NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

One of the beautiful things about NHRA Drag Racing is that it is open to almost anyone, and for many, it’s possible to have an extremely long career. That being said, the list of drivers who have won NHRA national events at age 80 or older is fairly short. It includes 2026 Seattle Stock champ Cal Method and, now, recent Sonoma Top Sportsman champ Ken Ratzloff.

Winning in a 10-second Stock eliminator car is one thing, but Ratzloff drives a six-second, 200-mph car in Right Trailers Sportsman, which adds a whole different degree of difficulty.  

Ratzloff, retired Fire Dept. Captain who resides in Idaho Falls, Idaho, celebrated his 80th birthday on June 26, 2026. Barely three weeks later, he claimed his second national event win when he defeated Bryan Warr in the final round of the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge. Ratzloff claims that he doesn’t feel 80, and he certainly didn’t drive like someone that age as he put together a tidy package in the final with a .012 light and a 6.861 on his 6.85 dial.

“I figured I was probably the oldest winner in Top Sportsman, and if that’s true, I’m happy to take some credit for it,” said Ratzloff. “Obviously, the guys I race against are quite a bit younger than I am, but they don’t cut me any slack. I’ve also told the guys that I race with, ‘If you ever worry about me, just say something and I’ll be gone.’ Thankfully, no one has ever said anything.”

It’s also important to note that Ratzloff’s race car is just as unique as he is. In a sea of Camaros and Corvettes, Ratzloff’s ’53 Studebaker stands out. It’s not just a unique vehicle, but its aerodynamic properties make it a perfect race car, something that land speed racers learned decades ago.

"There is a little bit of a story that goes with this car,” said Ratzloff during a 2019 NHRA National Dragster interview. “We used to race in the Nostalgia series. I started there in the 1990s and ran Hot Rod and then B/Gas. I had a ’38 Chevy that crashed. That was the last car we built, and I learned a few things about aerodynamics. When we started looking to build a new car, I came across this Studebaker body. I thought it was perfect for what we were doing. For aerodynamics, it was as good as a Camaro or Corvette, but it was also something different.”

Ratzloff built the car himself in the early 2000s and quickly found a home in the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series, where it fit perfectly in the A/Gas class with its 7.60 index.

“We won a championship in A/Gas, and I’m not sure how many race wins, but it’s a few,” Ratzloff said. “We started with an all-aluminum 632 and ran 7.2s with no problems.”

Ultimately, Ratzloff wanted to go a bit quicker, so he upgraded to a 780-cid engine originally built by Sunset Race Craft Engines. Now, he has little trouble making high six-second runs at more than 200 mph without the use of a power adder.

“That [780-cid engine] was a learning experience,” he said. “At first, I didn’t have a grid [ignition]. Now, I’ve got a grid and a Race Pak, and I have to learn about wheel speed and chassis tuning. It’s been a process.”

The move to Top Sportsman has paid dividends. In addition to his two national event wins, Ratzloff also has four NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series titles, including a pair at Yellowstone Raceway in his native Division 6.

Following his Sonoma win, Ratzloff is ranked No. 12 in the Right Trailers Top Sportsman standings, and he has attended just two national events, so a Top 10 finish is entirely possible.

“Right now, I’m looking at just finishing the season in Las Vegas and Pomona, so we’ll see what happens,” said Ratzloff. “The car is good, and I’ve tried a new procedure for the transbrake that has worked well. I think it would be great to do that [a Top 10 finish] at my age."

While Ratzloff still maintains his own equipment, he also gets help from his wife, Sandy, as well as Joe Jolly at Sunset Engines, Brian Metz, Hal Hannemann, and Hoosier Tires.