Justin Berry - OKC

While most 18 year old high school athletes are sweating in the heat at football practice, Little Ax High School senior Dustin Dominguez is lofting the front wheel of his House of Kawasaki-supplied ZX-10 at 180 miles per hour at Daytona, or “backing it in” the hairpin at Hallett in a full lock slide.

“I started road racing at 9 years old on a YSR-50” says Dustin.  “My dad road raced and I picked it up early.” Now one of the fastest amateur racers in the hotly competitive CMRA series, Dustin plans to turn pro next year and race AMA Superstock and Supersport.

Watching Dustin at a recent Hallett track day, I was amazed by the ease in which he handled the fire breathing 2008 ZX-10.  He tossed the bike around like a supermoto dirt bike, sliding the rear tire, launching endless wheelies out of every corner, and turning blistering lap times that were within hundredths of a second of the Hallett track record. “I love sliding the bike around on track days, getting sidways, lofting the front wheel, just playing around,” says Dustin with a smile.

“This is basically a stock ZX-10,” Dustin continues.  “We put on race plastics and GP shifting, and bolted on an aftermarket exhaust.  Other than that it is a stock bike.”

“Last year I almost won the AMA Horizon Award and am working really had to win it this year.  It is a pretty prestigious award they only give to one person per year, and has been won by guys like Nicky Hayden, Colin Edwards and Ben Spies.  While it is not a guarantee of success, it sure looks good on a resume!”

“House of Kawasaki has been a fantastic sponsor.  I walked in this year and half-joking asked them if they could provide me a bike to race.  To my amazement they rolled one out!”

Explains Shawn Garrison, Sales Manager at House of Kawasaki, “We love to support young racers.  When a young kid like Dustin walks through the doors and you see the effort he has put forth and the results he has achieved, you just want to help him further his career.”