Next Level Jr. Corvette Roadster Gives Kids a Sweet New Dragster to Compete In

The new Next Level Jr. Corvette Roadster aims to change the face of Jr. Dragster racing forever.

Jr. Dragster racing has been around since the 1990s, and it has become incredibly popular over the lifespan. Problem is, while the drivetrains of these kid’s drag racers have been updated over the past few decades, the appearances of those vehicles has not. And that’s precisely where Matt Grayson, Billy Herman of Alliance Racewear, and Travis Colangelo at American Race Cars come in, as they’re currently creating the very first Next Level Jr. Corvette Roadster, which aims to add a little style to the world of Jr. Dragster racing.

“Jr. racing needs something new because it’s looked the same since they were introduced,” Herman explained to Drag Ilustrated.  “This is the first build like this in the world and we are not cutting any corners. The roadster will give kids an opportunity to see racing from a different perspective by allowing them to understand the difference between a dragster and a door car. The driver will sit more upright like adults do in a big car instead being laid back like they are in a typical Jr. dragster. This changes the view at the finish line allowing for better visibility.”

The very first Next Level Jr. Corvette Roadster prototype is under construction at the American Race Cars shop, and is expected to make its racing debut at the Jr. Christmas on the Coast race in Gulfport, Mississippi later this year. Both the IHRA and the WDRA have already approved the new racer for use in their respective series, and the dragster is being built and engineered to meet NHRA safety requirements as well.

Even better, anyone will be able to purchase their own Jr. Dragster Corvette racer starting in January 2023, with choices of either a fiberglass or carbon fiber body. But this is also just the beginning of something much bigger, as Next Level has plans to add additional body styles to its catalog in the coming years, which could just transform the look of Jr. Dragster racing forever.

Photos: Next Level

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