Meyer Reviews 2014 Season, 5th Lucas Oil Series Central Region Championship

Courtesy of Randy Meyer Racing

Randy Meyer (RMR photo)

Dec. 3rd, 2014 - The Randy Meyer Racing Team had an eventful season this year with driver Chase Copeland joining the team to pilot their new second A/Fuel Dragster in the Top Alcohol Dragster class to claim first and second in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series (LODRS) Central Region points championship.

Randy Meyer, Shayne Lawson, and Chase teamed up and defeated many tough players in NHRA’s Top Alcohol Dragster ranks, to earn the Randy Meyer Racing Team’s fifth LODRS Central Region championship. The team also earned their seventh NHRA National points series top 10 finish, and the Best Appearing Crew award at their second race of the year in Gainesville, Florida with their Smart Chicken team uniforms. The team now has a total of 13 national event wins, and 20 LODRS event wins.

Randy, who finished third in the nation, won national event races in Houston, Texas for the NHRA Spring Nationals, Brainerd, Minnesota for the NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals, and a runner-up finish at the NHRA Carolina Nationals in Charlotte, North Carolina. He also was winner of the Jegs AllStars race in Joliet, Illinois, and won the LODRS race at Earlville, Iowa and runner-up at the Central Regional event at his home track in Topeka, Kansas.

Shayne had his share of the victory lane this year, as he won his first NHRA National event at the Kansas Nationals in Topeka, Kansas and the Fall Nationals in Ennis, Texas. Shayne also won the LODRS race at Tulsa, Oklahoma, and set a new personal record as he ran his quickest pass in a Top Alcohol Dragster at 5.25 seconds. Shayne finished 25th in the nation, and 8th in the Central Region.

Chase took on the driving duties, as well as co-crew-chief and co-tuner duties, for the team’s new 2006 Hadman Injected Nitromethane dragster. With struggles along the way, he was able to pilot the car to earn a very close second place in the Central Region behind Randy, and 12th in the nation, with a semifinal finish at the Central Regional race in Topeka, Kansas and runner-up finishes at the LODRS races in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Noble, Oklahoma.

Randy’s two daughters, Megan and Rachel Meyer, who currently compete in the Super Comp class of NHRA, took strides towards their own Top Alcohol Dragster licenses this year. With testing provided at their home track, Heartland Park Topeka, the girls trained to get comfortable with the cars. This year marked Rachel’s first time in an A/Fueler, as she piloted the second dragster, and was able to confidently make the first steps to becoming a licensed NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster driver.

Megan, piloting Randy’s dragster, completed her first full quarter-mile pass this year with a competitive 5.35 elapsed time at 265 mph. She plans to continue training next year, and will earn her license to take on the possibility of competing in her first Top Alcohol Dragster race as she graduates from college at Pittsburg State University, before taking over the drivers seat for a full-time position beginning in 2016. She is currently looking for potential marketing partners to help her chase her dreams and become the next second generation driver in the NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster ranks.

With successes also comes failures and hard times, but Randy will not let the low times get him down. He confidently completed his 35th year of drag racing while building a massively competitive team. Earning the LODRS Central Region Championship, setting track records, and becoming nominated for the 2014 Pro Sportsman Driver and Mechanic of the year are the icing on the cake for him as he travels with his family and dedicated team to each NHRA race, while gaining incredibly supportive and enduring partners along the way.

“2014 was a very good year for the whole Randy Meyer Racing Team, we had a great team effort with adding a second A/Fuel car and new crew members,” said Randy. “It was challenging and rewarding to run both cars and win rounds with the different drivers. I look forward to a great year in 2015 where we can start where we left off. I want to thank all of our sponsors and partners that helped us out this year, as well as all of our crew guys, without them this would not be possible.”

Chase Copeland (RMR photo)

“It was also very exciting and worthwhile to see Megan make her first full pass at Topeka, and to help guide and watch Rachel making her first steps in the other car. The girls are working together well with helping each other become better and more comfortable in the cars, and I know they will have a bright future in the field,” Randy added.

For pictures and videos of the team’s season, visit our Facebook page and find us on YouTube.

 

The RMR Team would like to thank all of their 2014 sponsors and partners:

Lucas Oil, Smart Chicken, NGK Spark Plugs, MOTOR MEDIC, Quik-Latch Products, Copeland Race Cars, Boninfante, Taylor Cable, Belzona Industrial Solutions, Rezner trailers, ARP, MAHLE Clevite, Hedman Hedders, Moroso, Aeroquip, JEGS, Jiffy-Tite, Price Chopper, Reasor's, Schnucks, Brookshire's, John Haley #1 Roofer LLC, and Aeromotive Fuel Systems