Rhonda is OK with the nickname...
Rhonda is OK with the nickname "Rottin" because she likes Rottweilers, and as her license plate frame says, "Well-behaved women rarely make history."
RK: I do work on my own truck. Right from the beginning, I got in with people who modify trucks, and they showed me how to do things as we went. I was able to learn about it. One thing you learn quickly when you get into this is that it's expensive to work on your vehicles. The biggest challenge I've had as a woman in the automotive industry is finding a reliable shop that can do the work I want to have done. They often wouldn't take me seriously. They wouldn't do the work I wanted to have done because they didn't think I needed it. Things like that happened. Plus, it's expensive, so I worked on my truck out of necessity in the beginning. Now, I work on my truck because I know if I do it, it's done right. I get exactly what I want. That's not to say I don't have help. I get help from some very top people within the industry. I get help sometimes when I don't have the tools or I'm not capable on certain things, but sometimes I'm amazed at what I can do.
DP: Is racing your full-time gig now?
RK: I do not do this as a job. I do have sponsors, but it does not pay. I don't get paid to do it. My sponsors cover parts and things for the truck. I was a student this fall, and right now, I'm sort of in a holding pattern. I'm going to go back to school, so I'll be doing that.
DP: In that light, the logical question is what's the goal? What do you hope to achieve in racing long term?
RK: My goals have changed a little bit year by year. Originally, I just got in it and wanted to have some fun. Then, I got into bracket racing. I have raced two or three years in the final race of the year where all tracks compete. That's where my goals are. Another goal is to be the fastest "drug-free" four-wheel drive in the Northwest. That means no nitrous, no water/methanol.
DP: Sponsorships haven't come in a big way for a lot of the individual diesel teams, but there seem to be more coming now.
RK: There are two diesel-racing organizations in this country. That boggles my mind, that there can be two diesel-racing organizations. You've got to prove you're serious. None of these companies can just afford to hand over money and parts to everybody who wants to go to the track. But it's coming around. There is a lot more sponsorship than there used to be. So far, most of it has been diesel-related, but we need to start bringing in companies from outside the diesel community. I think that's going to happen pretty soon.
DP: This really seems to be a sport that is right on the verge of exploding and becoming pretty big. It has to be pretty cool to be among the pioneers.
RK: I absolutely love it. I am so proud of this truck and what it's done. Some of the racers I've beaten, they've been racing for 15 years and have really nice race cars. They're so good. And I can go out and beat those guys with this 6,500-pound truck? I love it. I absolutely love it. Then, to be the fastest? I've won the last four dyno events I've been to with this truck. I love it. It feels great to win trophies. It feels great to win plaques. You know it.
 An ATS intake feeds air to...  An ATS intake feeds air to the 675hp powerplant that does not huff nitrous or use water/methanol injection. The engine is backed by a full billet race transmission built by Diesel Transmission Technologies. |  This drag racing engine is...  This drag racing engine is a 5.9L Cummins 12-valve built by Fletcher's Diesel. It features a ported cylinder head and twin-turbos by Piers Diesel Research. |  Rhonda likes working on her...  Rhonda likes working on her own truck and has learned plenty from the pros during the past four years. She prefers the hands-on approach because, "I know if I do it, it's done right." |
DP: So even though you don't play yourself up as a pioneer, in a very real sense you are.
RK: It has been really fun to be part of getting the National Hot Rod Association rules changed specifically for my truck. I know it has been because of my truck because the tech guys are telling me, "It's about your truck." People didn't complain when you came and ran fast once or twice. But when you're starting to beat them? Then, the complaints started coming in. That's kind of cool. It's neat to be on the forefront because that allows all these other guys to go race. Now, it's not unusual to have 30 trucks show up at a diesel race.
DP: And it seems to be getting bigger every year.
RK: It will. The sponsorship guys are stepping up, and the money's getting better. Plus, the guys love it. A lot of these guys do it because they just love it. Just like me. I couldn't care less about the money. I really couldn't care less. I could go have a trophy made for a lot less than I pay to earn one, so most of us just love to go out and compete. It's just very fun.
DP: During all this, is there ever any time when you see young girls looking up to you as a role model? Or is that too much of a clich?
RK: I remember the first time I was asked to sign an autograph. It was the most awesome thing in the world. I've been signing autographs for a couple of years now. The first time, I didn't even know what to do. These teenage girls and 20-year-olds came up to me saying, "That's the greatest thing I've ever seen." It's guys and girls alike. I have promo cards I carry in the truck now that I sign for people because it is such a popular thing. People love the truck, and they love the fact that I'm a girl racing it. They always come up to me in the pits and talk to me. With the kids, I give rides around the pit sometimes. They just love it, and I love it too. It's so cute. That's the whole family environment again, being supportive and having a good time.
'98 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4
Engine: 5.9L Cummins 12-valve built by Fletcher's Diesel
Induction: Twin-turbos and ported head by Piers Diesel Research
Manifold: ATS
Transmission: Full billett automatic by Diesel Transmission Technologies
Injection pump: Industrial Injection
Fuel: #2 Diesel only, no nitrous or water/methanol
Horsepower: 675 rear-wheel
Torque: 1,200 lb-ft 1/4-mile E.T.: 11.8 seconds