EDDY PRATHER
What a great name for a drag racer.
Lane Swift has been racing since he was 5 years old, and the 11-year-old sixth grader has quickly made a name for himself in the junior drag racing community.
By 2023, at just 8 years old, Lane was ranked No. 7 nationally and finished second in season points at Texas Motorplex in Ennis. Lane also earned a Wally Trophy, described by the National Hot Rod Association as drag racing's most prestigious trophy. The award is presented to every class winner at a national event.
Junior racers compete on an eighth-mile drag strip rather than the quarter-mile distance used by older racers. Because of their engine setups, junior dragsters are built for the shorter distance.
In September 2025, Lane and his team traveled to Amarillo Dragway, where he won a $10,000 payout in the Back to School 10K.
In August, Lane proved his performance was no fluke.
He strung together a dominant weekend at two racetracks to earn the No. 1 overall spot on the DragChamp Jr. Racer Top 10 list. Lane first won at Wichita Falls Raceway Park before making the drive to Amarillo, where he won the 10-12 age group in the Back to School 10K.
The victory marked his second consecutive year winning the Back to School 10K.
Safety is also a major part of racing. Lane uses a HANS head-and-neck restraint system to help protect him while he is in the car. His race car also has two kill switches that can shut off the engine if something goes wrong.
Lane is a fourth-generation racer. His father, Casey Swift; grandfather Greg Swift; and Billy Richie, Greg Swift's stepfather, all played roles in Lane's love of drag racing.
Since he began racing at age 5, Lane has earned upward of $30,000. All his earnings go into certificates of deposit at a bank.
Lane competes at tracks including Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Wichita Falls Raceway Park and Ardmore Dragway in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Lane and his family are also planning a trip to Mississippi in December for another race.
At home, Lane and his family proudly display his trophies and banners throughout the house. The collection even includes a starting tree in a spare bedroom.
Lane is sponsored by several local companies, some of which have supported him from the start of his racing career.
Lane's next race is scheduled for Sept. 21 in Wichita Falls at the annual Back-to-School Junior Dragster Shootout. The big-money race brings together junior racers from Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Colorado.
Just about every weekend, Lane and his family can be found at the racetrack.
Photo Courtesy Courtney Swift
