Junior Dragster and Junior Street up-and-comers on display at Maple Grove
Eight of Maple Grove’s most talented and dedicated junior racers are included in the excitement of the 2016 NHRA Keystone Nationals. These selected junior racers earned their space at Nationals by participating in our Sunoco Race Fuels Money Trail Series.
The 2016 Money Trail season recently concluded where the points have been totaled and the champions were announced. The top six junior dragsters in points as well as the top two in junior street points were invited to partake in Nationals. Fans have the opportunity to witness these fine racers first hand both on and off the track. All eight racers will be performing exhibition runs on Saturday and Sunday, October 1 and 2. They also have their cars on display at the Jr. Dragster Racing League tent on the pit side of the dragstrip. So be sure to stop by and meet these fantastic racers throughout the weekend.
Junior Dragster Racers
CJ KETTERER FROMSELLERSVILLE, PA. >> CJ, 15, was unstoppable at the start of the season with a four race win streak, followed by strong finishes throughout the season. Given that level of consistency, CJ claimed the 2016 Junior Dragster Championship title in the Sunoco Race Fuels Money Trail Series. This year marks his sixth year racing in junior dragsters. His first Maple Grove Raceway championship was in 2014. CJ is one of the drivers for Mark Knarr’s Pray Hard Race Team. Currently, CJ attends Upper Bucks County Tech School, where he is training in auto collision.
JEREMYKETTERERFROMSELLERS-
VILLE, PA. >> Jeremy is a 17 year old senior at Pennridge High School where he is a member of the National Honor Society (NHS) and Captain of the Pennridge Ram Band. Upon graduation, he will attend college to study Computer Science. Jeremy is one of the drivers for Mark Knarr’s Pray Hard Race Team. In all four years he raced at Maple Grove Raceway, he finished in the top five in points every year. Jeremy also won an NHRA Wally during his drag racing career thus far.
KATLYNN HOFFMAN FROM BIRDS
BORO, PA. >> Katlynn is an 18 year old, who drove herself to victory lane twice this year in the Junior Dragster class. Her interests include photography, reading and drag racing. Currently, Katlynn is attending the Antonelli Institute for Photography, where she hopes to learn all the aspects of the business and one day teach photography. She also anticipates to continue to pursue her love of drag racing.
BRAYLON KUHN FROM DOUG
LASVILLE, PA. >> Braylon is a talented 13 year old who enjoys basketball and ice hockey in addition to drag racing. In his first full points season he finished fourth. His racing resume includes runner-up in the ten year old category and semifinalist in the 12 year old category for NHRA Division 1. His favorite driver is John Force and aspires to win a track championship and a Wally.
MATTHEW WITKOWSKI FROM EL
VERSON, PA.>> Matt is a 15 year old, two time race winner in the Junior Dragster class. His interests include competing in sports like football, basketball, baseball and of course drag racing. In college Matt hopes to continue to play a sport. A few of Matt’s racing accomplishments include: 2015 Ma- ple Grove Raceway Jr. Dragster Track Champion, 2 time Jr Dragster Challenge winner, 10-12 year old PA State Champion and ¼ finalist at NHRA Conference Finals.
KATELYN KERSHNER FROM NEW
TRIPOLI, PA. >> Katelyn is a 12 year old who loves to maintain an active lifestyle. In 2014, Katelyn was a semifinalist at the Eastern Conference Finals in the ten year old category. She has been drag racing since the age of nine and is currently in her last year of 8.90 racing. In 2016, Katelyn made it to the finals three times and secured one victory. Aside from her drag racing success, she has advanced to level of red belt and looks forwards to earning her black belt within the next year. Her future aspirations include continuing her drag racing career at a competitive level while seeking networking opportunities with professional racers in all categories of NHRA.
Junior Street Racers
H UN TERZA J AC FROM MAN HE I M, PA. >> Hunter was a force to be reckoned with by winning five of the twelve races in the Junior Street class. This 15 year old loves drag racing, football and weightlifting. Hunter’s future plans are to go to school and become an automotive technician. LUKE KAROL FROMMOHNTON, PA. >> When this 14 year old is not going to school he loves drag racing and building his 1973 AMC Gremlin. With consistent race finishes and three wins, Luke found himself finishing the season as the runner-up in the Junior Street points championship. Luke’s future plans include finishing restoration of his ’73 Gremlin and starting a career as a machinist.