A Day at the Drag Races: A Novice Tackles the NHRA Nationals

When I caught wind of NHRA legend John Force’s popularity, I became curious about the draw of drag racing. Even with a few extended family members committed to the cause, I had never put myself in a position to view any high-speed activities unless you count the time my 10-year-old highjacked his grandfather’s golf cart and nearly took out a row of mailboxes in a small Florida community. But when John Force Racing’s Elon Werner suggested I go the distance and witness the racing excitement first hand, I decided it was time to get up to speed. So I landed in the stands (and on the track!) at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, and had a blast.

Here’s what I learned….

Fans are the driving force

They might not be behind the wheel, but fans are what propel the race and the industry. (Did you know there’s a Drag Illustrated magazine?) It’s no surprise that NHRA is a multi-billion dollar industry given the size of their fan base. NHRA’s Terry Blount cites 2015 ESPN research that indicates the organization has approximately 74.4 million casual and 18.8 million avid fans. That’s a lot of love. And it’s reciprocated. NHRA and the teams celebrate fans as much as fans celebrate the sport and its drivers—which is why a day at the races is more than just hitting the track. Racers interact with fans throughout the day, offering up autographs, dragster insight and gratitude for helping them keep their momentum.

Drag racing is complicated and fascinating

From track and equipment analysis to driver reaction time, the behind-the-scenes preparation is intricate and nonstop. Part physics, part meteorology, geology and psychology, it truly does take a team. Forget that bad boy image of teenage hotrod racing. One step into the team trailers, and it’s more James Bond than American Graffiti with lots of man- and womanpower making the magic happen.

It’s a family affair

Unlike some sporting events, the stands at NHRA events boast a multigenerational crowd and women are well-represented. Like many of the drivers, fans were introduced to the sport by their parents. And it wasn’t always Dad.

Earplugs are essential

It’s even louder than I thought, but what do you expect when you’re going from zero to 355 mph or so? Fans and team members never leave home without their enthusiasm and earplugs.

Women are rocking the races

Keep your eye on drivers Courtney Force, Brittany Force and Alexis DeJoria and you’ll see that they are giving the guys a run for their money and beating more than a few to the finish line. It’s no longer a man’s game on the track or in the stands. And the proof is also in the fan mail— Courtney Force loves the artwork young children give to her on race day. The majority of the artists? Young girls who have chosen her as their favorite racer.

Your car has probably been influenced by drag racing

From glass and spark plugs to fuel and design, lessons learned from high-speed drag racing moments often translate into making our everyday vehicles safer and more efficient. Behind the scenes, technology is key and sharing is all part of the game. What may seem like an inapplicable sport in real life, provides answers and insight into vehicle design and safety for speed limit obsessed drivers and their sensible sedans.

Champions can’t shake that competitive tendency

I took an unofficial survey while chatting with about a dozen NHRA superstars including the Force family, Greg Anderson, Cruz Pedregon, Alexis DeJoria, Doug Kalitta and J.R. Todd, and only one (unnamed) driver claimed to be non-competitive off track. All of the rest fessed up to being super-competitive outside of work. At they same time, these drivers know how to face defeat and learn from it. The bottom line? Pick an NHRA winner to be on your bridge team and never go up against one in Monopoly.