Dustin Drollinger ... "I would race a shopping cart and love it.”
Posted on April 01 2026
How did you start racing?
“From that point on, all I ever wanted to do was race something.”
My love for race cars started when I was about 9 years old at a county fair with a dirt track. I remember hearing the roar of those cars and having to find out what it was. My dad took me over and up into the stands so I could see them. I pretty much skipped family day and just sat there watching them fly around lap after lap until they made me go home hahaha. From that point on, all I ever wanted to do was race something.
Like most people, it wasn't in the cards to let me race as a kid, so I had to delay that until I could fund it myself. Along the way I tried different things like motorcycles and rock bouncers, but I knew nothing would really scratch the itch that wheel 2 wheel racing would..
Somewhere along the way I decided it was time to chase that childhood dream again. So, without much advice or direction, I set out to figure it out. I knew there was a new local drag strip going in so I thought we could do that. Mainly because it was better than nothing lol. After a trip to the dealership I came home with a new Camaro ZL1 1LE. That checked off another childhood dream of owning a sweet Camaro lolol.
Just as we were set to start building a drag car out of it a friend sent me an overhead image of a new Road Racecourse going in near us.. In a blink of an eye, everything changed. Considering I spent the majority of my childhood (and adulthood) watching Trans Am racing, DTM, Le Mans, V8 Supercar, GT3, GT4, IMSA, F1 racing etc., I knew this was what I had to get into. My true love was for the American muscle cars ripping up a road track.
After some research of how to get into road racing, I stumbled across NASA Racing. It was perfect. They have a whole HPDE program designed to get you on track, in your daily driver if you want, learn from professionals and eventually get your competition license. Plus they have a class for almost every vehicle out there.
I went all in. Signed up for 12 events my first year lol. Went from HPDE 1 up to HPDE 3. Then the following year I went from 3 all the way up to Comp School and got my Rookie License.
From the start it's been nothing short of amazing. Track days, Endurance racing, sprint style racing, I even managed to get my instructor license, work my way up to MSF3 as well as becoming a group leader in my local region.
The most amazing part has been the friends and track family I have made at along the way. It's a different level of character at the track and it's awesome when everyone is like minded into cars and helping each other out.
What is your favorite car to race?
“I would race a shopping cart and love it.”
Ooooo.. Trick question?? Every car is my favorite car to race hahaha. I mean every car I've ever run is just so good at its own thing.. I love my Camaros for sure. They just get my unbiased love. My mustangs are just so good that I love every lap in them.
We raced the NP01 for 2 seasons and it was a love hate kinda relationship lol. Amazing to drive, but very physical on you. No power brakes or steering, plus it was sequential with a shift lever. I learned so much from that seat time. But loved every lap.
I mean so many friends have let me take their cars out for HPDE stuff and I can't complain about any of them lolol Porsche, Audis, GT350R's, Z06's, BRZ's, BMW's, CTSV's, FP350's, Miata's, the list goes on lol
I would race a shopping cart and love it. So sorry if I can't say just one. All cars get my love.
What is your favorite track?
Favorite Track: Ozarks International Raceway
To me, tracks are like cars. They're all a bit different, but each of them has their specialty that makes them cool. But if I have to pick one of the tracks I've been to, I will say Ozarks International Raceway. It's my hometown favorite. It's a challenging track for sure, but it rewards you for having a deeper understanding of driving and how to balance your car.
I grew up in the Ozarks, so this track reminds me of ripping the old man's S-10 truck to and from town when I was 16 lol. I mean this track flows just like the roads do in the area. Honestly its better than most of the roads in the area hahaha.
It's also more than just the track though. The owners, corner workers and staff at this place treat us all like we are royalty. They are always waving, stopping by and saying hi in the garages, helping us if we need it, etc. Not saying other tracks don't, just not that have witnessed. Plus the Ozarks are beautiful all year round and we have the lake within 5 minutes of the track.
Every track will teach you something, and that something you learned at this track will work at a different track. I encourage people to go to as many different tracks as possible during those development years.
I do have a list of tracks I plan to visit so this may change hahaha. Laguna Seca is on my list because of so many great battles on TV through the years.
Best track day experience?
Winning an endurance race by +.265 seconds.
I have 3 that will never be topped, but I have a million that I will never forget.
My top 3 involves my two sons and my wife. I have had the opportunity to ride passenger with my boys and my wife while they run on the track. During each of those moments I got to share with them my true love and passion. And to see how each of them enjoyed it made it worth it.
Outside of that, every track experience was awesome.
We have won first place overall in a 6-hour endurance race by +.265, and we have gotten second place near the exact same margin. I mean how do you not love that lol.
I've had amazingly fun battles with in class and out of class cars.
However, there are two moments that deserve some attention for how far apart they are in my racing adventure and skill sets.
First: First HPDE track weekend ever at NCM
In my new (like just got the 300-mile break in done the day before) Camaro ZL1 1LE. On the first day I did great, learned so much, and got faster as the day went by. Still was slower than the Miata drivers, but whatever.. lol..
Second day on the track, my Instructor Jason Scott (best instructor I've ever had btw) was like "Hey, after the pit out flag guy and line, you are free to accelerate like you are on track, that's the end of the pit speed limit"... Well for me that loosely translated into "Punch it man, lets win HPDE 1 today" hahahaha..
What I learned in the next 1.5 seconds, as my life flashed in front of my eyes, stuck with me forever..
I learned pit out on a cold morning doesn't have much grip.
I learned that cold Goodyear SuperCar 3 R's doesn't have much grip at pit out on a cold morning.
I learned that you can in fact squeeze a Camaro ZLE sideways between the pit out walls at NCM and not touch them.
I learned that they in fact don't pay the engineer at GM enough for his work on traction and stability control design lol.
Before I could say fudge, we did about 3 tank slappers and came out facing the right direction hahaha. And without any hesitation, or change in voice, Jason was like "Well, we are going to take the next lap or so to get some heat in the tires agreed??" hahahaha sir yes sir lolol. Yet another reason I wanted to be an instructor as well lol
Second: NASA Championship at Pitt Race
“I have never run a new sticker slick ever.”
FFWD a few years to my first NASA Championship at Pitt Race. During the qualifying race, on the last lap, coming into the fast right-hand kink before the water tower. I made a pass under my competitor Daniel Manis for a lead change. Now, I'm in no ways a better driver than him and in fact that was his first full session of the weekend due to some transmission issues, but never the less, we were hustling at speed.
This time I knew I had the heat in the tires and the traction to make it stick. I got a good run off the previous corner and had a huge tow from him coming into the kink. He played it a bit conservative and I let it hang out lolol.
It made for the most awesome pass and picture I have to date. We were side by side at the apex, and I had a tire just hanging over the grass. Got under and around and then almost out broke myself going into the next corner lol. I'm sure he could have got me back but for whatever reason he didn't, and I got the pole.
That's truly a great moment on track for me. It was one of those moments where you were able to use the skills you had been working on all these years. The following day we broke a flywheel during the big show so this ended up being the highlight of the event hahaha.
Worst track experience?
To me there is no such thing. We've been knocked out by an LMP3, had our day end to broken parts, spun and got collected in fashion, spun other people, overheated, broke some flywheels, flat spotted the tires, melted air shifter lines, got the setup wrong, missed grid etc..
But at the beginning and end of those days, we weren't at work and we were hanging out with our track families and that's never a bad experience lol.
It's all part of it. It's a challenge for everyone to keep their cars 100%. things happen on the track. In all the things that didn't go to plan, not one of them was bad intent from anyone else. I've made my mistakes and may have gotten away with it unnoticed, so i don't get down on people if they make a mistake and i get caught in it.
Play the game long enough and you will find yourself in the mix. No need to be angry or let it ruin your day. Cars can be fixed and nobody is getting paid anymore for first than what they are paying for last hahaha...
Advice for newcomers?
Advice #1 – Start with HPDE
My first advice would be to get enrolled in a great HPDE program like NASA has. It's amazing to learn from so many experienced drivers across many different vehicle platforms. The fundamentals in driving are so important and will stay with you no matter what you do in this adventure. Not to mention the social networking within the industry.
Take your HPDE time serious and learn. Once you hit race group it's hard to try new things and see what works. HPDE 3.... Stay in it as long as you can. It's the most important time for learning.
Advice #2 – Run scrub slicks
The second thing would be switching up to running those scrub slicks as soon as possible. It's insane what a new tire costs these days. I honestly would not be able to run as much as we do if it wasn't for the tire service that UsedRacingTires.com provides us (they didn't pay me to say that it's just a fact). Ya, we had to get some 18" rims, but the first set of scrubs paid for that by not buying new.
100% honest, I have never run a new sticker slick ever. I have always used scrubs and I have plenty of 1st place trophies.. they have saved me thousands over the last few years alone. Probably should have been my first advice but we will see who keeps reading hahaha.
Last bit of advice don't forget to have a good time at the track after you pit out. Make friends, talk to other people about their cars. I was blown away at the track community and how they all interact. BBQ's, couple a parties at night lol, helping each other rebuild engines in the pit, helping each other get faster on the track etc.
Become an instructor, group leader or track helper.
Ya, take part in the whole thing. It makes this even more fun. And remember, Ferrari is scouting club level events for their next F1 driver..
Tell us about you?
Me? Well, I'm just a 49-year-old dude finally getting to do the stuff I wanted to do when i was 10 lolol. I still act like I'm 16, I just finally have the budget to do the fun stuff instead of dream about it lolol.
The best part about me is my wife. She is the true team hero and a hottie. She supports all the crazy ideas I've had my whole life. Without her, none of this would be possible. So, a special shout out for her and my boys.
I may have skimmed on their lunch money a few time's so I could get some brake pads.. but they paid my back by cleaning out the fridge when they got home..
Um ya I'm pretty normal outside of this hobby lol. Wife, 2 kids, 2 dogs, and 1 lizard. Did a small stretch in the Army right out of high school then moved on to working on Cellular towers for a living.
Got a great opportunity in my 20's to be part of a new startup business and never looked back. I landed with a great group of guys that have helped me grown and learn within the industry. Between that and nearly depleted 401K, racing has been achievable hahaha.
Um, small house in the burbs, pretty much don't like doing anything that's not car or lunch related.
Got the never-ending Camaro project my friends and family harass me about.. I'm working on it.. lol.
Still go to work when they make me, ya.. I'm pretty average lol.
Final Thoughts
“We're only going to make so many laps around the sun on this rock.”
Just go to the track..
Take the family (or trade them in for a family that likes being at the track lol), take some friends, take your neighbor whatever.
We're only going to make so many laps around the sun on this rock, so I highly advise taking more laps at the track.
Look us up at the track. I take people for rides every weekend. It's part of growing our community and getting people involved.
13 years old to 113, if you can drive lets go..
Just think of all the fun stories you will have for the nursing home ladies one day..
----------------------
UsedRacingTires would love to feature your story! If you would like to share it with our fans, please send me your story and photos by clicking [HERE]
Related Articles
How Scrub Racing Tires Save Track Drivers Thousands
Beginner’s Guide to HPDE Track Days
