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"I'm not unlike most racers when I say that I have the need for speed. That's probably one of the reasons I continue to race." -- Vern Moats

Vern Moats is somewhat of a miracle man. In his almost four-decade drag racing career, the resilient Des Moines, Iowa, racer has suffered his share of misfortune. Yet, despite some rather frustrating defeats and a handful of devastating accidents, he has, against all odds, come back to race again and win.

In his 38-year career, the Federal-Mogul Funny car pilot has dominated the NHRA West Central division, collecting an impressive 15 championships and countless divisional series wins. This gives Moats more divisional titles than any other competitor, past or present, on the Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series tour.

Moats first began competing at NHRA events in 1964, behind the wheel of his modified '55 Chevy, before switching to a blown, altered in '66. In 1974, Moats purchased his first Funny Car, a blown Dodge Charger, which he campaigned in Pro Comp.

"After running Pro Comp for a number of years with a series of blown altereds and funny cars, I started running Top Alcohol Funny Car in 1981, when NHRA split up the dragster and funny cars and made them two classes. That was also the same year that I had the most devastating wreck of my career [at the Gatornationals in Florida]. I wound up breaking both of my arms and suffering some serious muscle and nerve damage as well," explained Moats, 58.

Many thought Moats would never drive a racecar again or even have the guts the get back behind the wheel. But, ever the fighter, Moats not only drove again, he decided to sell his towing business and start racing full-time.

"I'm not unlike most racers when I say that I have the need for speed. That's probably one of the reasons I continue to race. I always want to go quicker and faster. Ask almost any competitor in the class and they'll say that they want to be the quickest and fastest one out there. Regardless, though, we all to win," says Moats.

"When I first started racing I was still in high school. I was still pretty young. When you first start out you hope to win, but you don't expect it. But, once you start winning, you start to get more disappointed when you lose. This year I've been runner-up to Jay Payne three times at national events. It's disappointing, but Jay's a friend. He's having a great year and I can't take anything away from him," says Moats.

Though Moats does almost everything himself he must thank his legion of friends within the racing community and Kendell Motor Oil who has helped him every stretch of the way during his 38-year career. Without their help Moats is sure that much of success wouldn't have been possible.

Moats will be trying his luck at Tri-State Raceway when the Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, presented by Winnebago, makes it fifth stop on the NHRA West Central division tour at the Earlville, Iowa track September 7-9.