Driver Profile - D.J. Cox

Driver: D.J. Cox

Car: Anderika Racing Top Alcohol Funny Car

Age: 34

Hometown: Whiteford, MD

Occupation: Project Manager

Family: Parents – Darrel and Mary

Accomplishments: 3 Runner-up finishes in Lucas Oil Series TAFC competition

First race car: Jr. Dragster

Favorite movies: The Hangover, Bad Santa (I laugh every time), and American Nitro

Favorite music: Anything with a good beat

Favorite TV shows: NHRA Lucas Oil Series ESPN2 coverage

Favorite sports teams: Baltimore Ravens

When I'm away from the racetrack I: Kayak, and work out at Get Fit Boot Camp

Favorite racing memory: First full pass in a Funny Car, WHAT A RIDE!!!

Top accomplishment in racing: 3 runner-up finishes in TAFC Lucas Oil Competition

Toughest opponent: Frank Manzo. That guy beat up on me pretty bad!

Favorite opponent: Frank Manzo always brought out the best in me. I'm going to miss racing that team.

Favorite drivers outside TAD: Chrissy Walter-Cox

Personal heroes: My Mom & Dad

I race because: The competition, the feeling of shifting two gears, and hitting the 'chutes. There is no other place I would rather be than strapped in a Funny Car!

I race TAFC because: Driving a Funny Car has been a dream of mine since I was 8 years old.

Pre-race rituals or superstitions: Right boot on first, left glove on first.

Nobody knows that I: Lean over the injector and talk to my car before every race.

If I didn't race I would: Join the circus. That was my dream until I was 8.

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/anderika-racing

 

Photos courtesy of David Smith/PSA and D.J. Cox

DJ Cox to Drive for Anderika Racing

Courtesy of John DiBartolomeo

 

DJ Cox has been named the driver of the Anderika Racing TA/FC Monte Carlo for 2014.

 

As they begin their defense of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Eastern Region championship, Cox will be making the transition from driving a clutch-operated Funny Car to the Lencodrive/Neil Chance converter used by the Anderika team. Cox is a veteran NHRA Division 1 TA/FC driver who will bring his Dixie Construction sponsorship to join the East Coast Auto Electric sponsored team with additional support from Keystone Automation, Lucas Oil and Mahle/Clevite bearings. Cox will be replacing John Anderika who announced at the beginning of the ‘13 season that he would be retiring at the end of the year. With Anderika behind the wheel, the team went on to appear in five final rounds, winning the final two and the NHRA Eastern Region Championship.

 

Team owner Chuck Anderika said “When we decided to look for a driver the main criteria was someone who could immediately step in and help us to continue to win. The whole crew felt DJ was the right driver to accomplish this.”

 

The team will begin the year at the opening NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Eastern Region race at Virginia Motorsports Park on April 4^th.