Backbone of Drag and Drive Part 11: Redhat Scotty—A Name Earned on the Road

Many years ago when the west was a wild frontier,  the call of adventure and freedom became an irresistible lure for men and women that most would describe as being “cut from a different cloth”. Tough, independent, resilient people. People who did not set out to “make a name for themselves” but by the shear force of personality did in fact that very thing. Make….a name for themselves. Yes they were given names at birth and kept those names with respect and honor. However they became so widely known for their acts of rugged individualism, bravery, selflessness, kindness, and courage,(not all shared by them equally)..that new names were fashioned for them. Names like Buffalo Bill Cody, the Sundance Kid, Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane,and Billy the Kid. The days of the Wild West are long gone but the call to adventure and the folks that hear it live on. Today we don’t see vast frontiers laid out before us. And the constraints of daily life often fence in our imaginations. Perhaps that’s one of the lures of this thing we call drag and drive racing. It gives us a thin ribbon of roadway disappearing over the horizon where some new adventure awaits. Punctuated by the boomtown environment of a drag strip here and there and many new places to explore and see in between. To those of us who look to wrangle wild horses under the hood of an automobile it’s a magnetic draw. And the folks that answer the call are generally cut from the same type of cloth as those hardcore men and women of the west. And sometimes they still craft a new name for themselves in like fashion to the iconic characters of old. Names like 

“Red Hat Scotty”

Here’s a fella that by all accounts will do anything he can in true drag and drive fashion to help a fellow traveler on the road. Has been involved in this movement since its early early days and as soon as he was able,  was out there proving his worth on the track. 

Among all these interesting and eclectic characters out here on the hyways and the byways Scotty has set himself apart as a stand up guy that knows  how to get a car down the track. A man that loves to live out on the edges, chooses his own path, marches to his own drum( one that keeps a “Pantera” beat), and does all this while being one of the kindest and most generous folks you will meet in your journeys across this country. Just make sure you understand that when he rolls through water box you’re about to get the smoke. Especially if there’s a cheeseburger on the line.

Red hat Scotty

Out here making his mark, showing us that a 10 sec car may be called slow by some,  but when its in the right hands, be careful. Your messing with a straight shooter that has become part of the backbone of drag and drive!

Where are you from/live?

Grain Valley Missouri

What made you start racing?

I was/still really into monster trucks, I went to my first show at 22 months old. I love the side by side drag racing part of the shows!

Who inspired you to build a hot rod?

My dad, The Dude. I grew up cruising around the Midwest in his 1946 Ford sedan.

First Race and Where? 

16 years old, in my 1st Fox Body, a 1990 2.3 auto notch back. At the old KCIR

What was your first car?

1950 Ford F1 pick up, I actually still have it. It's just waiting to be put back together

What was your first Drag and drive style event? 

The 1st Drag Week 2005 day one at KCIR. I had to work an extra Saturday off work at NAPA auto parts so I could attend. Then it took us til 2015 until we could afford to actually race on one

What vehicle?

In 2015 we campaigned my Rickety Rocket, a 1989 Ford mustang with a 100% stock 5.3 and a powerglide, it ran mid 13s all week. 

What's your PB and how/when did that happen?

9.49 @ 143 Flying H in Odessa MO, in The Black Car

Unlimited budget..what are you building?

Easy peasy, I'm gonna hand Clint Sowdoski a bunch of money and own his Camaro. I have wanted a 1st gen Camaro since I was about 8 years old. And Clints is about the best looking and performing one I've come across!!

Favorite car movie?

The Hollywood Knights

Favorite music for cruising?

PANTERA!! 

Favorite road trip snacks?

Cheddar cheese popcorn

For the story, tell us about your best/favorite  event

Event: The Circuit is up there pretty high! The laid back feel and doing it all for charity makes for some fun. Not so much pressure. 

Now, Rocky Mountain Race Week is a close 2nd! The Frost family welcomed us with open arms in 2018 and have ran with them since! I have participated in EVERY 2.0 event since they came about! 

Event Average: Lol ALL OVER THE PLACE! We have averaged from mid 13s down to bottom 10s. It just depends on which car we show up with

vehicle at that event?

THE BLACK CAR! My 1991 Ford Mustang GT

Powertrain Combo at time of Event: 

Engine: SBE 5.3 cleaned up and refreshed my Matt McCeary- MRE. It's packed full of Brian Tooley Racing valve train, intake and valve covers. All tuned by Lance Draeger at R&D performance Fabrication via Holley Terminator 

Transmission: Th400 built by Corey Petska with Gary's Hydros

Rear Gear: 3.31

Power Adder: 7675 gen 1 cast wheel on3 performance turbo

Tires: Mickey Thompson 275 drag radial

History of that race car/truck

I have owned The Black Car since May of 2002, it is my Highschool car

How many races have you attended in this vehicle?

Yes…. I've lost track at this point, I get around lol

Why did you build this car? 

I started modifying this car right after I bought it at 17. It has snowballed into what it currently is

Any maintenance required from all the passes? 

Not much, slap some new Driven Racing oil in there and swap some new plugs, pretty basic setup, that doesn't require a lot of maintenance 

What are 1-2 struggles from the week?

Lack of sleep mostly lol We have had minor issues over the years. Of all the events there has only been 1 we started and couldn't finish, went out day one!

Plans for events this year? Rocky Mountain Race Week

Which vehicle? The Black Car

Which class? 10.00 baby! We have a solid group of guys and gals that really push each other to be at their best! 

Goals? To finish lol we would like to come out and be competitive in 10.00 

Any changes or upgrades planned? 

All the upgrades have been performed for this year. Made a few small changes, but mostly the same as the last few years

Bucketlist Race or Event?

Either Redwood Rally or Street n Yeet. I think they both would have some awesome sights, scenes and tracks I've yet to visit

One of my favorite stories is Redhat Scotty and The Dude swapping engines in the Tulsa Raceway Park parking lot at 3am. They purchased the engine from under a guy’s workbench, from the backcountry in Oklahoma (just imagine banjo music….). 

Another great story of why Redhat Scotty is great for the community comes from PRI 2023….. Late at night, in a Buffalo Wild Wings, him, David and Keeton Maxon and Lance Draeger gave me some of the worst peer pressure ever about adding a class to The Circuit drag and drive. They were unrelenting that we needed a 6.50 Index class for the event. We had already sold out of racer tickets and adding a new class meant lots of work for me…..

But, I finally gave in when Lance dug in his pocket and handed over sponsor money. That class was the second largest of the year, and continues to perform well, providing some of the closest racing we see each year! 

Another occasion of Scotty’s willingness to help a fellow racer came in January as Erin and Trevor Branden needed assistance on their way from Canada to Florida. Scotty jumped at the opportunity to help repair a wheel and axle, in a Rest Area parking lot, to help get them rolling again. 

At the Drag & Drive Awards of PRI 2025, Redhat Scotty was awarded with one of three Drag & Drive Ambassador Awards for his continuing support of the community. 

We always look forward to seeing Redhat Scotty and The Dude (plus Mavis and Crack) at an event. And can’t wait to see him take on the 10.00 Index class at his next event.

Article by Rodney Reeves and Mike Narx. Photos from Redhat Scotty