Sharrock Motorsports to enter NHRA Top Fuel with Rodeo Barrel Racer Sydney Shaw
It’s always exciting to see NHRA Sportsman racers enter the professional ranks. While racing in NHRA’s pro classes is quite the challenge in a variety of ways, having a mentor to guide a newcomer is always welcome. And often necessary.
Veteran NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series competitor Terry Haddock, who has raced in both nitro classes – Top Fuel and Funny Car – has made a habit of helping other racers attain their pro licenses, helping drivers race in his own cars and is widely known for his generosity of time and experience in the tutelage of up-and-coming racers.
For the 2023 season, Haddock will be assisting a new team, Sharrock Motorsports, owned by NHRA sportsman racer Mark Sharrock. Sharrock Motorsports has acquired Haddock’s Top Fuel dragster and harnessed his expertise as the team prepares to license Sydney Shaw in Top Fuel. Shaw will begin her licensing runs in the next few weeks.
Shaw, 23, attended Frank Hawley’s drag racing school last year and has been driving one of Mark Sharrock’s Top Dragsters as she prepares to enter the pro ranks in Top Fuel. She’s an accomplished rodeo barrel racer, who hopes to take her strengths and abilities from rodeo arenas to professional NHRA drag strips.
This is a Texas-size agreement as all parties are from the Lone Star state. Haddock is from Forney, Sharrock is a Deputy Constable in Kaufman County, while Shaw hails from Terrell, Texas.
Sharrock Motorsports is a privateer Top Fuel team, its owner explained. It consists of owner Sharrock, a former Competition Eliminator standout, notable engine builder Ronnie Seeliger, veteran Super Class driver and tuner Ricky Powell, together with veteran tuner Gary Robinson, Mike View and a complementary volunteer crew.
The team will race a limited schedule in 2023 in the hopes of gaining financial backing to expand their program in the 2024 season. This partial season entry will allow driver Shaw the opportunity to eventually compete for a Top Fuel World championship, they expect, in the future.
Sharrock Motorsports’ petite driver, standing just under five feet tall and weighing in at all of 85 pounds, is looking forward to the opportunity to compete against the best NHRA dragster stars.
She intends to add her name to the limited number of women competing successfully in Top Fuel – including reigning two-time dragster champ Brittany Force of John Force Racing and 10-time race winner Leah Pruett, driving for Tony Stewart Racing – and is excited to work with Haddock, who has made his mark as a driver trainer in NHRA’s nitro categories. He’ll be working hard to help Shaw develop her driving skills as she moves from one type of bucking bronco to another!