Young, talented, focused, now, happening. These words, and many more, aptly describe Australian Pro Stock standout Shane Tucker, affectionately known as ‘Hollywood’ in his homeland. In just two years as a professional racer Tucker finished second and third, respectively, in Australian National Drag Racing Association (ANDRA) competition, and was named Australian Drag Racing Rookie of the Year.

Young, talented, focused, now, happening. These words, and many more, aptly describe Australian Pro Stock standout Shane Tucker, affectionately known as ‘Hollywood’ in his homeland. In just two years as a professional racer Tucker finished second and third, respectively, in Australian National Drag Racing Association (ANDRA) competition, and was named Australian Drag Racing Rookie of the Year.

He’s not a newcomer to the racing scene, however. A second-generation driver, (his father, Rob Tucker, is a former Australian Pro Stock Champion) Tucker began his career at the age of 11 in the Junior Dragster ranks. By the time he was 14 he had secured enough sponsorship money to be able to form his own race team. He was named Australian Junior Drag Racer of the Year in 1999, and in 2001 he raced to the Australian Junior Drag Racing Championship.

Just two years removed from his Pro Stock debut down under, Tucker will now be making the big jump from his family-owned team’s small block-powered, seven-second Australian Pro Stock machine to a Chevrolet Cobalt flying the Cagnazzi Racing banner. Tucker will eventually join Jeg Coughlin Jr., and Dave Connolly, forming a three-car team with championship-winning potential.

"The kid is well-spoken, charismatic, and a hard worker," owner Victor Cagnazzi said. "Shane is a good fit for our organization."

Tucker will be joining the team at Englishtown, New Jersey, this coming weekend, and once negotiations with new sponsors are finalized, he’ll take his place on the track with his American teammates.

“We’ve been searching around and talking to a couple of companies,” Tucker said regarding his potential new backers. "We have some big things in the pipeline. Hopefully we can sort everything out so we’ll be ready to go next season.

"This is a dream come true for me,” Tucker said. “I couldn’t have ever imagined I'd be given such a great opportunity with a first-class team such as Cagnazzi Racing. These guys build their own engines in-house, and they build their own cars in-house. I couldn’t ask for a better group of people to be associated with."

As for making the switch from an Aussie Pro Stock car to the more powerful American version, Tucker expresssed a quiet confidence in his ability to handle the task.

"These 500-cubic-inch American Pro Stock cars are a bit different from our Pro Stockers," Tucker said. "I know they're a tough ride and a bit finicky, so I'll have my hands full getting used to it, but I can't ask for better mates than Dave and Jeggie to help me get up to speed.”