DJ Cox Dominates $15,000 Cecil County Shootout in Top Alcohol Dragster Debut

DJ Cox made drag racing history at Cecil County Dragway by winning $15,000 in his first-ever race in a Top Alcohol Dragster. The event was held over Mother’s Day weekend as part of the Strange Engineering Outlaw Street Car Shootout in May 2025.

Before this, Cox was best known as a multi-time NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car winner. He had never driven a Top Alcohol Dragster or even had the license to race one.

A week before the shootout, Tom Fox called and offered Cox a ride in his blown alcohol dragster. Fox assured Cox that he could complete his crossover license runs during the pre-race testing session.

Rain on Friday squeezed the test time down to just two sessions on Saturday. Cox needed to make one moderate pass and two full passes to get licensed.

His moderate pass showed a .900-second 60-foot time, but his first full pass was cut short after the car broke a burst panel. Cox finished his licensing in the first qualifying round with a 5.37 at 220 miles per hour, after lifting early.

With no experience driving a dragster, Cox admitted he had to adjust quickly, explaining that the hardest part was trusting the car and not over-driving. In the final qualifying session, Cox ran a 5.252 at 272.61 MPH, ranking fifth out of 13 cars for eliminations on Sunday.

During Sunday eliminations, Cox advanced past Dan Dietrich, who could not make the first round due to a qualifying crash. In round two, he faced Earl Nichols, who had set the low time of 5.16 in the opening round.

Cox’s reaction gave him the edge, and his 5.289 at 272.12 defeated Nichols’ 5.26 on a holeshot. In the semifinals, he took on Jackie Fricke, who had just set the track record with a 5.135 in qualifying.

Fricke held lane choice after running 5.195 in round two, but Cox was quick off the line and posted a 5.259 at 273.39. Fricke slowed to a 5.351 at 270.21, sending Cox to the final.

Waiting for Cox was Gary Pritchett, who had qualified second with a 5.157 and ran a 5.179 in the semis. Both drivers grew up racing Funny Cars together on the East Coast, and for Cox, meeting Pritchett in the final had special meaning.

The final round delivered a close race. Cox got a quick .024 reaction to Pritchett’s .036.

Pritchett’s car was faster at 60 feet, but Cox’s blown machine pulled ahead by the finish. He won with a 5.301 at 272.34 MPH, besting Pritchett’s 5.478 at 272.56.

Cox credited his win to his team’s strategy to stay consistent rather than chasing the quicker times from the A/Fuel dragsters earlier in the weekend. He worked with Tom Fox Sr. and Jr. to dial in a race plan that focused on making reliable passes as the weather and track changed.

For Cox, the victory was extra sweet, coming at the track where he grew up bracket racing and falling on Mother’s Day weekend. He thanked his family and crew for their support and credited his wife Melissa for motivating him to seize the rare opportunity.

After the race, Cox joked that his plan was to retire at the top. With his Funny Car parked as he spends more time working in the family construction business, this victory adds another chapter to an already notable career. For more on the history of drag racing and its evolution, check out this comprehensive guide from the Smithsonian.

For now, he looks back at four consecutive wins, counting his latest at Cecil County, and appreciates the chance to celebrate with family and friends.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.