9/27/2025
Midwest Drag Racing Series
Youngblood - "Wade Pennington is the Truest Fan I Want to Impress."
As the Summit Racing Equipment Midwest Drag Racing Series approaches the Ronnie Hobbs World Finals in Tulsa, all eyes are on the championship chases as first timers are up and down the hopefuls list. Keith Youngblood stepped in to helm the always stout Pennington Dragster at the beginning of the season and hasn't looked back as he leads the Race Star Wheels Top Dragster Championship presented by UEM Pistons. Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to chat with Keith about this season and his championship case.
Luke: When you stepped into the car in XRP, did you think a title could be in the cards?
Keith: I really didn’t have intentions on chasing points. Wade was not feeling well at the XRP race & needed me to fill in for him so he would get his points. The only way I felt we could make Wade feel any better was to turn on win lights. Even though we had a lot of luck that weekend, I raced harder & was more determined than I’ve ever been in a race car. It just escalated from there to the Tulsa race.
I want to tell you I feel great about the points, but the truth is that this is racing & anything can happen.
Luke: It still must be very exciting to be a part of the Pennington Motorsports team as Jovee and Karlee try and make it 3 championships for the team?
Keith: What could be better? Both girls in the Juniors, a top dragster 1 & 2 finish. Don’t know how you would script that any better.
Luke: Plus your closest challenger in Top Dragster is another Pennington crew in Kati (Laughter) and Travis (Canon).
Keith: Travis & Kati are a team car but we still compete against them like everyone else. If you can show up at the track & enter 4 cars & at the end of the season leave with 3 championships & a runner up, I think we’ve had a pretty fun & lucky year.
Luke: Tell me about how cool it would be to seal the trifecta, I think we are calling it, in front of the awesome fans in Tulsa?
Keith: Not to discredit the fans because Tulsa always brings it, but Wade Pennington is the truest fan I want to impress! If it wasn’t for him Jovee, Karlee, nor myself would have the opportunity to do this. We do it because of him & this year it’s for him!
Luke: Following Tulsa, what's next for you?
Keith: I’ll race as long as life lets me. Nothing like it. The friends that become like family & the fans make it like no other sport. I Love it!
Article Credit: Luke Carpenter
Submitted By: Luke Clevenger
