STEVEN WHITELEY
STEVEN WHITELEY
drag racing , but the opportunity to choose their own paths was pivotal in each of their journeys .
“ We all have the same passion , but everyone stands up for what they truly want ,” Steven says . “ Dad really liked the alcohol cars and I really liked the door cars . Cory still has a passion for bikes and Mom took a liking to Funny Cars . Each person has their own unique interests .”
But as each family member will attest , Steven ’ s gravitation to Pro Mod seemed only natural . From racing in the Top Sportsman days to his immediate fascination with Pro Mod , racing a door car was undoubtedly his priority . “ Steven always had a fast door car ,” Reed says . “ I remember that badass Top Sportsman Camaro he had . I think he just liked the look of ( the Pro Mod ), that big blower sticking out of it .”
“ It ’ s pretty cool to see how we have the same passion . Not a lot of people have that luxury . They ’ ve allowed us to chase our dreams .”
Of course , racing a Junior Dragster was the first dream . After Jim finally relented and gave in to the constant requests , Steven and his brothers enjoyed immense success in the Junior ranks . That only fueled his passion when the cars got bigger and faster , first with the Top Sportsman car to eventually his first Pro Mod ride . That came in the form of a ’ 53 Corvette that needed to be completed when Jim purchased it . It sat for a while as Steven lived in North Dakota , but when the opportunity arose , he jumped at the chance .
“ I was just drooling all over it ,” Steven says . “ We went testing with it and I drove it a little bit and I said , ‘ There ’ s something to this .’ The Pro Mod was very convenient and a lot rolled over from the alcohol cars . As a driver , I honestly think it was just a new challenge nobody in the family had tackled before .”
Steven gladly became the first , but his father soon followed , as the allure of the powerful Pro Mod machines became too much for him . Steven had the new Cadillac by the 2014 NHRA Pro Mod season , racing the full schedule , while Jim competed in five races .
In 2015 and 2016 , Steven continued to take steps forward , racing the full 10-race slate each season and finishing 11th in points last year . Meanwhile , his father won the family ’ s first Pro Mod race in 2016 before finishing one spot behind Steven in the overall standings . For 2017 , Steven appears to have taken a huge stride forward , though , as his victory in Gainesville to kick off the year created a massive boost and further validated the direction of the team ’ s program .
“ It sets the tempo . It took a little bit of pressure off , finally getting that first win , but it maybe adds some more ( pressure ) as well . Everybody is aiming to take you out now and we ’ re going to have to work even harder ,” Steven recognizes . “ In the past , there ’ s been a lot of times where we ’ ve qualified well but struggled during race day . The big push has been to be better on race day . It ’ s great to see the program starting to come together and it was a big weight off our shoulders .”
Consistency can be among the hardest things to conquer in a Pro Mod car that often seems to have a mind of its own . That ’ s been the big goal for Steven this year , and after three events he sits third in points . Being in the championship mix is all he ’ s dreamed of and now the hope is to carry the hot start through an entire season .
“ It ’ s pretty humbling when you win ,” Steven says . “ There ’ s a lot of talented people in this class who have been doing this a very long time . The fact that we can qualify and have them look at us as a contender is exciting . I ’ m just some kid who is used to racing a Top Sportsman car now racing against some amazing drivers . To even compete with these guys , I ’ m very fortunate .”
Steven ’ s current travel schedule with J & A Service continues to be extensive , as is his father ’ s , meaning the best place for everyone to congregate is usually at the race track . Doing well on the dragstrip remains serious business , but getting to do it together as a family has added an irreplaceable aspect to it .
“ It ’ s a great feeling having your parents so involved in your life still ,” Reed says . “ I ’ m happy they want to be there and it makes everything better . We all appreciate the times we have together and we make the most of it . We ’ ve all been racing a long time and it ’ s a good family environment . Everybody enjoys being there and hanging out . I see my family the most at the races . ( Steven ) and I live in different states and we ’ re both doing different things , so the race track is when I see him . It ’ s the same for Mom and Dad . I don ’ t see them unless I ’ m at the races .
“ As a teenager , you kind of drift away from your parents , but once you hit your 20s you realize how precious that relationship is . I ’ m fortunate and we ’ re all very lucky to do what we do together . It ’ s a great environment .”
Reed ’ s thoughts ring true with the rest of the family as well . Annie adjusted her Top Alcohol Funny Car schedule so it coincides almost perfectly with the NHRA Pro Mod and Pro Stock
Motorcycle schedules . That means more time to race together as a family , which remains perhaps the biggest priority above anything that takes place on the track .
“ It ’ s very comforting knowing the majority of our family is there at the track ,” Annie says . “ One of the things we noticed back when we were running Juniors is it was very family-oriented and it was a nice way to raise our kids . It teaches them a lot , more than people realize .
“ It ’ s very peaceful to me knowing they ’ re doing something they love . It makes a mom happy and peaceful watching them grow like they have . It ’ s very rewarding .”
Congregating as a family at the track is something Jim once envisioned and hoped for , but it ’ s gone far beyond his own dreams . Seeing the successes of his wife and sons has been surreal , especially being able to experience it at such a close proximity . “ When we ’ re all at the same track ,
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