Cooper Chun possesses a mature perspective that contradicts the typical mindset of most 20-year-olds, but his optimistic outlook becomes even more inspiring when you dive into his anything-but-average story.
Like many others in the sport, Chun was born and raised in a drag racing family led by his grandfather and father, who passed on their knowledge and skills along with their shared first name, David. After a successful eight-year stint behind the wheel of a Jr. Dragster, Chun effortlessly switched to competing in his Mullis dragster and 1993 Fox-body Mustang at 16 years old.
[Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #191, the 30 Under 30 Issue, in November / December of 2024.]
The Vancouver, Washington, native continued succeeding, earning a Super Pro track championship at both Woodburn Dragstrip and Portland International Raceway in 2022 and winning the NHRA Super Pro Race of Champions in Division 6. That victory secured a spot to compete for the NHRA Summit Racing Series National Championship in Las Vegas, but he would find himself with a more challenging event to conquer first.
Shortly after returning home from his Race of Champions win, Chun visited the doctor due to recurring right hip pain and was diagnosed with cancer at only 18 years old. His opponent, Ewing Sarcoma, is a rare type of bone cancer that typically affects children and young adults, with an incidence of approximately 200 cases per year. After the initial shock and raw feelings of emotion, he recalls having the urge to fight in order to make his future a reality.
“I had a week or two of being really sad, but then it was kind of like the only way to get better is to go through it and take it head-on,” says Chun. “The main thing that got me through it was racing. I knew if I could get through this, I could get back to racing.”
His first chemotherapy treatments fell on the same week as the NHRA national championship, so instead of competing, he began an eight-month battle of defeating cancer, regaining strength, relearning to walk, and finally getting back into his race car. In May of 2023, Chun returned to the driver’s seat of his door car, and two months later, he competed in a double divisional in the Super Comp ranks. His comeback delivered joy and first-time jitters all over again, but it was soon evident that he was exactly where he needed to be. When asked about a preference between his two vehicles, Chun quips, “At the end of the day, if it’s a race car, it’s going to be fun regardless.”
Fast forward two years into the present, Chun is a thriving second-year college student working towards an accounting degree. He mentions that it is merely a backup plan to appease his mother, Traci, in case a career in drag racing doesn’t pan out. As his on-track talent continues to rise, it seems that having a financial background will most likely be used to count his future winnings.
Chun recently secured his most significant win after dominating 618 entries during TBM Brakes Tuesday of the Million Dollar Drag Race. Celebrating his $20,000 victory on one of the most prestigious stages in bracket racing continues to be a surreal experience for the young racer.
“While growing up in Juniors, in October, it was all about The Million,” Chun explains. “I watched in class when I shouldn’t have, stayed up late watching it, and we would even have parties to watch Million Dollar Friday. That is what I did growing up. Being able to win there is something that I never thought I would accomplish…it’s something out of my wildest dreams.”
As a West Coast native with aspirations of big-money bracket racing, Chun is certainly equipped with a different type of dedication. He recently embarked on a 40-day racing excursion, which included the Million, the Fall Fling, thousands of miles, and nearly 40 hours of travel from Tennessee back to Washington. The soft-spoken but fiercely talented competitor continues to make a name for himself and imagines he will eventually move to a central location to pursue his goals. In the meantime, he chooses to focus on the present and camaraderie and has learned not to sweat the small stuff.
“Not everything is so serious,” Chun explains. “At the end of the day, win or lose, for me at least, just being at the racetrack and hanging out with my buddies is something I have to be grateful for. Win lights are great and part of the reason why we are there, but if you have bad results on the racetrack, it shouldn’t ruin your weekend. After cancer, it really reiterated that just being able to race and hang out with friends is the most important thing.”
This story was originally published on February 7, 2025. 
