‘Hollywood’ Kris Krabill

Bucky Austin’s team with Kris Krabill driving at the Ignitor at Boise’s Fiebird Raceway. (Brian Losness photo)

Kris Krabill’s life in drag racing started as many young people have; at the age of sixteen Krabill began bracket racing in California. Then in 1995, he began his foray into professional drag racing by becoming a part of Gary Turner’s “Pedaler” Top Alcohol Dragster team as a crewmember.

In 2006, when Turner decided to get on board with the nostalgia nitro funny car movement, Turner tapped Krabill to drive the new “Pedaler” Funny Car. That year the rookie driver had a season to remember. He and his team went undefeated on his way to the Goodguys Funny Car title; he also became the first funny car winner of the California Hot Rod Reunion held at Auto Club Raceway Famosa. Furthermore, Krabill also became the third member of the Auto Meter 5-Second Funny Car Club in 2006.

After that NHRA announcer Mike English tagged him with the nickname, “Hollywood”. It has stuck, and is quite apropos. Not cause of his attitude but due to his performances on the track.

Quite an accomplishment for any driver, but this guy did it in his rookie season of driving a nitro funny car! Krabill had success as his journey with Turner went on. Krabill began winning, including going back to back in 2008 and 2009 in winning the Pepsi Nightfire Nationals.

However, in 2012 things changed immensely for Krabill. A job promotion necessitated a move from the Los Angeles basin to the Pacific Northwest, and the city of Kent, Washington. This change had collateral effects on his racecar driving, as he and longtime car owner Turner parted company. As fortune would have it another car owner in the Seattle area was in need of a driver, and this is when the combination of Bucky Austin and Kris Krabill came about.

Nevertheless, the change in latitude did not change Krabill’s attitude towards winning. He continued to win, and even became more dominant.