A year ago, Gray put an “immense amount” of weight on his shoulders to go out and make waves quickly (which he did), but this year has been different.

Through the first two-thirds of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, he had scored a class-high four victories — giving him nine national event wins in 40 starts, nearly a 25 percent win ratio — and ranked second in points to multi-time champion Greg Anderson.

“I feel like I probably put more pressure on myself at the beginning of my career than what I put on myself now that I’m almost two years into this journey,” said Gray. “I think I’ve proven to myself that I can go out and run with these (top) guys and that I can perform as well as any of the rest of them. I think I’m more relaxed this year than what I was last year, when I raced with a bit of a chip on my shoulder, and this year I’m more confident in what I can do.

“I still don’t take anything from the people who talk about me like I’m this ‘young, punk kid,’ but I’ve been trying to be more relaxed this time and I think it’s showed in our results and the fact that we’ve had less mistakes than we did before. Personally, I think a lot of that comes just from taking some of the pressure off myself and just going out and racing.”

Gray believes the success can carry him to his first professional title, something neither his father nor grandfather achieved.

“I absolutely feel like we can make a championship push this fall,” said Gray. “I felt like we were capable of doing that last year, but I feel even more strongly about it this year than I did then. I don’t think it’s necessarily because we’re a better program this year, or because we’ve got a better car, or even because I think I’m that much of a better driver … but I think the fact that we’ve been through that experience (of chasing a championship) and we know what it takes to contend is what will help us.

“(Last year) was really the first time that this organization has ever contended for a points title, so we had to do some learning there and I think we’re all more seasoned now and ready to get after that,” Gray noted. “I’m really looking forward to the Countdown; I just have to do my job on the starting line and the team has to do their job working on the car. If all that adds up, I’m sure we’ll have a shot coming down to the end.”

Growing up, Gray raced mini-outlaw karts at North Carolina’s Millbridge Speedway, a one-sixth mile dirt oval. While he doesn’t go back there to race as much now, Gray believes the skills he utilizes in his dirt car help him when he straps into his Pro Stock Chevrolet Camaro.

“To me, the importance of going back and racing Millbridge is a lot because of the challenge of it,” explained Gray. “I feel like I’m not necessarily as good of an oval- track racer as I can be and that’s one thing I strive to do … is to be really good in whatever I get in. I want to be better all the time and I’m not going to quit trying.

“I definitely enjoy running the dirt; you get more seat time than you do at a drag race, so it’s a different kind of challenge,” he added. “Drag racing is quick, don’t think and do what comes naturally … where circle-track racing is more strategic and there’s a lot more to it, whether it’s running an outlaw kart at Millbridge or a late model stock at Hickory. Reaction time is a big part of both sides, as well. You have to think quickly and react fast on the dirt, just like you do on the starting line, only in different ways.”

Racing has always been a family affair for Gray.

“We had Dave (Connolly) driving for us for about a year and a half, but for the most part, it’s been mainly a family deal,” noted Gray. “It’s cool to be able to carry on the family tradition … with it being my dad and my grandpa’s company. I think that definitely means a lot and I know as I look back on it later, I’ll appreciate it even more than I do already.

“Sometimes you take things for granted in the moment but in the future, it’ll be so special to see all the success we’ve had together.”

While drag racing is something Gray has immersed himself in at a young age — much younger than most in the discipline — it’s a choice he wouldn’t change.

“I think that once you choose to go down the road that I’ve chosen to go down, or someone who’s running trucks at this age or anything professionally like that, you give away some of that social life that you’d have if you were growing up as a regular kid,” Gray added. “It’s a lifestyle that we carry and a situation where you have to hold yourself to a higher standard and mature quicker than most.

“It’s a sacrifice in some ways, but when you love the sport, you focus on that passion and enjoy what you’re doing just that much more. I love racing and I’m blessed to have the opportunity to do what I love.”