Jasmine Salinas Bio
Jasmine Monique Salinas (born January 4, 1992) is an American NHRA drag racer competing in the National Hot Rod Association. She is the daughter of drag racer Mike Salinas and the sister of fellow racer Jianna Evaristo-Salinas. Salinas began her journey behind the wheel at the age of 15 and has steadily built a reputation as one of the most compelling young talents in American drag racing.
Residing in Indianapolis, Indiana, she represents the ongoing evolution of motorsports diversity and talent. A graduate of The University of San Francisco, Salinas brings a global perspective to her craft and continues to push boundaries on and off the track.
Early Life and Background
Jasmine Monique Salinas was born on January 4, 1992, in San Jose, California. She is of Dutch-Indonesian and Mexican-Comanche-Spanish descent and is the oldest of four girls in her family. Her family resides in the San Francisco Bay Area in California, and racing has long been a central part of household life.
She is the daughter of NHRA Top Fuel driver Mike Salinas, whose career in drag racing provided Jasmine with early and constant exposure to the sport. Her sister, Jianna Evaristo, also races professionally in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category, making the Salinas family one of the most recognizable racing families in the NHRA paddock.
Jasmine attended The University of San Francisco, where she studied Mandarin Chinese and earned a degree in Global Studies. Her academic path complemented her growing passion for racing and gave her a well-rounded foundation as she prepared for a professional career behind the wheel.
Path to NHRA Drag Racing
Salinas started racing at the age of 15 in the NHRA Junior Drag Racing Series, where she competed alongside her three sisters. The early years in junior competition gave her the seat time and mechanical understanding needed to progress through the sport’s developmental ranks.
In 2019, she stepped up to the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, making her debut in the Top Alcohol Dragster category. That same year, she was the subject of a documentary short titled “Five Foot 280,” which followed her through the adrenaline-filled world of driving a 3,500-horsepower car while describing the challenges of being a female in a male-dominated sport. The film was accepted into several film festivals, helping raise her profile beyond the racing community.
Jasmine Salinas Career
Early Career (2019-2020)
Jasmine made her Top Alcohol Dragster debut in 2019 with Lucas Oil Drag Racing, finishing her rookie season 15th in points. The learning curve was steep, but the experience gave her a solid foundation in the higher ranks of the sport. She appeared on the cover of Drag Illustrated’s “Women of Power” issue alongside her sister, Jianna, signaling her arrival as a notable voice in drag racing.
NHRA Lucas Oil Series Breakthrough (2021-2023)
In 2021, Salinas experienced a dramatic blow-over crash during the final round of qualifying at the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Nationals in Gainesville, Florida. Her dragster went airborne past the 1/8 mile mark, flew across the track, and flipped several times before coming to rest in the outside embankment. Salinas crawled out of the car under her own power and was later transported to a local hospital, where she was treated for bruising but no major injuries. Despite the early-season crash, she finished 6th in National Standings and 2nd in Regional Standings, with one Regional Event win.
The 2022 season marked a true breakthrough. Salinas scored her first National Event win at Gainesville Raceway, exactly one year after surviving her harrowing over-the-wall crash at the same track. She went on to win three more races that year, tied for 2nd in the World, and secured the North Central Regional Championship. She was also selected for Drag Illustrated’s “30 Under 30” list and appeared on the magazine’s cover.
In 2023, Jasmine competed part-time in Top Alcohol Dragster to focus on her professional transition into Top Fuel Dragster. In August, she earned her license in Top Fuel Dragster, making her one of the fastest Women of Color in the world. She continues her professional career with crew chief Joe Barlam.
Scrappers Racing Era (2024-Present)
Salinas made her professional debut in 2024 with Scrappers Racing in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, the sport’s top tier. The team fields a two-car operation, and both Jasmine and her father, Mike Salinas, made history as the first father-daughter duo to compete in NHRA Top Fuel Dragster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Salinas is known for her composure under pressure and her ability to bounce back from adversity, as demonstrated by her quick return to form after the 2021 Gainesville crash. Her background in Top Alcohol Dragster prepared her for the demands of piloting a Top Fuel machine, and her partnership with crew chief Joe Barlam has provided stability and technical support as she continues to develop at the professional level.
Notable Races and Milestones
Her first National Event win at Gainesville Raceway in 2022 stands as one of the defining moments of her career, given the emotional weight of returning to the site of her dramatic crash. The 2022 North Central Regional Championship further cemented her status as a championship-caliber racer, and earning her Top Fuel license in 2023 marked a significant milestone in her climb through the sport’s most demanding category.
Jasmine Salinas Career Wins
Jasmine Salinas has built a verified record of success in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, highlighted by multiple National and Regional victories. Her breakthrough 2022 season included four wins, a tie for 2nd in the World, and the North Central Regional Championship.
NHRA Lucas Oil Series Highlights
Salinas captured her first National Event win at Gainesville Raceway in 2022, one year after surviving a major crash at the same venue. She went on to win three additional races that season and tied for 2nd in the World standings. She also secured the North Central Regional Championship in 2022 and recorded one Regional Event win in 2021.
Other Wins and Performances
Earlier in her career, Salinas made her Top Alcohol Dragster debut in 2019 with Lucas Oil Drag Racing, finishing 15th in points. She appeared on the cover of Drag Illustrated’s “Women of Power” issue with her sister and was later named to the magazine’s “30 Under 30” list in 2022.
Jasmine Salinas Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jasmine comes from one of the most prominent families in modern NHRA drag racing. Her father, Mike Salinas, competes in the Top Fuel Dragster category, and her sister, Jianna Evaristo, races in Pro Stock Motorcycle. The family is of Dutch-Indonesian and Mexican-Comanche-Spanish descent and has deep roots in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Personal Life
Salinas currently resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she is based for her professional racing career. She is the oldest of four sisters, three of whom raced alongside her in the NHRA Junior Drag Racing Series during her teenage years. She is also the subject of the documentary “Five Foot 280,” which highlights her journey as a woman in a male-dominated sport.
2025 Season Performance
Jasmine Salinas is expected to continue her development in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series with Scrappers Racing in 2025, building on the experience gained during her 2024 professional debut. The team fields a two-car operation, allowing her to work closely with her father, Mike Salinas, in a historic father-daughter pairing.
As she gains additional seat time in her Top Fuel Dragster, Salinas will look to translate the consistency and confidence she showed in the Lucas Oil ranks into consistent qualifying runs and race-day results. Her partnership with crew chief Joe Barlam will be central to her progress as the team refines its tuning approach for the new season.
With several years of professional and developmental wins behind her, including a 2022 North Central Regional Championship and four National Event wins, Salinas enters 2025 with momentum and a clear long-term goal of becoming a regular contender in Top Fuel Dragster.