Brian Oakes

About

52 years ago Brian Oakes got started (and got HOOKED) in drag racing.

He started with street cars and bracket racing, buying his first Super/Stock drag car in 1976. Living in the same village as Barry Paton, Hall of famer, he lined Brian up with a car and built the motor for it.

Working offshore on the oil rigs, time was limited for racing. Brian got into Super/Gas racing, and in 1997, was runner up at English-Town Raceway and Snowbirds. In 2002, he then purchased a Super/Stock D Automatic motor from John Armstrong, and decided he needed to buy a car. So, Oakes purchased the beast from the east, (currently the SS/BA Camaro that Dan Veleno races) and ran that car until 2004.

He has set 26 NHRA national records, 36 class wins, 2 NHRA Divisional wins, 2019 $10k Super/Stock win in Florida and the 2019 John Scotti Super/Stock Championship.

Brian drove the first 8 second car to run in Super/Stock D Automatic and Super/Stock C Automatic and still holds the C Automatic NHRA national record at 8.79 @150 mph as of 2025. He is currently still bracket racing with his Malibu wagon and has accomplished many other feats as a car owner. A $10k win at Napierville in Super/Stock, three NHRA Divisional wins and a victory in the NHRA New England Nationals at EPPING, New Hampshire, in Super/Street.

Oakes is grateful to have been fortunate enough to have had great cars and great power trains to accomplish his journey. Above all, he wants to thank everyone who has helped him, as he gets closer to closing the book.

DRIVE FAST.