Colby’s Skolouts Dominate Norton Drag Races with Raw Power and Local Pride

With engines snarling and tires shrieking down the Norton Airport runway, Thomas County’s Brad Skolout and his son Tucker stole the spotlight at this year’s Norton Airport Drag Races on Saturday, July 12. Representing both their hometown and their business—Road Runner Manufacturing of Levant—the Skolouts didn’t just show up, they showed out.

Brad rolled in with his menacing dark blue Ford F-100, while Tucker fired up a head-turning light blue Ford Custom pickup. Both trucks ditched their hoods for full engine exposure—offering spectators a front-row view of the fire-breathing powerplants rumbling underneath. The sight of the Skolouts’ bare-boned, muscle-packed trucks lining up at the start line set the tone for a day of unapologetic horsepower, and they didn’t disappoint.

Throughout the afternoon, the father-son duo dominated the makeshift drag strip. Match after match, their pickups left challengers in the rearview mirror, roaring past the finish line with confidence and control. As the tires spun and the engines screamed, the Skolouts cemented themselves as fan favorites and hometown heroes—not just for their speed, but for the raw authenticity they brought to the event.

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Over 30 cars, trucks, and SUVs participated in the event, which capped off a full weekend of motorsports and community festivities in Norton. Friday’s demolition derby and “Party in the Park” concert at Elmwood Park Speedway brought the crowds, and Saturday’s 22nd Annual Norton Car Show set the scene. But it was the drag races at the airport that delivered the high-octane finale—with the Skolouts leading the charge.

Spectators lined one side of the runway, lounging beneath pop-up canopies or packing into temporary bleachers. Cheers echoed across the runway as burnouts sent smoke clouds drifting into the summer sky. The Skolouts’ hoodless trucks—loud, fast, and visually striking—added drama to every pass. Top speeds reached as high as 112 mph, and there was little doubt that the Colby-built pickups were among the day's top performers.

Despite the lack of official timing or recorded winners, the crowd's reaction said it all—Brad and Tucker Skolout didn’t just compete, they put on a show. And with representatives from local emergency services present to ensure racer and spectator safety, the event ran smoothly from start to finish.

“This is what small-town motorsports is all about,” said one longtime attendee. “You come for the cars, you stay for the community—and then you see something like the Skolouts’ trucks, and you just can’t stop smiling.”

Backed by the Norton Area Chamber of Commerce and supported by volunteers, sponsors, and safety personnel, the drag races offered an unforgettable conclusion to a weekend steeped in tradition, pride, and horsepower. And thanks to Brad and Tucker Skolout, Thomas County had more than one reason to celebrate.