Desert Racing Enthusiasts Association, Inc. (D.R.E.A. Racing) is derived from a girl who never thought desert racing could have such a huge impact in her life or even knew what it was for that matter. It started back in 2009, Drea’s husband wanted to buy an offroad truck. She saw the photos of what he wanted to buy but had no clue about what the truck could do or how it was even used.
It wasn’t until February 2010, when her husband Rob raced his first off-road race at Battle at Primm that it became clear. The original owners came out to support him at his race and while Rob was getting ready to line up, the previous owner’s wife was telling Drea that her daughters used to race the Powder Puff in Barstow. Giggling, Drea said, “I should race that!” In October 2010, Drea raced her first offroad race in Barstow, CA in their Toyota 7s (stock) truck. Drea raced for her Gramma Flora who was a Breast Cancer Survivor. Drea pulled a 3rd place podium. She loved it so much; she wanted a big boy’s truck with more travel than the stock truck. They ended up selling the stock truck a few weeks after her first Powder Puff race and embarked on building their now fully built 1400 truck. It took 4 ½ years to build. It was built by Good Knight Racing & Fabrication.
Through the years, the desert along with offroad racing has become a passion for Drea. In the last 15 years, Drea has raced #1499, being able to achieve checkered flag finishes as well as getting on the podium. Drea has also co-driven for her husband Rob. Drea is also the main co-driver for the #2011 Nexgen Off-Road Truck. She gets to navigate for Dez Knight and together they have seen many checkered flag finishes and have been on the podium for 1st and 2nd places for many races. They have raced many of the MORE, SNORE Races as well as the Mint 400 and California 300.
Drea had tried for many years requesting for the Powder Puff to come back, after all, that’s where it all started for her. After being, told, “sorry, not this year” , one too many times, she decided she wasn’t going to sit back and depend on other people to make it happen. With a lot of help, direction and knowledge from a few key people, D.R.E.A. Racing came alive. Drea wants others to experience the Powder Puff like she did for her first race – it was like Magic! Her goal is to Make Powder Puff Great Again! This year’s Ladies Off Road Race Towards a Cure will be benefiting the Support Sisterz organization based out of Norco, CA.
D.R.E.A. Racing is excited to expand racing to other races other than just the Powder Puff. There are some races that are currently in the plans and these will be coed racing. So stay tuned for more details to come.
"Drea is big on encouraging other women and girls to hop in the car and try it for themselves. Off-roading is definitely a male-dominated sport but there is more than enough room out there in our big, beautiful desert to let the ladies enjoy it too. It’s about living, loving and never giving up on your passion."
Support Sisterz is a community-focused nonprofit organization comprised of breast cancer survivors with a passion to financially and emotionally empower women who are battling breast and gynecological cancers. What originally began as a small support group between friends fighting the same battle soon flourished into a 501(c)3 organization focused on supporting women who live or work in Corona, Norco, Eastvale and surrounding areas. While Support Sisterz remains committed to its original mission of providing emotional support through monthly gatherings, we have expanded to additionally provide much needed financial support to women in treatment.