Ahead of the curve

On a Saturday afternoon last October, Jamie Hancock was winning races in Texas and securing the title of 2007 American Drag Racing League Pro Nitrous World Champion.

The following Monday morning, the 18-year-old was back home in Opelika - attending classes at Beulah High School.

Such is the life of the youngest person ever to win an ADRL world championship - or any professional drag racing world championship in the history of the sport.

“Jamie has that ‘it’ factor - like Tiger Woods,” American Drag Racing League President Kenny Nowling said recently by telephone from ADRL headquarters in O’Fallon, Mo. “It would not surprise me if he went out and won the championship again this year.”

Like Tiger, Hancock began practicing his sport at a young age. Since he was 6, Hancock has been involved in drag car racing, starting with local races in the junior dragster division.

Twelve years later, Hancock made history in the ADRL AlphaTrade World Finals at the Texas Motorplex near Dallas - in front of 45,000 fans and ESPN cameras - in a pro-modified, nitrous-powered 2004 Corvette.

Exactly one month after turning 18, Hancock was among the top-eight racers in the pro nitrous class of the American Drag Racing League, based on points earned during the season, which put him squarely in the running for the championship title.

In the pro nitrous championship race in Texas, Hancock found himself facing the 2006 champ, Keith Baker of Dothan. “That just made me want to beat him more,” Hancock said of his title-holding challenger in the final race.

An undaunted Hancock ran the eighth of a mile in 4.02 seconds with a career-high speed of 181 mph to take the win and the title of 2007 ADRL Pro Nitrous World Champion.

“Once I’d crossed the finish line and I knew I’d won, I was extremely excited,” Hancock said recently as he stood inside the two-stall shop behind his family’s home, where he works on a steady supply of race cars - including the 2004 Corvette - alongside his father, James Hancock, and crew chief, Cleave Morgan.

The trio can also be found working on the Corvette in the pits at the race tracks up to 25 weekends a year. Photographs taken of an enthusiastic Hancock immediately after he won the 2007 championship pro nitrous race show him with grease-blackened hands.

“It takes all three of us. Sometimes you need more,” James Hancock said of working on his son’s race car on and off the track. “All three of us know everything about that car. ... All three of us do everything from start to finish.”

After each race, the three men break the race car down and then put it back together again.

“You’re always checking to make sure nothing is torn up,” James Hancock said. “You want to fix it here, instead of at the race track.”

Although Hancock is surrounded by - and competing against - legends of the drag racing world in three drag racing leagues, he is quick to say that his idol is his father. James Hancock was among the top drag racers in the ADRL until a few years ago, when he decided to focus fully on his son’s career.

Last year, Hancock also decided to focus solely on drag racing. He stopped playing football and baseball at Beulah High School after his junior year. The decision paid off with the 2007 ADRL world championship title.

“I always knew he had talent for driving, because he did it at a young age and did it so well,” James Hancock said. “To see him win the world championship in his first year is unbelievable - and at his age.

Nobody at his age does anything like it.”

Although drag racing is a big part of Hancock’s life, for now, school is his top priority. After he graduates from high school this year, he plans to attend college.

After school and during the summer months, Hancock can be found working in his family’s shop until 5:30 p.m. during the week. On weekends, he takes a break from working on cars and spends time with his family and his girlfriend - unless it’s a racing weekend.

On most racing weekends, Hancock’s family - mother, Hope; brother, Justin, 7; and sister, Elizabeth, 2 - piles into the truck that pulls the trailer with his racing car, equipment and gear.

Justin has already shown an interest in drag racing. So far, he just helps clean the race cars, but James Hancock said there’s a good chance he’ll have two sons racing in the future.

With Hancock’s good looks, talent and strong family values, ADRL President Kenny Nowling said he could not think of a better person and role model to represent the league and to attract young fans.

“He is the absolute epitome of what I imagine our stars becoming,” Nowling said. “Jamie will bring in a young demographic to the ADRL.

“I hope his racing career doesn’t end for 40 more years.”

bharvey@oanow.com | 737-2546