Thrill of the NHRA Drag Racing World!

There are many thrills and passions in this world for one to escape the everyday stresses of what the days and weeks bring. The one passion that brings NHRA Fans peace and tranquility from their hum drum work weeks, is attending a NHRA Drag Event weekend.
If you have never attended a NHRA Event, then you won't know what I am talking about. If you have attended, then you know what excitement is beyond the gates.

I remember when I first attended NHRA Events out in the Orange Groves in Orange County, CA. It was out in the middle of nowhere, and was so different then attending today's festivities. There were not any big rig trailers, merchandise trailers, food stands, or midways. You brought your own food, drinks and stood and watched these drivers who scraped enough money to wait outside the gates to get into lay it down the track. If they broke a part, then most of them the day was finished.

Today's NHRA National Full Throttle Series Events are filled with Big Rig Trailers painted to the same scheme on the cars that are sponsoring them. The colors and the art work are so extravagant, it is just amazing to see. The Midway is filled with sponsor tents, games, food vendors, team merchandise trailers and autograph signing outlets. There you can check out the latest arrivals of what the sponsors have to supply and even get free samples or their products. You can strap into a drag racing simulator and experience what it feels like to go 300 mph down the drag strip. Oh! There are so many food vendors that you have an abundance of choices of dishes you're in the mood for. From American, Italian, Chinese, Mexican or specialty food items, sometimes it is hard to chose. There is also the Nitro Mall, where you can get merchandise that the NHRA has to offer, but their are also individual Team Trailers that you can buy merchandise from for your favorite team or driver. The atmosphere in my opinion is like attending a State Fair, but with an added great attraction of Drag Racing.

Beyond the Midway is where you'll find the Pit Areas. That are filled with rows and rows of Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Pro Mod, Competition, and street racing teams. There you will find all the Trailers lined up perfectly with awnings covering the race cars and creating Hospitality Functions. Some are really elaborate and some of the best food is cooked within the ranks. You'll find yourself up front and intimate with your favorite team of driver in the pits. They find the time to sign autographs, take pictures, and mingle with their fans. They are the best at fan relations within the NHRA Sport. While in the pits, you can watch the mechanics work to get their cars ready for the next race in which they usually have the car turned around and ready to warm up in 30 minutes average. Then there is the warm up. If you have never experienced a Nitro Burning Fuel Car warm up in the pit, I warn you to have ear plugs and don't breathe too deep. Your eyes will also start watering, but when it's done, you'll be hooked on the smell of Nitro.

Then there is the Event of Drag Racing down the track. I know, you are having so much fun on the midway and in the pits, you almost forget to go watch the race. When you hear the roar of the first Nitro Top Fuel Dragster or Nitro Funny Car go down the track, and you are in the Midway, your jaw drops, your heart about skips a beat, and you'll rush to the stands to see something that you never experienced before. When you are watching those 8,000 horsepower fuel cars go down the track for the fist time, you feel like you should be hiding behind a shielded wall, thinking of what if that thing explodes. But with the safety that goes into these powerful speed creations, your pretty safe in the stands.
Usually Friday and Saturdays are qualifying days. That is where the drivers race against the Elapse Time (ET) Clock to get position for the 16 car field on Sundays elimination event. There are 4 qualifying rounds unless it is dampened by mother nature of curfews. Then on Sunday there are 4 ladder events. you have 1st round with the 16 car field, then second round with 8 cars, next is Semi Finals to 4 cars, then the Final 2 cars. If you're in the field to race on Sunday, everyone has a chance to win the race. I have seen the 16 qualifier take out the #1 qualifier and win the event. Anything can happen on race day, that is why it is so exciting.

If you have never attended an event, than I strongly recommend getting to at least one in the near future. I can almost guarantee, that you'll be hooked and you can't wait until the next event to come back to your home race track. There you will be within the World of the NHRA, and nothing else will matter. The experience is far the best I have ever witnessed.

Please check the NHRA's web site below to get more information on upcoming events, history, news and teams and drivers.

NHRA Web Site:

NHRA