After a two-year hiatus from Top Fuel competition, Scrappers Racing team owner Mike Salinas is making a triumphant return to the drag strip—and he's bringing some serious family drama with him.
The veteran driver will join his daughter, Jasmine Salinas, at the IHRA Triple Crown event at Maple Grove Raceway near Reading, Pennsylvania, later this month. This marks the first time the father-daughter duo has ever squared off in the same category, creating a heartwarming and competitive moment in motorsports history.
"I've been working to get back in the driver's seat since I had my surgery," said the elder Salinas, who handed over the Top Fuel dragster reins to Jasmine after the first race of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. "But I had to get healthy again. Then work got so busy, it became my main priority, and I just didn't have the time. The last time I raced, Jasmine was 'Mike's daughter in A/Fuel.' Now she's been doing great in Top Fuel, and I'm coming back as 'Jasmine's dad.' When we line up together, it's going to be pretty fun."
Since making her Top Fuel debut at the 2024 NHRA Winternationals, Jasmine has truly come into her own as a driver. She's not only been tearing up the track but also managing the race team's day-to-day operations. This year, she's running a hybrid schedule of NHRA and IHRA events to maximize seat time on a limited budget while the team continues hunting for full-time sponsorship.
"I'm so excited for my dad to get back behind the wheel," said Jasmine, who already notched a runner-up finish at an IHRA event earlier this year in Benson, North Carolina. "He's been working so hard to make this happen, and there's been a lot he's had to prioritize—both with his health and his business. We're planning to do more races together this year, so I can't wait to see what it's like to line up against my dad and have him as a teammate. This has been a dream of ours for years."
Both drivers will compete under the Valley Services banner, adding a layer of family pride to the already emotional storyline. The IHRA Triple Crown event kicks off May 22-24 at Maple Grove Raceway, which was recently purchased by IHRA last year. For fans of drag racing and family rivalries alike, this is one matchup you won't want to miss.