Skillman Rides Wave of Momentum Heading to zMAX Dragway in North Carolina

US National Champion Drew Skillman beat Greg Anderson in the finals at Indianapolis

Skillman credits his family with his recent success. “That’s why we came here to begin with,” Skillman said after winning the U.S. Nationals over Labor Day weekend. “We are a family race team. We race because we all race. That’s what makes us work. This is what we have fun doing. This is not our careers. This is our hobby. This is like going to the lake with the family. This is like going to Disneyworld with the family. This is what we do.”

Three generations of Skillman’s are on his team. His dad and grandfather work on the dragster every race. It has been a productive combination. The Pro Stock division is the most competitive of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Six different drivers won the first six events of the season. For Skillman to take four of the past six events seemed unlikely. “We’re holding on tight to it, too,” Skillman said. “My team has been killing it. Consistency is super hard in this sport. We have a car that for some reason keeps repeating. We had a great car in qualifying.” But the engine was not responding well during the qualifying runs.

Drew Skillman wins US Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Indiana

With no engine data, Skillman kept taking the car out to race and winning. In the final round, he raced Greg Anderson and beat him for the first time in his career. It made winning his first U.S. Nationals championship even sweeter. “Never beat Greg before,” Skillman said. “Finally got that off my back and won Indy.”

Skillman said he does not have a long list of things on his to-do list. Winning a U.S. Nationals title was one of the few things on that list. “There is a very small list of things I would really like to do in life and that was one of them,” Skillman said. “I want for nothing. This is something I really wanted to do. That’s finally done and we’re not done chasing yet.”

Skillman enters the Countdown to the Championship, the six-race playoffs to determine the champion in the NHRA Pro Stock division, in fourth place. Bo Butner leads the Pro Stock standings. Tanner Gray is second, followed by Anderson in third.

Skillman was asked after winning at Indianapolis what his mindset is heading into the Countdown. "Championship. That’s it,” Skillman said. “We’re going to keep moving forward in the same direction we’ve been going. Our program has been super consistent. We might not always have the fastest car, it’s very, very consistent and always a good car.”

The Winners Circle at the US Nationals in Indy featuring Torrence, Todd, Skillman, and Krawiec

Confidence and luck have played huge roles in Skillman’s recent run. He knows he has a good car and crew, but there are other factors playing in his favor lately. “Confidence in everything makes you always better,” Skillman said. “You’re always a little better when you’re confident.

My confidence is high. My driving has gotten a little better. Lucky round after lucky round. We made it.”