Mike Ferris, from Bradenton, and his Ferris Racing team have just returned home from the AMRA National Finals held the weekend of September 23rd, in Bowling Green, Kentucky where he was crowned National Champion in the Top Fuel class. It was a great race weekend for Mike and his crew as they not only won the Championship, but also made it all the way to the final round. Having secured the Championship earlier in the event, Mike and his guys were stoked. Despite having significant ignition problems on his final pass, he came close to winning with a run of 7.47 seconds, just a tick behind the winning run of 7.24 seconds in the quarter mile. According to those who were in attendance, it was quite a spectacle to observe. It was a nighttime run with lengthy flames coming out of the exhaust pipes, and the faulty ignition sparks being clearly visible as they were being reflected in Mike’s helmet visor.

     Besides being a nationally known drag racer, Mike makes a strong effort to be a positive role model for young people. He created a non-profit organization, Project Direction, a few years ago to help guide our youth down the right track. He was disillusioned and frustrated by the rising number of teenage and young adult street racing fatalities. By using his celebrity and the draw of his incredible racing machine, the emphasis of his organization is to challenge our youth to stay focused on getting a good education and to further promote safety by teaching them the importance of making good choices.