American Jake Opatrny to enter FIA European Top Fuel Championship
The American Top Fuel driver Jake Opatrny will take part in next year’s FIA European Drag Racing Championship. Opatrny, from McHenry, Illinois, will drive Jens Jonsson’s Nitrobear Top Fueler. The participation of Opatrny is great news for the championship as it will definitely raise the American interest in the FIA European Drag Racing Championship.
Jake Opatrny was a crew member on TJ Zizzo’s Top Fuel operation before he started racing himself. After visiting Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School and successfully completing the Super Comp and Top Alcohol classes, Opatrny earned his Top Fuel licence in Del Worsham’s Top Fuel dragster in 2021. In the last couple of years Opatrny took part in several NHRA races in Top Fuelers of Leverich Racing and Terry Totten.
Jens Jonsson was a crew member of Björn Mårtensson. After Mårtensson sudden passing, the Nitrobear Top Fueler was sold, but Jonsson bought it back and to honour Mårtensson, the team name Nitrobear (NBR) was restored to its former glory by the new owner. Jonsson had the intention to drive the car, but lack of funding kept him out of competition. Instead of that Jonsson decided to attend Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School to license for Alcohol Dragster before starting licensing in Top Fuel.
Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School and their common friend Freddy Wendt brought Opatrny and Jonsson together. Opatrny wanted to race and Jonsson had a car but not the licence. Opatrny will now be Jonsson’s mentor and coach and he will test and dial in the car before Jonsson will start his licensing procedure in it. Because there are hardly any opportunities to test a Top Fuel car in Europe, Opatrny and Jonsson decided to enter the car in the championship and do the test runs in racing conditions at a full prepped track.
As there is still a lot of work to be done to the trailer and car and Jonsson is also looking for some new crewmembers, the debut of Opatrny in the FIA European Top Fuel Championship will be later in 2025, probably Tierp in August.
Opatrny is happy with this great opportunity to race in Europe’s most prestigious drag racing championship: “I’m excited that I’ll be driving the NBR Racing Top Fueler in 2025. Thank you Jens and Freddy for this opportunity to run in the FIA European Drag Racing Championship. To be able to do this means the world to this Yankee and I’m looking forward to working with these guys! I am really looking forward to adding this to my resume. Thank you Jens for the opportunity to wheel your car in 2025. See you all in the FIA European Drag Racing Championship!”
Text: Remco Scheelings
Special thanks to Freddy Wendt
Photos: team
