Fri, 21 Sep 2001, 10:49 AM Littleton's Wambolt Driving the Dream in NHRA Competition

Courtesy of NHRA Field Marketing

MORRISON, Colo. -- Like most drivers, Super Comp competitor Gary Wamboldt developed his love of racing from his father. As a child, he spent long nights with his dad working on cars and going to the drag races. This passion for racing, and his competitive nature, led him to start driving in the local bracket races as soon as he got his license at the age of 16.

“I’m really competitive and I really like going fast,” said Wamboldt, a resident of Littleton, Colo. “I guess it all came together when I was introduced to drag racing.”

Since his first bracket race, the 33-year-old Wamboldt has stepped up to NHRA’s Super Comp class. And although this is his fifth year competing in Super Comp, 2000 was the first year that he seriously campaigned for the West Central Division Super Comp title.

In what was essentially his rookie year chasing points, Wamboldt, turned heads in the division by finishing sixth in the divisional point standings while earning a win on the national event level at the Colonel’s Truck Accessories NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn. Naturally, the Minnesota facility is now Wamboldt’s favorite racetrack after the success he had there.

Because of various problems with his car and what Wambolt calls “other misfortune,” he has been unable to achieve the same level of success that he enjoyed last year. But the veteran racer still believes he can build on last year’s success.

“I just want to improve on my standings from last year,” said Wamboldt. “Maybe get in the top three or five.”

Wamboldt plans to compete in two or three more divisional, and two more national events before he wraps his season up. And if he is to meet his goal, he will have to make the most of those meets.

In between races, Wamboldt has built a career as an auto-technician over the last fifteen years. He currently works at Maximum Speed Shop in Wheat Ridge, Colo. The service center is also his car sponsor and his boss has been instrumental in supporting Wamboldt’s racing passion.

“He helps me a lot including working on the engine,” explained Wamboldt. “He even painted my dragster.”

Look for Wamboldt to attack the point standings in the West Central Division as he competes in the West Central Division’s final NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Bandimere Speedway, in Denver, Sep. 21-23.



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