Life in the fast lane

MANCHESTER - West Delaware junior Logan Mullen loves to race down the drag strip at speeds up to 100 miles per hour.

Mullen just started racing this past summer and in his first race at Tri State Raceway in Earlville in July, he won.

'I was ecstatic when I won,” Mullen said. 'I was nervous up until when I crossed that finish line.”

The racing track does not offer races based on age, so Mullen competes with men and women of all ages.

Mullen paid $6,000 for his baby blue 2006 Mustang GT. He replaced the tires and coils and purchased a new air filter before his car was ready to race. After the initial startup investment, racing costs Mullen around $40 per race.

'Going fast is the best,” said Mullen, who strives to achieve his estimated time in each race.

He's not the only person in the family to take up racing.

'My uncle races and I have always wanted to be like him, so I took up racing, too,” Mullen said.

Racing requires practice and hard work.

'I practiced at least two hours a week on the track before my first race,” Mullen said.

Mullen completed four races this past season. He plans to race more next season, which starts in late May and ends in August.