Local racing insider: ‘Rush’ drives Shellhaas family

Father instilled love of racing in his children

Ceslie Shellhaas, a 2008 Tecumseh graduate, competes in a recent race at Kil-Kare Dragway this season. Shellhaas won her first race of the season in the Super Pro division on June 13.

Contributed photos by Gene Idol/PhotoThree.net Ceslie Shellhaas, a 2008 Tecumseh graduate, competes in a recent race at Kil-Kare Dragway this season. Shellhaas won her first race of the season in the Super Pro division on June 13.

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By Michael Cooper, Staff Writer Updated 8:41 AM Tuesday, June 23, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — Ceslie Shellhaas is getting used to the weird looks she gets when she tells people what she does on the weekends.

“They don’t understand,” Shellhaas said. “They’re just like ‘Wow, you really do that?’ Once they come watch, they’ll say: ‘That is so cool.’”

The 19-year-old Tecumseh High School graduate and Wright State University freshman studies early childhood education, but she spends her weekends at the drag strip.

Ceslie has been racing since childhood, along with her older brother, Bradley, and their father, Brad. Bradley said their dad has taken them to Kil-Kare in Xenia nearly every weekend “since we were in diapers.”

Ceslie competes in the super pro division at Kil-Kare Dragway, while Brad and Bradley run in the Pro Bike series.

Bradley, a 2003 Shawnee grad, said even though they don’t see each other during the week due to work and school, Kil-Kare is where the family comes together.

“It’s been the only thing we do together every week,” he said.

And they keep coming back for the adrenaline rush that comes with drag racing.

“It’s just an awesome rush,” Ceslie said.

Track beginnings

Bradley, 24, began driving the family’s junior dragster when he was 10 years old.

Once he was old enough, he moved to the Super Pro division and his little sister drove the junior dragster.

They’ve progressed over the last few seasons. Ceslie is driving the family’s Super Pro dragster, while Bradley has joined his father in the Pro Bike series.

Every Saturday from mid-April through October, the Shellhaas family spends the day at Kil-Kare.

“I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” said Brad, who’s been racing for 28 years. “We decided in 2004 that no matter what, we were going to do this. It’s a tight-knit family thing.”

Brad said he gets “goose bumps” every time the win light comes on for one of his children.

“As far as racing goes, I don’t think there is any more a dad could ask for,” Brad said.

Fish to water

Bradley is currently in first place in his first full season in the Pro Bike series. He’s had one victory, with two seconds and two third-place finishes.

He never raced on two wheels before last summer. He said the biggest difference is instead of being locked into a dragster, you have to hold on to a bike that’s reaching speeds of up to 140 miles per hour on a 1/4-mile track.

“It’s a bigger rush than anything I could probably imagine,” Brad said.

Bradley said his son took to riding a bike like a “fish to water,” but he isn’t letting the success get to him.

“It’s almost too good to be true,” Bradley said of his fast success. “I don’t want to get caught up in it. You can lose focus and you take winning for granted. You have to earn it each time. Nothing is ever given.”

But he has succeeded in one area — beating his father.

“He’s got me,” Brad admitted.

Strange domain

On June 13, Ceslie earned her second career victory in the Super Pro series, knocking off Dayton’s Steve Collier with a  1/8th-mile time of 5.390 seconds.

“It was something I needed,” Ceslie said. “I was on a bad streak. It was a confidence boost. It was one of the greatest feelings ever.”

She said one of the biggest factors in her performance this year has been a change in mindset.

“I was letting things get to my head and being nervous,” Ceslie said.

Part of that, she said, came with being intimidated by male drivers, some 40 years older than her. But those thoughts have subsided.

“I know if I have my mind right, I can win any race,” she said.

Elusive title

In all his years of racing, Brad Shellhaas has never won a series points title.

He’s been close, finishing second several times, but could never quite get that elusive title — but he’s hoping it will come to his son.

“It’s going to prove that everything we’re doing is worth it,” Brad said.

The Shellhaas family will keep racing, regardless, for the fun and the time they spend together.

“I don’t think I’ll ever want to stop (drag racing),” Ceslie said. “I get mad when we have to take time off over the winter.”

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