2017 NHRDA Top Diesel National Champion – Dawna Kraus

The NHRDA Top Diesel class is the fastest and quickest class on the NHRDA Hot Shot’s Secret Diesel Drag Racing Series with speeds reaching over 200 mph and ETs under 6 seconds.  To win a National Championship in the Top Diesel class it takes hard work, dedication and consistency.

Dawna Kraus, who resides in Great Falls Montana, won her first ever NHRDA Hot Shot’s Secret Diesel Drag Racing Series National Championship this past season.  Dawna and her team took on the hard task this season of competing for a National Championship in her dragster and their hard work, dedication and consistency paid off.

Kraus and her team drove down from Montana to the Rocky Mountain Diesel Nationals presented by Industrial Injection in Salt Lake City looking to start their season off on a good foot and gain some data on a brand new setup they had for the 2017 Hot Shot’s Secret Diesel Drag Racing Series.  Kraus was working with the guys at Industrial Injection on the new setup and was very happy to have their help as they put her motor on the dyno prior to the event to help with the new setup.  It turned out the new setup was pretty good.  Dawna was the #1 Qualifier with an ET of 8.401 seconds at 167.09 mph in her first race.

Dawna rolled into eliminations with her dragster set on kill.  Unfortunately she wasn’t able to improve on her qualifying time but she still managed an 8.512 at 152.82 mph to take the win.  In the Winner’s Circle Dawna explained to Diesel TV that she didn’t have a tachometer all night and she had to shift by the seat of her pants.  Dawna would leave Salt Lake City with the points lead and now had the Hot Shot’s Secret Diesel Drag Racing Series National Championship in her sights.

The next stop for Kraus was JB’s Canadian Diesel Shootout at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton Alberta.  Kraus and her team had spent the last month working on getting her dragster ready for competition and still working on the new setup.  In qualifying she put down her quickest and fastest run of the season, 8.263 second and 170.39 mph, she once again gained the 10 valuable points for #1 Qualifier.

In eliminations Dawna had a little trouble off the line but after about 100 feet or so the dragster started to really haul the mail and she was able to go 8.468 seconds at 164.17 mph.   Dawna got the win light and took a commanding lead in the Hot Shot’s Secret Diesel Drag Racing Series National Championship standings.  She admitted in the Winner’s Circle that the trouble off the line in the final round was due to a small driver error.  Dawna also told Diesel TV, “… that she and the team were taking baby steps with the new setup as they continue to gather data each run.”

Dawna and her team turned their focus to performing at their home event, the Big Sky Truck Fest presented by G & J Diesel, in Billings Montana.  This event is always one of Dawna’s favorite as she has won the event on three occasions (2012, 2013 and 2016).  During qualifying the car had a little trouble off the starting line and Dawna decided it was best to play it safe and she lifted.  She was still able to secure the #1 Qualifier with a 9.971 ET at 125.96 mph.

Once eliminations came around Dawna and her team hoped they had figured out the problems from earlier.  In the final round the team showed everyone that the problem was fixed and she ran a season best ET of 8.261 seconds while picking up the win.  Dawna left Montana with a huge lead in the Hot Shot’s Secret Diesel Drag Racing Series National Championship standings.  The next stop would be the NHRDA World Finals at the Texas Motorplex.

Dawna and her team made the long trip from Montana to Texas knowing that all she needed was to pass tech and she would clinch her first ever Top Diesel National Championship.  But Dawna wanted to add the title of World Champion to her 2017 accomplishments as well.  Her qualifying run was an 8.293 ET at 168.28 mph, which would be good enough for #3 on the ladder.  In the semi-finals Dawna would face the 2016 National Champion and defending World Champion, Wade Moody.  Dawna launched hard but the car started to drift towards the centerline and Dawna had to abort the run and her chance at the NHRDA World Championship.  She was still happy to be leaving the NHRDA World Finals with the Hot Shot’s Secret Diesel Drag Racing Series Top Diesel National Championship.

Dawna and her team are already preparing for the 2018 NHRDA season, “We have some plans. Industrial Injection also has some plans for my motor.”

“I want to thank Stacy and Randy with the NHRDA for putting on these events. I also want to thank my crew; my husband Ken, Craig Bender and Mark Aguier.  I would also like to thank my sponsors Industrial Injection, FASS and J & J Excavation.”

Dawna plans on hitting the track again next season as she will be defending her Hot Shot’s Secret Diesel Drag Racing Series National Championship and she also wants that NHRDA World Championship as well.