing) you just lost to a girl,” Jensen said, laughing. “That’s the best part.”