It should get very interesting in the Haddock family household in the coming days.
Veteran Funny Car driver Terry Haddock’s days of having all the fun on a drag strip are about to end, as wife Jenna will make her debut in a Top Fuel dragster at next weekend’s 35th Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in suburban Denver.
Backed by sponsorship from Patriot Grading and Engineering of Fontana, California, Jenna Haddock will also race two weeks later at Seattle (Aug. 1-3) and in the season-ending 50th Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona, California (Nov. 13-16).
“I am beyond ecstatic to get to do this,” Jenna Haddock said in an NHRA media release. “I have been going to the races since I was a little girl and now getting to be part of the show is an honor.
“I want to thank Terry, my team and my sponsors for supporting me and believing in me enough to give me the opportunity to do this. They have worked so hard to make this happen for me. I know that we have our work cut out for us but I so badly want to make everyone proud.”
Her NHRA debut has been a long time coming. She originally earned her Super Comp license at Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School in 2008, ironically enough at Bandimere Speedway.
“I am so excited to go back to Bandimere,” Jenna Haddock said in an NHRA media release. “Now I’m returning to the mountain as a Top Fuel driver and I couldn’t have done it without him (husband Terry). It also means a lot to me to be back in Colorado, because one of my very best friends lives there and I am excited that we will continue to share our lives even now.”
Jenna Haddock’s path to Top Fuel has been a three-year progression, culminating with earning her top-of-the-line series license earlier this year at Baytown, Texas.
Mrs. Haddock will drive a dragster formerly piloted by Antron Brown and previously owned by one of the biggest powerhouses in the sport, Don Schumacher Racing.
“I just can’t thank Don Schumacher Racing enough,” Haddock said. “Everyone on the Matco team and in the fabrication shop at DSR worked hard to help us make the transition to the new car. It is a blessing to get to race and we couldn’t have done it without all of their help.”
Jenna Haddock said that while she’s looking forward to pursuing her own drag racing dreams and aspirations, she’ll continue serving on husband Terry’s pit crew.
“I will build all the racks of pistons for both cars at the shop,” Jenna Haddock said. “At the track I will continue to work on the left side of Terry’s engine. I’m not going to take on any responsibilities on my car, so I won’t be spreading myself too thin. I still want to back Terry up and you’ll probably see me out there in my firesuit.”
Patriot Grading’s president, Bascom Mellon, is looking forward to being with Jenna Haddock when she makes her debut next weekend.
“When I look at them, I see family,” Mellon said. “They represent the grass roots of drag racing; the way I remember it growing up.
“They are together at every step; working so hard and making everyone feel welcome. There is beauty in their struggle and there will be success in their fight. I respect them greatly and how hard they work. They are the kind of people I want to be around.”
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