The racer from Eddyville, Iowa, drove his 2012 Danny Nelson Race Craft dragster powered by a 632 14-degree BBC motor to the IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals Top Championship at Memphis International Raceway.
“My first thought was, did that just happen?” said Gary Shearer. “I got back to the starting line along with the big $20,000 check with my name on it and it overwhelmed me to say the least.”
Shearer’s championship prize package included $20,000 from Summit Racing Equipment, a seven-night/eight-day vacation for two on the island of Aruba courtesy of Around Aruba Tours, a world championship diamond ring, a world championship Ironman Trophy and IHRA Gold Card.
Shearer started bracket racing in Illinois in 1974 with the help from fellow bracket racer Dean Hohimer who taught him how to race. Over the next several years Shearer would go on and win multiple races and track championships before he moved to Iowa in 1982. Once Shearer moved to Iowa, he would begin racing at Eddyville Raceway Park and traveled to many big bracket races around the country.
Shearer would take a break from bracket racing to go after a lifelong dream of racing in the professional category and teamed up with Russ Roberts to create the Roberts/Shearer Pro Mod team. The next six years saw Shearer winning multiple races including the IHRA Spring Nationals in 1998.
After a successful stint in the professional category, Shearer has been on the bracket scene since 2000.
“After winning the 2020 IHRA Summit Midwest Team Finals at my home track (Eddyville Raceway Park), I thoughts it can’t get better than this,” Shearer said. “I WAS wrong! It got better by winning the IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals Championship in Memphis.”
Tough competition at Eddyville Raceway Park throughout the years has ensured Shearer he would be ready to face some of his toughest competition at the IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals.
“I have to thank my fellow competitors at Eddyville Raceway Park,” Shearer said. “Not only did they call and text congratulations but racing with them on a weekly basis helped prepare me for the biggest win of my career.”
After winning the Summit SuperSeries Championship a highlight for Shearer was seeing all his friends and family celebrating with him on the starting line and making a phone call to tell his son about the huge win.
“I have to thank the IHRA and Summit Racing Equipment for their commitment to bracket racers,” Shearer said. “I also have to thank my partners, Rick Smith, RJ Performance of Ottumwa, Iowa, Tri-County Auto Body of Eddyville, Bruce Main, Kanselaar Racing and Schroder Graphics of Ottumwa. Most of all, I want to thank my wife Jodi, my son and co-driver Jesse and my family for their love and support not just in racing but in every part of my life.”
