{"id":2751,"date":"2025-03-12T22:40:02","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T22:40:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/?p=2751"},"modified":"2025-03-12T22:40:45","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T22:40:45","slug":"the-power-of-junior-dragsters-a-legacy-of-giving-back-in-st-croix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/?p=2751","title":{"rendered":"The Power of Junior Dragsters: A Legacy of Giving Back in St. Croix"},"content":{"rendered":"

For those of us who grew up around drag racing, we know it\u2019s more than just a sport. It\u2019s a teacher, a motivator, and for many, a guiding force in life. Personally, I can say that I wouldn\u2019t be where I am today without my time in junior dragsters. It taught me discipline, focus, and the value of hard work\u2014lessons that have stayed with me throughout my life.<\/p>\n

But this isn\u2019t just my story. It\u2019s the story of how racing continues to shape young lives in ways far beyond the track. Yesterday, I had the privilege of speaking with two incredible racers from St. Croix\u2014Jamal Browne and Lenroy Cambran. What I expected to be a conversation about island racing turned into something much deeper: a testament to how racing and the power of giving back can change generations.<\/p>\n

The Rickenbachs\u2019 Gift to St. Croix<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In the late 1990s, Robert “Rick” and Leslie Rickenbach, retired from the U.S., moved to St. Croix with a mission. They didn\u2019t just bring their love for drag racing\u2014they brought eight <\/span>junior dragsters and a desire to make a difference. They introduced local kids to the sport, mentoring and teaching them not only how to race but how to succeed in life. Among those kids were Jamal and Lenroy, who credit the Rickenbachs with changing the course of their futures.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Rick Rickenbach (left) coaching the first junior racers of St. Croix around 1999<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Inspired by the impact of the Rickenbachs, Lenroy Cambran has taken it upon himself to continue their legacy through his own program\u2014the LeNyra Racing Academy<\/p>\n

A Revival of Junior Dragsters in the Virgin Islands<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2023, after years of dormancy, the Virgin Islands Junior Dragster Youth Program roared back to life. At the Caribbean Motorsports Complex, more than 70 children gathered to witness the revival of a program designed to introduce them to the sport. Thanks to the dedication of the Cambran Racing Team, Caribbean Drag Racing Association, Jamal Browne, \u00a0and Arthur Hector. The first two junior dragsters were unveiled to an enthusiastic crowd.\"\"<\/p>\n

Lenroy Cambran, a drag racer and native of St. Croix, led the effort. \u201cWhen I was growing up, I always wanted to be involved with drag racing,\u201d he said. \u201cI played different sports, but there was something unique about this. It gave me a passion that has carried through my life.\u201d My kids Lenroy Cambran Jr, LeNyra And LeNya Cambran also race their own juniors. We have traveled to multiple tracks and did very well. Great feeling to have my 3 kids share the same passion.<\/p>\n

With six <\/span>junior dragsters, the program initially planned to cap enrollment at 32 children. But when over 70 kids signed up, it was clear that the demand far exceeded the available resources. The waiting list continues to grow, and Lenroyis determined to expand the program\u2014not just in St. Croix but to neighboring islands that have tracks but no junior dragsters. Each new dragster ads 2-3 kids on the list. Special thanks to Bates trucking, Flemming transport, Plaza extra\/Caribbean h20 and department of sports park and recreation for there donations of cars we currently have.\"\"<\/p>\n

Racing with Purpose<\/strong><\/p>\n

The LeNyra Racing Academy is about much more than racing. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, its mission is to develop well-rounded individuals by instilling life skills, discipline, and confidence through motorsports. Lenroy and his Wife Jahnyra Cambran understands <\/span>the financial burden of running a program like this. The cost to ship a junior dragster to another island can be as much as $3,000.<\/p>\n

In 2023 and 2024 The team attended one of the biggest races at Orlando Speed world in October and December and everyone did very well amongst other racers that own their own cars. For kids that don\u2019t practice every weekend they did extremely well. They are the first kids in the Virgin Islands to ever receive their NHRA jr dragster license which was a major goal of the Academy. Leading the way was Tansen Baptiste, who not only won a battle with leukemia, but made it to the quarter finals among 160 junior dragsters. Thank you to our drivers and parents for trusting us. Drivers: Kayla Whitey, Tansen Baptiste, Shamoii Fontanelle, Massiah Saldana, Rosai Thomas, Jahnuel Trinidad, Marquis Patrick, Antonio Cintron, Kevin Trinidad, Amyah Petersen, and K’Marley Woodley.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
The team in Orlando<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How You Can He<\/strong>lp<\/strong><\/p>\n

The demand for this program is undeniable, but the resources are limited. With only six junior dragsters and a waiting list of over 32 kids on St. Croix alone, there is an urgent need for more equipment, safety gear, and funding to expand to other islands.<\/p>\n

This is where the racing community can make a difference. We all know how much racing has impacted our own lives. It\u2019s time to pay it forward. The LeNyra Racing Academy is actively seeking sponsors and donors to help keep the program growing. Whether you\u2019re an individual who wants to contribute or a business looking to make an impact, every dollar helps bring racing\u2014and the valuable life lessons it teaches\u2014to more kids who need it.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re interested in supporting the program, please reach out to Lenroy Cambran directly. Your donation won\u2019t just fund a racing program\u2014it will invest in the future of these young racers and their communities.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lenroy Cambran above<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Let\u2019s come together and ensure that the next generation has the same opportunities we had. Let\u2019s keep the spirit of junior dragsters alive and thriving in the Virgin Islands and beyond.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For those of us who grew up around drag racing, we know it\u2019s more than just a sport. It\u2019s a teacher, a motivator, and for many, a guiding force in life. Personally, I can say that I wouldn\u2019t be where I am today without my time in junior dragsters. It taught me discipline, focus, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2760,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[59],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[55],"class_list":["post-2751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/SC10-600x400.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/SC10-600x600.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Kline Whitley","author_link":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/author\/klinewhitley"},"authors":[{"term_id":55,"user_id":4,"is_guest":0,"slug":"klinewhitley","display_name":"Kline Whitley","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Me.png","url2x":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Me.png"},"first_name":"Kline","last_name":"Whitley","user_url":"http:\/\/www.DragCoverage.com","job_title":"","description":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2751","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2751"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2751\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2760"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2751"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2751"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2751"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fppma_author&post=2751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}