MECHANICSVILLE, Md. — For most children, dreams of becoming a race car driver fade with time. For Southern Maryland native David Gates, that dream only accelerated.
Growing up around Maryland International Raceway (MIR), Gates spent countless weekends watching drag racing alongside his father, who owns Gates Transmissions and Performance, a local transmission shop specializing in high-performance race cars. His family’s involvement in motorsports introduced him to racing at an early age, but one event stood out above the rest.
“I looked at my mom and said, ‘I’m going to drive one of those one day,'” Gates told The BayNet after watching jet dragsters roar down the quarter-mile during Jet Wars when he was a child.
Years later, that promise has become reality.
Today, Gates is a licensed jet dragster driver who has traveled to 34 states performing in front of thousands of fans while piloting one of the fastest machines in motorsports. Reaching speeds approaching 300 mph in roughly five seconds, Gates experiences forces comparable to those felt by fighter pilots launching from an aircraft carrier.
“We experience five Gs off the starting line and around negative seven Gs when the parachutes deploy,” Gates said. “You’re holding on for dear life.”
His journey to the cockpit was anything but straightforward.
Gates began racing junior dragsters at age 11 before spending time in motocross and later transitioning to high-powered Mustang drag cars. Along the way, he also built a successful career as a motorsports photographer, shooting for national publications including “Drag Illustrated, Dragzine and RPM Magazine.”
Ironically, photography became the key that opened the door to his lifelong dream.
While photographing the Blazing Angel Jet Dragster at a Professional Drag Racers Association event, Gates impressed owner Robert Albertson with his work. Albertson invited him to join the crew, and what started as taking photos quickly evolved into traveling across the country as part of the jet car team.
Before Albertson retired the car, Gates made one request.
“I told him I wanted to make a pass in the car,” Gates said. “He called my bluff and let me do it.”
That first run left him wanting more.
After another opportunity arose with the Wicked Sensation Jet Dragster team, Gates spent a year crewing, handling photography and social media in exchange for the chance to earn his NHRA jet dragster license. He completed the demanding licensing process in Kentucky, making 12 supervised runs over two days.
“That was when it became real,” Gates said. “I realized this is actually happening.”
Unlike traditional drag racing, jet dragsters are powered by aircraft engines rather than piston engines. Gates’ Crossfire Jet Dragster uses a General Electric J85 engine that produces roughly 5,000 pounds of thrust and an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 horsepower. The lightweight cars weigh around 1,200 pounds with the driver and fuel on board, allowing them to accelerate at astonishing rates.
Drivers operate the vehicle using one hand on the steering wheel and the other controlling a hand throttle. Instead of relying on brakes after crossing the finish line, parachutes are deployed to safely slow the car from nearly 300 mph.
Despite the incredible speed, Gates says the mental challenge is just as significant.
“You have to respect the car,” he said. “If something doesn’t feel right, look right or smell right, shut it off. Always save it for the next run.”
On Saturday, July 18, Gates will return home for Jet Wars at Maryland International Raceway, a moment he says means more than any other event on the schedule. He’ll pilot the Crossfire Jet Dragster while fans will also witness the return of the original Crossfire jet dragster, recently rebuilt after a crash. The event will feature multiple jet dragsters, funny cars, bracket racing, motorcycles, junior dragsters and a fireworks show.
“It means absolutely everything,” Gates said. “This is where I grew up. This is where I dreamed of driving a jet car.”
Although he has competed in front of thousands of fans across the country, Gates says nothing compares to performing at his hometown track, where his family, friends and longtime supporters can see him live.
“It’s being able to show everybody back home what I love doing,” he said.
Looking back on the path from a young fan standing along the fence at MIR to a professional jet dragster driver, Gates hopes his story inspires others to chase their own ambitions.
“Never give up on a dream,” he said. “With hard work, dedication and passion, you can achieve anything. The only person standing between you and your dream is yourself.”
Fans attending Jet Wars on Saturday, July 18, at Maryland International Raceway can expect an action-packed day featuring multiple jet dragsters approaching 300 mph, bracket racing, motorcycles, junior dragsters and a fireworks finale. For Gates, the event represents far more than another race — it is the chance to return to the track where a childhood dream first took flight.
Fans can follow Gates’ racing journey on Instagram at instagram.com/davidgatesracing and on Facebook at facebook.com/david.gates.9028.
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