For Rodney Potter, drag racing has never been just about speed. It’s about the connection between man and machine—the mechanics, the physics, the skill, and the quiet intrigue of making something work better than it ever should. From an early age, Rodney was drawn to how things functioned, how power met pavement, and how mastery came not only from horsepower, but from understanding the tree, the clock, and the moment.
Rodney’s racing story began at 19 years old with his first car, a 1965 Ford Fairlane, which he raced in the Stock class. Like many young racers of that era, he quickly wanted more. His goal was to turn the Fairlane into a B/FX stocker, a class that demanded creativity, mechanical knowledge, and commitment. When he asked his father for help making the changeover, the answer wasn’t exactly yes—but it wasn’t no either.
His father told him, “You can work on it here under the tree, but you put my tools away every day.”
That simple condition marked the true beginning of Shade Tree Racing.
Under that tree, Rodney learned to do things the hard way—working with limited resources, figuring things out on his own, and earning every improvement one bolt at a time. Family, friends, and what Rodney jokingly calls “shade tree squirrels” came and went, but the spirit stayed the same: work hard, respect the process, and never cut corners. The shade tree wasn’t just a place to wrench—it became a mindset.
Years later, in the spring of 2017, that mindset came full circle. Rodney’s son spotted a gasser project for sale and told his father, “This is your chance to get back into racing.” It didn’t take much convincing. Rodney had always loved old-school racing, and even more than that, he loved building cars and understanding the physics behind them.
Why a gasser? Because gassers demand respect. They require balance, precision, and knowledge. To make a gasser work—to make it hook and go—the majority of the weight must stay on the rear tires the entire way down the track. There’s no hiding mistakes. Every launch tells the truth.
Rodney purchased a 1941 Tudor Sedan, powered by a 410 CID small-block Ford, backed by a Powerglide transmission. True to form, the car became known as “Squirrel,” and Rodney returned to the track in 2017—right where he belonged.
Since then, Rodney has raced Squirrel continuously, traveling to 19 different states and competing on 42 different tracks. He has raced with 10 different gasser groups across the country, including well-known organizations like Southern Outlaws, Dirty South Gassers, Brew City, and many more too numerous to list.
The results speak for themselves. Rodney currently holds five 1st-place trophies, including a C/Gas Championship, along with several Top Five finishes and numerous match race wins across the country. While he primarily races in the Midwest, the South, the Upper North, and the Northeast, his reputation extends far beyond any single region.
Yet for Rodney Potter, the trophies aren’t the point. The real reward is still the same as it was under that tree decades ago—the satisfaction of building something with his own hands, understanding how and why it works, and lining up at the starting line knowing that man, machine, and time must all agree for success.
Shade Tree Racing isn’t just where Rodney started. It’s how he still races today.
Making friends along the way, this is how Rodney and Crafty Kate have become friends, Crafty Kate loves the spirit of grass roots, racing and vintage cars and this is why she has chosen to sponsor shade tree racing in 2026.
One of the greatest things about drag racers is everyone treats everyone like they’ve known them forever. We may race against each other, but they will go out of their way to help you.
I truly love the sport and the people who participate in it from the smallest team to the biggest.