Smith boy breaks into junior drag-racing scene

When 9-year-old Austin Dunagan gets out of his 14-foot, candy-apple red race car with the gold flames and green stripes, he has another set of wheels waiting for him.

It's his red wheelchair, the only concession Austin makes to the spina bifida that robbed him at birth of his ability to walk or stand.

Austin has been raised to believe he's "a normal boy who just can't walk."

"Just because I am in a wheelchair doesn't mean I can't do things," he said.

Last fall, with a promise that the Smith Valley fourth-grader would keep his grades at Bs and Cs, Austin's father, Darin Dunagan, bought him a race car.

A junior dragster was born.

Austin and his parents will tell you that racing is in his blood.

While his mother Amber was pregnant with Austin, and his 7-year-old brother Trent, Darin Dunagan was racing top alcohol hydro boats.

"They like to tell their friends, they were around racing before they were born," Amber Dunagan said.

When Austin was 4, his parents took him to his first Top Fuel, Funny Car National Hot Rod Association Race in Sonoma, Calif.

That's where he met John Force, legendary NHRA funny car driver, for the first time.

"He's my hero," Austin said.

"It was really cool," said Amber Dunagan. "At that first meet, he gave Austin a piston out of the motor. Every year since, we go back and he remembers Austin. They have a little connection."

He also has become a fan of Robert Hight, Force's son-in-law, who gave Austin a team jersey and a visor.

As far as the Dunagans know, Austin is the only disabled racer in his division.

With his son at his side, Darin Dunagan spent several weeks modifying Austin's car.

"He can't walk and he can't push the pedals, so we made hand controls off the steering wheel. The brake was the hardest part," Dunagan said.

He raised the seat to improve Austin's vision behind the wheel.

The modifications were approved by the NHRA tech line.

Austin races at Top Gun Raceway in Fallon.

The Dunagans tested the car at two weekend events and are preparing for his first official match April 18-19.

His top speed last weekend was 51 mph.

"At first I was nervous," Amber Dunagan said. "It's different when your child is racing rather than your husband."

Darin Dunagan said as racer, he's always stressed safety.

"It's the number one priority," he said. "I've taught Austin and Trent that you can't skimp on safety."

Austin wears a helmet, neck brace and is buckled in with a five-point harness.

He knows what to do if he gets in trouble.

"You hit the brake and turn the motor off," he said. "I have to remember to keep straight, and not go in the other lane or the wall."

In Austin's division, he races one-eighth of a mile against a single competitor. The winner advances until all competitors are eliminated.

Austin loves the freedom he has behind the wheel.

"I feel happy to be in the car," he said. "At first I was a little scared, but I am used to it now. It's not scary."

Racing doesn't leave him much time for other interests besides video games, movies and hanging out with his brother, friends and cousins.

Trent will be eligible to race when he's 8.

Austin is the grandson of Jerry and Sybil Dunagan of Centerville and Rick and Pat Buchanan who live in Chichester Estates.

"I really want to focus on my racing right now," he said.

The season runs from April through October and races could take Austin to Bakersfield, Sacramento, Fallon and Phoenix.

He plans to race "like forever."

At the suggestion of a family friend, Austin named his car "Wheelchair Warrior."

"He is a warrior in that wheelchair," Dunagan said. "There's nothing he couldn't do."

Most of Austin's competitors don't know he's in a wheelchair.

"When they see him at the starting line, he's already in his car," Darin Dunagan said.