Photo – Courtesy of Zac Bogner

At 19 years of age, Zac Bogner has been racing since he was 9 years old. Starting his career in 2006 as a Junior Sand Dragster for his good friend, Brian Fitzpatrick, Bogner says from the beginning he was influenced by the adrenaline rush to keep going and added that he wants to really take on the sport of Drag Racing.

In late 2006, Zac Bogner took the opportunity to drive a Junior Dragster on Asphalt 1/8 mile Drag Strips and really enjoyed going 50 mph in his first time on Asphalt.

Beginning 2007 Zac Bogner received an offer to drive for engine builder Don Soltz, who builds Junior Dragster Engines. In his first race with the team, Zac won, realizing his potential to go far in this sport.

Zac Bogner’s dad, Tom, has given his son a lot of enthusiasic support to do what he loves. The younger Bogner has raced Juniors for seven years, winning many races since 2007, and finishing Division point standings, in the top-ten multiple times, by rounding out several hundred cars between years 2008 and 2009.

In 2009, Bogner began racing a class called Outlaw 330, which is a heads up category just like the pros, running 330 feet in 4 seconds at 75 mph. Racing for Don Soltz for five years, Zac says he has gained a lot of knowledge, leading to a fourth place in series’ points for the season.

Zac Bogner took an opportunity in 2010 to drive a Ford Focus Midget Sprint Car for Cory Kruseman, competing in the Ventura CA race series.  In 2011 he finished top-five almost every race, running seven of the season’s 11 races. Gaining the points lead after his seventh race, Bogner had to make a decision, whether he should go for a championship in Junior Dragsters or the Ford Focus Midgets. He chose the Junior Dragster Championship and ended his season third in points at Ventura.

Later during the same season, Zac also moved to another Outlaw team, Nic Woods Racing, winning his first 330 race with them. Their association continued in 2011, giving him great seat time, to get his car dialed-in and win four of seven races.

Photo – Courtesy of Zac Bogner

2012, gave Zac Bogner great hopes, entering his last year of Juniors at 18 years of age. Zac wanted to end the year with his best finish and managed to win two class National Championships in Denver and the Junior Dragster Western Conference Finals National World Championship. In the process Bogner also set a track record 4.50 in 330ft which was short-lived because his teammate Brandon Seraphine destroyed it the next day 4.38. The same year, Bogner also licensed in a Blown Alcohol Sand Dragster for Greg Suyenaga. The team struggled to be competitive for the first two races, but as the season progressed, they were able to run a 3.18 at 100mph in 300ft at Soboba Casino which is the track they run for the Sand Drag Association. This experience gave Bogner great seat time, expanding his résumé to more types of racing.

This past weekend, Zac Bogner ran his Crower Sand Dragster 3.02 second ET on the 300 foot track right out of the trailer on Friday. Later in the final qualifier he ran a 2.97 ET moving his team from seventh to third. The team’s best run prior to the addition of a PSI Supercharger was a 3.17 in 300 feet. Zac also ran his best mile per hour this weekend as he ran a 3.00 @ 109 mph in the first round of competition beating a Larry Minor car that runs in several classes with a seasoned veteran.

This season Zac Bogner is also debuting and licensed in Super Comp for Tom Bayer Racing in NHRA. He was passed in the first round of his first two races with Tom Bayer, but by his second race weekend, Zac lost in the third round which is encouraging for his first time with the team. Super Comp runs an 8.90 index in 1/4 mile at 165-170mph. Every decision is made instantly, so having a good reaction time and running close to the 8.90 number consistently, will lead Bogner to winning races.

To get licensed in a Super Stock Cobra Jet Mustang in North Carolina with Roy Hill Drag Racing School, it took Zac Bogner two days, due to weather. He is now licensed in Super Comp, Super Stock, and soon Super Gas for NHRA. Zac is also running his dad’s 57 Chevy Corvette Roadster in Super Gas next year for NHRA. At 19 years of age, Zac Bogner has a lot to look forward to, as he takes on the sport of Drag Racing.

Zac Bogner is our next guest on Fan4Racing Fan2Fan NHRA Talk, Monday, July 29th at 9:30pm ET. Call 347-996-5176 during the LIVE broadcast Q&A segment to interact with Zac.