CHICAGO, IL – In advance of the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals Chicago firefighter and driver of the Howards Cams/Competition Products Dodge Charger Funny Car Chris King took several NHRA drivers through the paces at the Robert Quinn Fire Academy today. King was joined by Pro Stock standout Camrie Caruso as well as Pro Mod drivers Lyle Barnett, JR Gray, Jerico Balduf and Mike Thielen for an afternoon of firefighting skill tests and challenges.

The group was outfitted in full fire protection gear including air tanks which added just over 35 pounds to each driver plus a variety of firefighting tools before they took on the challenging “up and over” drill which included five flights of stairs up a run across the top of the training facility and then five flights of stairs down to the main floor. The group paused for a photo with the famed Chicago skyline in the background before continuing with more drills. This event was something King has been planning since he broke onto the NHRA Funny car scene in 2021.

“I think today opened their eyes a little bit to what firefighters do every day for the community and it gave them a different perspective on things,” said King, who will be making his 2023 Funny Car debut this weekend. “I hope they had fun, too. This has been a dream of mine for a long time to bring my life as a firefighter to my life as a racer. Bringing these two together is something I’ve tried to do for a long time but I’m glad we were finally able to pull it off. It’s exciting. I got goosebumps just thinking about it. This is what I do day in and day out. I live for the fire department. I live for drag racing. To be able to combine these into one thing just makes my day I love it. I really appreciate Camrie, Lyle, JR, Jerico and Mike taking the time to try this out.”

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CHICAGO, IL – Chris King has been working towards his 2023 debut at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals for almost two years. The full-time Chicago firefighter will be back on track in his Howards Cams/Competition Products Dodge Charger Funny Car this weekend for the first time since his last race in 2021. King will be competing in six NHRA national events this season, but he is most excited about getting the season started in front of his hometown friends and family at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet.

“Racing Funny Cars in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series is something I think about every day,” said King. “I love my job as a firefighter and running King Training Innovations LLC, a firefighter training company, but getting the chance to race at over 300 mph is a rush you can’t explain to a lot of people. I also get to meet so many fans and talk about several charities I am involved with too.”

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CHICAGO, IL – NHRA Funny Car team owner and driver Chris King is eager to reintroduce himself to the ever-growing NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series fandom with his 2023 debut at the Gerber Collision and Glass Rt. 66 Nationals, May 19-21. The Chicago firefighter is pursuing his dream at over 300 mph in less than four seconds racing the Howards Cams/Competition Products Dodge Charger Funny Car at Rt. 66 Raceway in Joliet. The aspiring professional driver will once again be tuned by veteran Terry Totten for at least six NHRA national events and will be looking to chase rookie of the year honors.

“I have been working on this Funny Car deal since our last race in 2021,” said King, who raced successfully in the Top Alcohol Funny Car ranks. “I want to test myself against the best of the best, but I also want to make sure my operation goes A to B with quality parts and a professional looking team. I have to thank Howard Cams, Competition Products, Red Line Oil, and Reid Rocker Arms for coming on board and helping make this happen. We plan on doing at least six and maybe more races if everything works out. We are trying to secure sponsors every day.”

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