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Racing a Shellhaas tradition

The Shellhaas family, Brad (second from left), Ceslie (center) and Bradley (second from right) celebrate a recent win by Bradley with friends.

Contributed photo by Gene Idol, PhotoThree.net. The Shellhaas family, Brad (second from left), Ceslie (center) and Bradley (second from right) celebrate a recent win by Bradley with friends.

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Local racing insider: ‘Rush’ drives Shellhaas family
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By Michael Cooper, Staff Writer Updated 8:40 AM Tuesday, June 23, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — Ceslie Shellhaas’ dragster is black with neon green flames protruding from the front end.

It has no decals or slogans, just a fitting logo that reads, “Shellhaas Family Racing.”

Ceslie, 19, has been racing at Kil-Kare Dragway every weekend with her older brother, Bradley, 24, and her father, Brad, since she was 8 years old.

While the family may not see each other much during the week, they spend Saturdays at the drag strip. Ceslie drives in the Super Pro division, while both Brad and Bradley race in the Pro Bike division.

The team is completely self-sponsored. Bradley said they wouldn’t be able to race without their father, Brad, who’s raced for 28 years.

“He’s the guy behind it all,” Bradley said. “Every bit he can get for us, that’s what he does.”

Bradley said his father is also “the go-to guy in the pits.”

“He relieves a lot of pressure and lets us focus on racing instead of taking care of other things,” Bradley said.

But the most important thing is spending time together as a family.

“It really holds us tight,” Brad said. “It’s an unexplainable thing.”

»‘Rush’ drives family Article on B4

»Haerr gets another win Notes on B4

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