Drag racing siblings enjoying success on junior circuit

By Anthony Fenech

Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009 | 2:37 p.m.

Meaghan and Daniel Henderson have been around drag racing since they were toddlers, following their father to the track on hot Nevada mornings.

These days, it’s their dad that follows them to the track, watching the both of them climb up the junior drag racing ranks.

“When I used to take them to watch,” father Don Henderson admitted, “I never thought they’d get into it.”

Today, the Boulder City High School siblings, just two years apart, are rising up the circuit.

Meaghan Henderson, a 17-year-old senior, won her first race in the full-size drag racers earlier this month after five years at the junior level.

Daniel Henderson, a 15-year-old freshman, has reached the quarterfinals and semifinals in his last two competitions, the Junior NHRA Western Conference Finals and the Pacific Street Car Association Division 7 Labor Day Race, respectively.

But despite their differences, there’s one thing in common that brings them to the track.

“It’s definitely the adrenaline rush,” Meaghan Henderson said.

Her little brother agreed, saying, “I love the adrenaline. I just find it to be really fun.”

Meaghan Henderson has understandably had more challenges to her success, being a female in a predominantly male sport.

“Having the people think I’m not a competitor has been the toughest part,” she said. “But I’ve shown them on the track that I’m a competitor and a force to be reckoned with.”

Daniel, who is among the points leaders in the Jr. NHRA Las Vegas division, is also the No. 2 singles player on the Eagles tennis team and has equally big aspirations on the court as he does on the track.

“I could go for either,” he said. “But I’d probably pick tennis first.”

In July, he traveled to Denver where he competed in the Western Conference Finals, one of the biggest races on this side of the country.

About 500 participants attended and he made it to the final six, winning about 10 races in the process.

“I’ve been doing better this year,” he said. “ I guess I’ve just won a lot of rounds.”

While Meaghan has been racing for seven years and Daniel for only two, they have met a couple times on the track on the Jr. NHRA circuit and tell of a friendly sibling rivalry that is brewing.

“He always said that he could beat me,” said Meaghan Henderson.

But after her two victories?

“I said, ‘Look who’s better now.’”

Daniel said the whole time he knew who was better.

“I thought she would. She’s been racing longer,” he said. “It wasn’t too bad losing to her though.”