There’s something magical about a father and son sharing the same passion—especially when that passion involves 4-second passes and chasing win lights down the 1/8 mile. This past weekend at Brainerd Motorsports Park in Georgia, the Grayson family gave fans a memory they won’t soon forget.
Matt Grayson lit it up on Saturday with a win in the $20K event, and just 24 hours later, his 16-year-old son, Cole Grayson, followed suit with a $10K win of his own, driving Joe Kittle’s Undercover dragster. It was only Cole’s third event of the year, but you wouldn’t have guessed it watching his performance. Cool, confident, and smooth—the kid raced like he’s been doing it for decades.
I had the opportunity to catch up with Matt by phone after the weekend, and his pride was evident. “Cole had a really strong junior dragster career, and now it’s exciting—watching him transition into the big car. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do with more seat time.”
That transition from juniors to the next level isn’t just about talent. It’s about trust. It’s about a father handing over the wheel—literally—and watching his son take the next step. And for Matt, that trust was clearly rewarded.
I also spoke with Cole, who was still soaking it all in. “It was one of the coolest experiences of my life. Things just seemed to fall my way, and I’m really grateful—for the opportunity and the win.”
That’s what this sport is all about.
We’ve talked in previous DragCoverage features about the legacy of racing, the way families bond through burnouts, bracket strategy, and pit talk. This weekend was another reminder of why we all show up. It’s not always just about the money or the trophy—though the Graysons got plenty of both—it’s about the memories. It’s about the look on a kid’s face after their first big win. It’s about that moment in the lanes where a father watches his child stage up, heart pounding harder than when he’s in the car himself.
And we’ve heard this sentiment echoed over and over again from dads around the country: “I get more joy watching my kids race than I ever did racing myself.” That statement gets proven every weekend at local tracks across America. But every now and then, a story like this comes along that captures the heart of it.
The Graysons didn’t just win two races—they created a weekend neither of them will ever forget. These are the stories we live for. These are the weekends that turn into legacy. And for Cole, the journey is just beginning.
