Levi Dill can’t legally drive yet, but he’s one of the best up and coming drag racers in all of Ontario.
“It’s a lot of fun. My family’s been doing it for a long time. We know a lot of people at the racetrack, and I enjoy being around them,” said Dill.
The 15-year-old from the Stratford area has racing in his blood. His dad, Mike, has been racing since he was a teenager, so when Levi was just 7, he bought him his first dragster. Levi’s been racing ever since.
“We got my brother and my cousin involved as well, and my twins have been going to the track, since they were four weeks old. So, we’ve always had racing in our blood, and we really enjoy it,” said Levi’s mother, Kirsten.
Levi has taken his racing to the next level the past few years, filling his trophy case and finishing second in the Junior Dragster Racing Program in Grand Bend for the third year in a row. In junior racing, it’s not about who’s the fastest, it’s about reaching a preset time. Still fast, but within limits.
“You have to be really good on the tree, get a good reaction time, and you have to try not to go faster than your dial, or else you’ll lose,” said Levi.
But the youngster still goes fast, reaching 130 km/h, hitting 7.99 seconds on the 1/8th mile track.
“Oh, yeah, the adrenaline is definitely going. I’ve definitely got my fingers crossed in my pockets and stuff. Safety wise though, I am not worried,” said Kirsten.
“There is so much safety equipment on these cars. Kill switches, seatbelts, everything about the safety part of it never worries me, but I’m in it for the win, as we all are.”
Once he gets his actual driving license next year, Levi can start driving the big racecars, while still honing his skills in the junior ranks through age 17. His goals are simple, to be the best dragracer in the world.
“To go to a world final and be the track champion or class champion at the track that I’m racing at,” said Dill.
The sky is the limit for the 15-year-old from Perth County, recently named Junior Dragster Rookie of the Year.
“It’s not a cheap sport, but it’s our sport. And we’re going to keep doing i because he’s passionate about it,” said Kirsten.
