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Heading into the 25th Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by Peak, Chicagoan Chris King, Funny Car team owner and driver, will be looking to use this event as a springboard to a strong season in the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.

Since he started chasing the dream of racing nitro Funny Car full time, King has wanted to race at his hometown track, and this year, his team is making a tough but understandable decision to put his family first. On Sunday, King will attend his son Shane’s college graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

King and crew chief Bob Peck agreed in advance that they will be making the most of the four qualifying passes at Route 66 Raceway on Friday and Saturday in the Howard Cams/Competition Products Funny Car. The goal for the weekend will be to get a solid baseline to move into the 2025 NHRA season.

“I talked to all my sponsors and team when the season started and we saw the schedule. I told them we were racing Chicago, but there was no way I was missing Shane’s graduation,” said King. “Shane has worked so hard to earn his degree that being there for him is important. Everyone agreed, and we are going to run hard on Friday and Saturday to get data for future races.”

Over the offseason, King invested in new parts and a new trailer to give his team the best possible shot for future success. This will be King’s third time racing in front of the hometown crowd when qualifying starts on Friday, May 16.

“The past two years, we have come so close to making the field, but I think we have learned a lot from those races,” said King, a full-time Chicago firefighter. “Last year, we started in Chicago and made improvements at every race, including qualifying for the toughest U.S. Nationals Funny Car field. I have a lot of excitement and confidence headed into this season. There has been a lot going on in my professional life, so being able to focus on the race car has been a challenge. I am grateful to continue to have this outlet for my passion, and there’s no better place to get my season started than right at home.”

King was promoted to lieutenant in the Chicago Fire Department after the first of the year, and with the new title came additional training and a new schedule. He currently works as a floating lieutenant moving from firehouse to firehouse to support stations and fire crews across the city. The new responsibilities have fueled his passion to follow his Funny Car dream.

“I have been a firefighter my entire career, and working with these heroes on a daily basis makes getting to drive a nitro Funny Car a real blessing,” said King. “I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be promoted, but I knew I would have to evaluate my Funny Car career in the short term. The lessons you learn on the job translate so well into owning and driving a Funny Car. It is all about managing people, staying cool under pressure, and being able to react to the unexpected. I have gotten so much support from the Chicago Fire Department when I am at the track, and I want to make my guys, my sponsors, and my family proud.”

After Chicago, King will look ahead to the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, June 26-29. The team plans to race four to five national events this season, with hopes of picking up more races as additional sponsors come on board. King has built a program that runs consistently quick times and shows improvement every time they hit the track.

“My goal from the very beginning was to be professional and put on a good show for the fans,” said King. “I have to thank Howard Cams and Competition Products for the support, and there are too many people in the Pro ranks that have stepped up to help us along the way. Guys like Dean Antonelli from Ron Capps’ team have been amazing. We are excited to get to Chicago and get the season started.”