07/24/2025
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐
๐ 2024 Division 5 Comp Eliminator Champion๐
๐ฅ๐ถโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ต๐๐๐-๐ก๐-๐ต๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ต๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ
With the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Doubleheader at Brainerd International Raceway fast approaching (August 6โ10), all eyes are on defending Division 5 Comp Eliminator Champion Matt Harris. Heading into Brainerd just nine points behind points leader Scott Linder, Harris is not just racing for round winsโheโs hunting history.
We caught up with the 2024 champ to talk racing, pressure, family, and the unique mindset it takes to succeed in Competition Eliminator.
๐๏ธ ๐&๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐๏ธ
๐น๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ง ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ?
A: "Winning any NHRA event in Competition Eliminator is the biggest sign that youโve accomplished something special. Comp is not a driverโs class, nor is it a carโs class. Heck, itโs not even just an innovatorโs class. It truly takes a combined effort of all three to have ultimate success in this class. When weโve been fortunate enough to bring one of these trophies home, we know we did something no one else was able to that day. There are a lot of great racers in this class, and every one of them is pushing every day to improve. You canโt stand still or youโll get left behind in a hurry."
๐น๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐ก๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฌ๐?
A: "Personally, Iโve driven the car that brought home 10 Divisional Wallys and 1 National Wally, but Iโve never once gone to an NHRA event alone. As a family team, we have 15 Wallys here in the shop. My dad, Bill, started the collection in 1998 at the Brainerd Divisional, and it took another 12 years to get our second. That struggle laid the foundation for the success weโve enjoyed, especially over the last 7+ seasons. My sister, Christine, joined the fun in 2018 with a win at Bandimere Speedway."
๐น๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ง. ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐?
A: "That weekend in St. Louis was tough. The class saw a lot of attrition between Race 1 and 2, and the weather for Race 2 had everyone on edge. I managed to claim the #1 Qualifier and got a first-round byeโcritical, since my rear end broke right after the final. Winning early keeps you mentally engaged and confirms your winter work paid off. But nothingโs guaranteed. Last year we won early at Earlville, then stumbled through three straight races before finding the issue and clawing back to win the championship."
๐น๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ๐?
A: "Brainerd is special. Itโs where my dad got his first win in 1998โI was 11. I still remember going nuts in the stands with my family when that win light came on. That memory makes Brainerd one of my all-time favorite tracks."
๐น๐๐ก๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ?
A: "Hands down, itโs the people. From fellow racers to track personnel and NHRA staff, everyone contributes to the atmosphere. We may be alone inside the car, but the relationships are what make you want to come back race after race."
๐น๐๐จ๐ฎโ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ซ. ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ๐?
A: "It might sound clichรฉ, but I treat every race as a chance to make the car faster and become a better driver. If the carโs happy and I do my job, everything else will fall into place. Points are the result, not the focus. I know Brainerd will have a stacked fieldโitโs shaping up to be one heck of a battle."
๐น๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐จ๐ง, ๐๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐โ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง?
A: "Itโs a great motivator carrying the 51 on the window. That number means every racer is going to bring their best when they line up against us. If I want to keep it, I have to bring my best every roundโwhether it's the #1 qualifier or a competition bye. There's a ton of strategy in Comp, but I try to treat every pass the same and block out the pressure."
๐น๐๐ก๐จ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ค๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง๐ค ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ง?
A: "Where do I start? First and foremost, my dad. None of this is possible without him. Heโs supported my sister and me every step of the way, and we just want to make him proud. Our engine builder, Don Thomas at Panhandle Performance Engines, has been with us since 2015. His horsepower has powered every big run weโve had. My sister, brother Jeff, mom Noreen, and my kidsโParker, Zoey, Brooklynn, and Reeseโare always behind me. And my wife Meganโsheโs been the biggest influence on my focus and mental prep. Whether sheโs trackside or not, we have a pre-race routine every single pass. Itโs no coincidence our biggest wins have come since she joined our family."
๐ง ๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ
Matt Harrisโs story is proof that behind every Wally are countless hours of work, family support, and unwavering dedication. As he returns to Brainerdโthe track where his familyโs journey beganโheโs not just racing for points. Heโs racing to carry-on a legacy.
Matt has already locked in his spot to compete at BIR, August 6โ10! Donโt wait โ get registered today!
๐๐ข๐๐ฐ ๐
๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ: https://www.nhradiv5.com/post/driver-spotlight-matt-harris
๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฉ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ค๐ฌ:
๐๏ธ ๐๐ง๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ค๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ : bit.ly/4ljADXe
๐โ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐โ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ก - ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐โ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
๐
๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐จ (Daily Schedules & More: www.nhradiv5.com/raceday
๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: bit.ly/450MB1o
โฝ ๐๐ ๐
๐ฎ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ: bit.ly/45QqCMC
๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ (๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ซ๐):
โช๏ธhttps://discord.gg/3gqDBKcfjr
โช๏ธ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ : www.nhra.com/divisional-live-timing
