THOMAS BAYER
Thomas Bayer’s journey in drag racing is a classic tale of student-turned-champion. From watching his father tear down the strip as a kid to clinching division titles in Super Gas, Super Comp, Top Dragster, and Top Alcohol Dragster, Bayer has spent a lifetime mastering the sport. His reputation stretches from newcomers to seasoned veterans, all seeking his advice—because if there’s a way to win, Thomas Bayer’s probably done it.
Beyond the driver’s seat, Bayer found his calling as a teacher, first at Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School and then through his own weekend programs. He thrives on one-on-one instruction, coaching everyone from rookie racers to experienced competitors in the art of bracket racing and race-day strategy. For over 25 years, Tom Bayer’s School of Drag Racing has been a launchpad for talent, built on his belief that teaching others sharpens his own edge.
What began as a hobby is now Bayer’s full-time passion—and it shows. With support from longtime partners like Sunoco, Bam Lifters, and Hoosier Tires, he’s kept his program at the top of the sportsman ranks. You’ll find him these days running in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, backed by his greatest supporters: his father (mentor and crew chief), and his wife, Gina, whom he met at the Indy 500. For Thomas Bayer, racing isn’t just a sport—it’s a family legacy in motion.
RECENT SUCCESS
4 X Jegs All Star Qualifier
5 X Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Champion in 4 Different classes
2 X Association Champion
Team Owner, Association Champion Lee Priest
2017
Thomas Bayer
2017 Runner-Up. Southwest Showdown, Shoot-Out. Tucson,AZ
Team Driver James Warden
2017 Runner-Up… Southwest Showdown. Friday Big $$$ Friday Night Event. Tucson, AZ
2017 Winner… SCEDA Super Comp Assoc Event. Fontana, CA
Team Driver Larry Beckner
Semi Finals, Super Comp at the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series opener Fontana,CA
2016
Thomas Bayer
2016 Winner… FigSpeed Classic/ Huntsville 64 Car Shootout. Fontana, CA
2016 Runner-Up… Nightfire Nationals Bracket Event. Boise, ID
2016 Winner… Top Dragster, Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Woodburn, OR
2016 Winner… Top Dragster, Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Sonoma, CA
2016 Runner-Up… Top Dragster, Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Salt Lake City, UT
2016 Division 7 Points Champion, Top Dragster. Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series
2016 6th in National Points Top Dragster, Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series
Team Driver James Warden
2016 Quarter finals. Big Bucks Bracket Event. Salt Lake City, UT
2016 Winner… Run for the $$$. Las Vegas, NV
Team Driver Megan O’Boyle
2016- Winner… NMCA Bracket Event. Fontana, CA
Won her first race event she entered!
Team Driver Jerry Dean
2016 Winner… SCEDA Super Comp Assoc Race. Fontana, CA
2016 Quarter Finals. Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Seattle, WA
Team Driver Scott Dean
2016 Semi-finals… Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Seattle, WA
Team Driver Larry Beckner
Simi Finals Big Bucks$$$ bracket Event. Salt Lake City, Utah
2015
2015 Division 7 Crew Chief of the Year
Thomas Bayer
2015 Winner… Super Comp Shoot-Out. Jegs Sportsnational, Auto Club Dragway. Fontana,CA
2015 Winner…NorCal Top Dragster Association. Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, CA
2015 Runner Up…NorCal Top Dragster Association. Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, CA
2015 6th Place Finish Top Dragster. Division 7 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Championship Points
Team Driver Jerry Dean
2015 8th place out of 185 Drivers in Division 7 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Championship Points.
2015 44th Place out of 1141 Drivers in Lucas Oil Drag Racing National Championship Points.
2015 Runner Up…Super Comp Sonoma,Ca. Division 7 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
2015 Runner Up…Super comp. Seattle, Wash. Division 6 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
2015 Runner Up…SCEDA Super Comp Association Auto Club Dragway, Fontana, CA.
2015 Runner Up…SCEDA Super Comp Association Auto Club Dragway, Fontana, CA.
Team Driver Tim Takeshita
2015-Runner Up…Super Pro. Summit ET Series Event. Auto Club Dragway, Fontana, CA.
Team Driver Scott Dean
2015 Runner Up…Super Comp. Auto Club Finals, Pomona, CA.
2015 Winner…Super comp. SCEDA Super Comp Association Event. Auto Club Dragway, Fontana,CA.
2014
2014 Runner-up Super Gas. Pomona Winternationals. NHRA National Event
2014 Winner Top Dragster. Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Las Vegas, NV
2014 Runner-Up Top Dragster. NHRA National Open. Fontana, CA
2014 Winner Super Gas. Sonoma. CA – NHRA National Event
2013
2013 Winner super comp assoc Bakersfield, CA
2013 Winner Super Comp. Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Division 6, Seattle, WA
2013 Runner-Up Top Dragster. Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Division 6. Seattle, WA
2013 Runner- Up Top Dragster Jegs Sportnationals. Las Vegas, NV
2012
2012 Winner NorCal super comp assoc. Fallon, NV
2012 Winner Super Comp. Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Division 7 Phoenix, AZ
2011
2011 Finished 9th in Super Gas, Lucas Oil National Points Series
2011-Finished 5th in Super Gas, Lucas Oil Divisional Points Series.
2011 Winner Super Comp, Supreme Sportsman Nationals, Las Vegas, NV.
2011 Winner Super Pro, National Dragster Challenge, Las Vegas, NV
2011 Winner Super Gas,Jegs Sportsnationals, Fontana, CA
2011 Winner Super Gas, Lucas Oil Division 7 Event, Phoenix, AZ
2011 Winner Super Pro, Hangover Nationals, Fontana, CA
2011 Winner Top Comp, Lucas Oil Top Comp, PSCA Event, Las Vegas, NV
**Team Car-Tim Takeshita Driver*
2011 Runner-up Super Comp, NHRA National Open Series,Portland, OR
**Team Car-Les Matsukado Driver**
2011 Runner-up Super Comp,NorCal Super Comp Assoc, Sonoma, CA
**Team Car-Jack Freckmann Driver**
2011 Winner Super Comp,Norcal Super Comp Assoc, Fallon, NV
** Team Car- Jack Freckmann Driver**
2010
2010 Finished 10th in Super Comp,Lucas Oil National Points Series
2010 Finished 6th in Super Comp, Lucas Oil Divisional Points Series
2010 Winner Super Gas, Lucas Oil Division 7 Event, Tucson, AZ
2010 Runner-up Super Comp,NHRA Summit.com Nationals,Las Vegas, NV
2010 Winner-Super Comp, Norcal SuperComp Assoc,Sonoma, CA
2010 Winner-Super Comp, SoCal Super Comp Assoc,Fontana, CA
2010 Winner-Super Pro, National Dragster Challenge, Fontana,CA
**Team Car- Ken Ginter Driver**
2010 Winner-Super Comp, Supreme Sportsman Nationals,Las Vegas,NV
**Team Car-Jack Freckmann**
2009
2009 Champion Super Comp Division 7, Lucas Oil Point Series
2009 Runner-up Super Comp Lucas Oil National Point Series
2009 Runner-up Super Gas,NHRA Winternationals,Pomona, CA
2009 Winner Super Comp, NHRA Jegs Sportsnationals,Fontana, CA
2009 Winner Super Comp, Lucas Oil Slick Mist Nationals, Phoenix, AZ
2009 Runner-up Super Comp, Division 7 Lucas Oil Points Series,Phoenix, AZ
**Team Car Rich Camou Driver
2009 Runner-up Super Gas, Division 7 Lucas Oil Points Series, Sonoma, CA
2009 Runner-up Super Comp, NHRA Jegs Sportnationals,Fontana,CA
**Team Car- Jack Freckmann Driver**
2008
2008 Champion Top Alcohol Dragster, Jegs All-Stars, Chicago, IL
2008 Runner-up Top Alcohol Dragster Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Fallon, NV
2008 Runner-up Top Alcohol Dragster, Route 66 NHRA Nationals,Chicago, IL
2008 Runner-up Super Gas, Summit Racing.Com NHRA Nationals, Las Vegas, NV
2008 Winner Super Comp, Division 7 Lucas Oil Points Series,Sonoma, CA
**Team car Rich Camou Driver**
2008 Winner Top Alcohol, Lucas Oil Division 6 Point Series, Woodburn, OR
2007
2007 Winner Top Alcohol Dragster. NHRA Seattle Nationals
2007 Runner-up Top Alcohol Dragster, Lucas Oil National Point Series
2007 Champion Top Alcohol Dragster, Lucas Oil Division 6 Point Series
2007 Division 6 Top Alcohol Dragster Driver of the Year
2007 Winner Top Alcohol Dragster,NHRA O’Rielly Nationals, Dallas, TX
2007 Runner-up Top Alcohol Dragster,Lucas Oil Division 6 Point Series, Woodburn, OR
2007 Winner Top Alcohol Dragster, Lucas Oil Division 6 Point Series, Medford, OR
2007 Runner-up Top Alcohol Dragster, Lucas Oil Division 6 Point Series,Seattle, WA
2007 Winner Top Alcohol Dragster, Lucas Oil Division 6 Point Series, Mission, BC
2007 Runner-up Top Alcohol Dragster, Lucas Oil Division 6 Point Series,Fontana, CA
2007 Runner-up Super Comp, NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals, Brainerd, MN
2007 Winner Super Gas, Lucas Oil Division 7 Point Series.Phoenix, AZ
2006
2006 Champion Super Gas, Lucas Oil Division 7 point Series
2006 Champion Super Comp, Lucas Oil Division 7 Point Series
2006 Division 7 Sportsman Driver of the year
2006 Winner Top Dragster, NorCal top Dragster Assoc, Fallon, NV
2006 Winner Super Gas, Lucas Oil Division 7 Point Series, Fontana, CA
2006 Double-up Winner Super Comp & Super Gas, Lucas Oil Division 6 Points Series, Woodburn, OR