When it comes to competing in fast dragsters, James Monroe is recognized as a dominant force.  Monroe, a 39 year old husband and father of two hailing from Bloomington, Indiana has earned events wins, championships, and accolades behind the wheel of quick open wheel cars for decades, long before the Top Dragster category earned national recognition on the NHRA Full Throttle tour.  Monroe is known for his prowess behind the wheel: he’s a two-time NHRA Division 3 JEGS Super Quick Series Champion and is the second winningest driver in series history.  He was also voted NHRA Division 3 E.T. Driver of the year on three occasions, a title that is voted on by his peers, racers, and fans.  In addition to his success as a driver, Monroe has also earned a reputation for his mechanical know how.  He’s a technically minded racer with an attention to detail that expands beyond his own competition vehicle. 

Monroe works as an independent sales and technical consultant for some of the most prominent companies in the drag racing industry.  Companies such as Ron's Fuel Injection, VP Racing Fuels, Transmissions Specialties, Steve Schmidt Competition Engines and The Fab Shop rely on Monroe for research and development of new products as well as to assist their customers each day with sales and technical support.  He operates in these capacities through the business entity/website www.KillerRONS.COM.


When it comes to competing in fast dragsters, James Monroe is recognized as a dominant force.  Monroe, a 39 year old husband and father of two hailing from Bloomington, Indiana has earned events wins, championships, and accolades behind the wheel of quick open wheel cars for decades, long before the Top Dragster category earned national recognition on the NHRA Full Throttle tour.  Monroe is known for his prowess behind the wheel: he’s a two-time NHRA Division 3 JEGS Super Quick Series Champion and is the second winningest driver in series history.  He was also voted NHRA Division 3 E.T. Driver of the year on three occasions, a title that is voted on by his peers, racers, and fans.  In addition to his success as a driver, Monroe has also earned a reputation for his mechanical know how.  He’s a technically minded racer with an attention to detail that expands beyond his own competition vehicle. 

Monroe works as an independent sales and technical consultant for some of the most prominent companies in the drag racing industry.  Companies such as Ron's Fuel Injection, VP Racing Fuels, Transmissions Specialties, Steve Schmidt Competition Engines and The Fab Shop rely on Monroe for research and development of new products as well as to assist their customers each day with sales and technical support.  He operates in these capacities through the business entity/website www.KillerRONS.COM.

As the National Hot Rod Association has increased their adoption of the Top Dragster category, it’s allowed racers within the class to receive added exposure and recognition for their accomplishments.  With Top Dragster and Top Sportsman contested in each of the seven geographic divisions and at a limited number of national events in 2010, Monroe set his sights on an aggressive schedule for the season which includes a full slate of JEGS Super Quick Series events, NHRA Division 3 Lucas Oil Divisional events, and a handful of NHRA Full Throttle National Events in addition to a variety of local Quick 16, Quick 32, and 4.30 Heads-Up races.

In doing so, Monroe has enjoyed a phenomenal season on a variety of levels and thrust himself into the forefront of Top Dragster competition on the national stage.  He enters this weekend’s Division 3 LODRS finale in Bowling Green, KY as the Division 3 leader in Top Dragster on the strength of a pair of LODRS victories in Chicago, IL and Columbus, OH.  In addition, he’s appeared in final rounds in two JEGS Super Quick Series events, and is entrenched in a close battle for his third series title.  As if that weren’t enough, Monroe also claimed his first NHRA national event victory with a Top Dragster title at the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Norwalk, OH and has earned a handful of local triumphs.

Behind the wheel of his VP Racing Fuels backed Spitzer Dragster, Monroe compiled an unbelievable month of June where he was undefeated in competition.  He kicked the month off with a win at the Chicago Lucas Oil Series event, where he topped Ray Miller,  III.  The following weekend, he continued his dominance of Muncie Dragway’s mega-4.30 series events, winning his second in as many attempts.  Monroe closed the month with the NHRA triumph in Norwalk, becoming one of just a handful of winners to grace the NHRA stage in the Top Dragster category.

“Having a perfect month of racing is something you don't plan,” said Monroe.  "The win at the Lucas Oil event couldn't have come at a better time.  To defeat the hottest Top Dragster competitor in the country (Ray Miller, III) who was hot off of his JEGS All-Star win at the same facility the week before was a huge confidence boost for us a team.  The confidence gained in Chicago and solidified by a Mega-4.30 win in Muncie the following week sent us to the Norwalk national event with no expectations whatsoever.  We were just there to be a part of the event and do the best we could with a good racecar.  Topping that particular field of Top Dragster competitors on the national stage was a dream come true that I wouldn't trade for anything.”

Monroe showed a human side in July, but barely.  He kicked off the month with his “low point,” a quarterfinal showing at the NHRA Division 3 LODRS event in Stanton, MI.  The following weekend he advanced to the final round of the JEGS Super Quick Series event in Xenia, OH before falling to friend and customer Bob Sheridan.  Monroe then got back to his winning ways at the NHRA Lucas Oil event in Columbus, OH where he picked up yet another Top Dragster victory, besting Lynn Ellison in the final round.  He closed the month with a third consecutive final round appearance, as he took runner-up honors to Kristina Lawler at the JEGS Super Quick Series event in Bunker Hill, IN.

In the months of June and July, Monroe posted an incredible 29-4 round record and appeared in 6 finals in just 7 events.  When summing up his amazing summer stretch, Monroe pointed to his equipment as the reason for his success.  “The one thing a majority of the June and July events had in common was a lot of heat, humidity, rain and delays.  Between the alcohol injection and nitrous oxide my car seems to be immune to these conditions and their abrupt changes.  This was a significant factor in my success, without question."

As the Division 3 season enters the home stretch, Monroe finds himself locked in a pair of great battles for season points titles.  Coming into the final event in Bowling Green, Monroe leads former NHRA Pro Stock standout Dave Connolly in the Division 3 Top Dragster standings by 44 points (both drivers can claim additional events outside of their home division).  He leads the 2011 JEGS All-Stars points chase in the Top Dragster category as well.  In addition, Monroe is entrenched in a tight battle for the JEGS Super Quick crown, a championship that no less than ten racers have a legitimate chance to win.  Should Monroe come out atop that group, he’d become the first 3-time champion in the 22 year history of the series.

“I’d be lying if I said the points titles wouldn’t mean a lot to me.  We’ve been fortunate to win the JEGS Super Quick Series on two occasions in the past, and I consider those two of our greatest accomplishments as a team,” said Monroe.  “But with that said, I try not to get caught up in it.  We’ve had a great season, whether we come away with both of those titles or neither of them.”

Monroe will continue his pursuit of those championships in the coming weeks.  He’ll attend the JEGS Super Quick Series event in Mount Vernon, OH Sept. 10-11 after competing in the final NHRA Division 3 LODRS event this weekend in Bowling Green, KY.