Ferre to make Top Fuel debut
Ferre, a former NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League national champion who most recently has been piloting Larry Miersch's A/Fuel Dragster, earned his Top Fuel license last October in Las Vegas in the Paton entry.
"I cannot thank the Patons enough," said Ferre. “The family's history in the sport is rich, and I am just happy to be a part of their team. I have been dreaming of this opportunity since I was nine years old, and it has been one heck of a journey to get to this moment. Words cannot describe how excited I am to kick off my professional career."
The Ontario, Canada-based Paton team is currently campaigning in its 50th year of racing.
Ferre, 31, captured his first national championship in the Jr. Drag Racing League back in 2002, competing against many of the young professionals in the sport now such as Shawn Langdon, Erica Enders, and Leah Pritchett. Ferre made the move into the Sportsman ranks, initially in Super Comp, where he was able to pick up a national event win at the Auto Club NHRA in 2012. As a competitor in the Alcohol Dragster ranks, he drove Miersch’s dragster to a runner-up finish at last year’s Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals U.S. Nationals.
"The seat time in the A/Fuel Dragster played a huge role in preparing me for the task at hand," said Ferre. “Miersch's car is an ex-Kalitta Top Fuel car, so all of the levers and procedures are pretty identical."
While working his way through the ranks and driving just about anything offered his way, Ferre has had many long-time sponsor supporters alongside his family, and without them none of this would be possible. Backing Ferre in his debut in Charlotte will be JBS Ltd., Racepak, Ted Wiens Tire and Auto, Precision Racing Suspension, Nitrohead, Ultimate Design, Epokhe Sunglasses, and Brico Industries.