Question: Did you ever think you would come this far as a drag racer?
Hillary Will:I never imagined I would make it this far. The first car I raced was 99 mph. It ran the quarter mile in 15 seconds. I didn’t think much of, “Oh, I’m a girl, the only girl racer out here.” I didn’t even realize that I was different. My dad — we used to go together all the time — said, “Hey, do you want to try this?” I loved it. I just loved drag racing. It was something I wanted to continue to do as a hobby my whole life.
Question: As far as your confidence — finding that confidence — do you think that’s a key to every successful racer?
Hillary Will:Yes, because you have to have so much confidence in those cars because you don’t have time to doubt yourself. If I need to pedal the car and take my foot off the throttle or leave the starting line, I can’t think about it, I just have to do it. You just have to react to the car and trust yourself. If you don’t have confidence, you don’t trust yourself. There’s not time in a four-and-a-half second car. You just have to react.
Question:Your victory in Topeka did not generate a lot of national buzz. Do you think that is because in the NHRA, women have been doing well for many years?
Hillary Will:I don’t think it’s as big of a deal. I think women racers kind of fit in more in NHRA drag racing. I know most everybody in drag racing just thinks of me as another competitor. That’s how I want to be thought of — as another competitor.
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