Eric McKinney - First PDRA Racer to Win Back-to-Back Championships|

With the close of the 2015 flavor, the Professional Drag Racers Association crowned its 2d circular of World Champions. Each of the PDRA'due south eight classes welcomed a new government, except one. Eric McKinney reigns as Drag965 Pro Extreme Motorcycle Earth Champion for the second year in a row, making him the only PXM World Champion in the PDRA's budding existence.

Every bit one of the nearly successful drag bike racers in history, McKinney has worked to advance both his own program and the Pro Modernistic wheel class. There is petty he has non done within this arena. He has seen the class both struggle and soar, and, according to McKinney, the futurity of PXM is brighter than always.

"The PDRA has been the best thing that'southward happened for our class," stated the Champ. "It's well-nigh equally tiptop notch organization as you can race for. I've raced with a bunch of organizations in my twenty-four hour period and this is by the far the best arrangement I've e'er raced in. It'due south a grade act.

"Almost of the motorcycles are up and downwards the east coast. It's hard for some of those guys to brand the western races, simply anybody that tin run Pro Extreme Motorcycle should back up this. It's the best matter going correct now for motorcycle drag racing."

While McKinney and his teammate Ashley Owens have seemingly had a hand up on the rest of the course in recent years, results from the final upshot of the 2015 PDRA season prove that there is parity in the field once again. McKinney himself but qualified 7th in the 16 cycle field, and the superlative 12 qualifiers ran a 4.10 or better. The contest of PXM is heating up, promising an heady 2022 season.

"I think in 2022 everybody's going to have to be running lesser four.0s," predicted McKinney. "We set the tape in Dallas with a iii.99 at the beginning of the yr. I think everybody will have to run high 3s to win races this year. Everybody has stepped up that much. Information technology'due south tightened up and information technology'south going to brand for some expert racing. I hope nosotros stay on pinnacle, just we'll come across.

"When I first started racing I got beat 2d circular for the first two years. It's discouraging, but information technology makes yous want to piece of work harder if you really want to be a champion. We don't have annihilation special that anybody else doesn't have. Racing is a good fourth dimension to hang out with all your friends, just nosotros're in that location for ane reason: to win races. To be the top canis familiaris in this sport you have to put the piece of work in. I think people are starting to do their homework at present. People are starting to catch us."

McKinney admits that his squad'south incredible success in recent years may have hurt the class during stints in which either McKinney or teammate Ashley Owens was consistently taking dwelling the trophy, only is happy to see the competition gains made by the class as a whole and believes PXM will continue to grow stronger and provide PDRA fans with great side-past-side runs.

As he prepares to defend his championship for the second year in a row, McKinney is continually pushing the envelop of his own plan in which he and Owens will return every bit a two bike team. "The goal is to run 3 2d passes on the regular and win races. Nosotros got on prowl command winning races and quit trying to fix records. The competition caught u.s.. Now information technology's fourth dimension to raise the bar again.

"I've got a wall total of PDRA men, and I desire to keep doing this for as long as I tin and get as many wins and championships equally possible."

McKinney highlights the fact that drag racing is as much a mental practice as it is mechanical. His success has not come up without much thought, practice and preparation. "You definitely have to be on your game. With eighth mile drag racing there's not enough room to cut a bad light or miss shift points. I'll sit effectually and mentally get through my run from the time I put my helmet on to making the laissez passer to turning on the render route. I'll do that two or iii times in my listen just to make certain I don't forget to turn a switch on or miss a shift point. Some people call back elevate racing is only keeping a cycle in a straight line for four seconds, but there'due south so much more than that. It'due south actually pretty stressful. By the time the weekend is over I'k mentally drained. I don't want information technology to exist my error we lost a round. If we lose a round because of a mechanical failure or because we just flat go outrun that'southward one affair, just I don't want it to be my fault. I don't want that on my shoulders. And so I get out there every time trying to do the best I can do.

"It's an award to exist back to back PXM Champion," he added. "I'thou kinda speechless for it. We had a great team and were consistent. Between my dad and Ashley Owens I've got a not bad team backside me. I've got my Uncle Steve on the clutch and mom feeds everybody. If information technology wasn't for them we couldn't do this. I don't think everyone could do it with just one person. I want to thank my mom and dad, Ashley Owens, my uncle Steve McKinney, my girlfriend Ashley, the class sponsor Drag965, Vance & Hines, Fast by Gast, Simpson Helmets, VP Race Fuels, and specially the PDRA. If information technology wasn't for the PDRA we wouldn't take a grade act place to race. I'm but fortunate to be a office of it."

Photographs by Ian Tocher, Mike Carpenter and Tim Hailey/EatMyInk.com

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