Julie Nataas Gears Up for Nitro Funny Car Debut with Del Worsham in Bristol

Julie Nataas is preparing for her first start in NHRA’s nitro Funny Car class this weekend at the Super Grip Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee, from June 6 to 8. Nataas, a world champion in Top Alcohol Dragster with nearly 36 NHRA Wally trophies, is recognized both for her success on the racetrack and for her appearances on television in Norway.

She will be driving the 12,000-horsepower Airmine Toyota GR Supra, fielded by DC Motorsports. This weekend’s event marks her move into one of drag racing’s most competitive and high-powered categories.

Over the last three months, Nataas spent significant time testing with the DC Motorsports team. Under the mentorship of team owner Del Worsham, she completed her licensing requirements in early May with key runs in Gainesville, Phoenix, and Indianapolis.

The Airmine brand, a Norway-based climate technology company, continues its sponsorship, as it did when Nataas made her Top Fuel debut earlier this season. Airmine uses satellite technology to track air quality and pollen data globally, and their new U.S. app is launching around the same time as Nataas’s debut, deepening their partnership.

Nataas’s entry this weekend makes her the first Norwegian racer to compete in the nitro Funny Car division. She also becomes one of a select group of women holding active NHRA licenses in both nitro classes, Top Fuel and Funny Car.

Her resume includes experience in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car as well, placing her among the most accomplished female racers in NHRA competition.

The DC Motorsports Toyota GR Supra has proven fast this year. Bobby Bode III drove it into the top 10 of the points standings earlier in the season, earning career-best results before returning to his family operation.

Now, with Nataas in the driver’s seat, team leaders Del and Connie Worsham are continuing their focus on giving talented drivers a competitive platform. Nataas’s quick adaptation and methodical approach have drawn praise from Worsham for her focus and feedback, as he describes her as “alarmingly self-aware” and able to communicate like a veteran.

The Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway brings added attention, as it is a nationally televised event featured on FOX. The track is known for its dramatic setting and challenging conditions, offering Nataas a major stage for her first official competition in a nitro Funny Car.

The team’s goal is straightforward: secure a solid qualifying effort and contend for the win, not just make the field.

Nataas joins a short list of drivers worldwide who have crossed over multiple professional NHRA classes, showing both versatility and the drive to tackle some of motorsport’s toughest cars. Her participation also highlights international interest in NHRA drag racing, with Norway gaining fresh representation in the sport’s top categories.

As racing gets underway in Bristol, all eyes will be on Nataas as she tries to add a new chapter to her decorated career, much like drivers navigating high-stakes competitions such as the Monaco Grand Prix.

Her methodical approach and focus have drawn comparisons to talents seen in other motorsport arenas, underscoring the growing crossover appeal within racing disciplines, alongside ongoing developments like the F1 flexi wing debate.

In this competitive environment, Nataas’s progress is being followed closely, echoing the intensity of title pursuits by stars showcasing relentless drive and determination similar to a Verstappen F1 title campaign.

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.