Phil Hutchison Drag Racing Action Online  Images: David Smith and Phil Hutchison

Sponsorship is pivotal in all Motorsports. It costs money to run.  In Junior Dragster, money means as much as it does in the big cars maybe not quite as much. But it still costs cash to run the class.

Enter AA Auto Salvage from Williamstown NJ. to put some money out there for the kids, AA Auto Salvage along with engine builders Craw Racing have sponsored the NHRA Northeast Division Jr Drag Racing Series since 2024. For 2025 they were voted by racers, crews, and families Best Supporting Sponsor in the NED.

In the NED division, competition takes place in two age categories, 6-10 and 11-17, and a racer’s best of five of six events counts towards their final tally in the division championship standings.

In 2025 the series raced at Maple Grove Raceway, followed by stops at Lebanon Valley Dragway, Numidia Dragway, New England Dragway, Virginia Motorsports Park, and Cecil County Dragway. Their support provides the year end Championship money paid to the Juniors

In addition to supporting the Jrs, AA Auto Salvage also has a Dead on .90 award at each Lucas Oil Divisional in  D1. If any racer in S/ST, S/G, or S/C running a AA sticker, runs  dead on the index during eliminations, that driver will pocket $100. The award is only given to the first driver at the race. If no one wins, it carries over to the next event,

 

Tom Stalba, AA Auto Salvage owner said, “It was great defiantly exciting, and I was surprised very happy that people appreciate what we do in the division” .

Stalba’s wife Karen adds, “Tom truly loves to support the NHRA and especially the Juniors. Racing is a passion for us and Tom feels if he can do his part to give back and help some of the classes, he will. The juniors are the future of the sport so we try to do all we can for them, and he has helped out many of the kids when they have questions. When someone comes up to thank him for the support it makes us proud. It also helps us when racers give us a call for their used auto parts needs!