| Dragsters have become one of America's true | | | | local tracks in 1993 as the League grew at an |
| underground obsessions. Dragsters are half-scale | | | | astounding rate. Racers het sponsors, just like the |
| dragsters powered by five horsepower Briggs | | | | "big guys," to help pa for their racing cost and |
| & Stratton engines that produce speeds up | | | | race times may vary dependent upon weather |
| to 85 mph. Dragsters are known for their power | | | | conditions & special events. |
| and speed, and these models are no different. | | | | NHRA history: Drag racing's fast start born on the |
| Dragsters are children of drag racers or someone | | | | back roads of America in the post World War II |
| involved in the industry and are considered the | | | | years, drag racing's roots were planted on dry |
| fastest race cars on earth. | | | | lake beds like Muroc in California's Mojave Desert, |
| Dragsters can go as fast as 80 mph in as few as | | | | where hot-rodders had congregated since the |
| 7 seconds. These special cars race down a 20 | | | | early 1930s and speeds first topped 100 mph. |
| meter track (about 65 feet, 7 inches) down a | | | | NHRA's first races NHRA held its first official race |
| filament line (usually fishing line) that goes through | | | | in April 1953 on a slice of the Los Angeles County |
| screw eyes placed on the underside of the car. | | | | Fairgrounds parking lot in Pomona, Calif. NHRA and |
| They usually use pump gasoline for fuel, bust | | | | IHRA share some of these classes, but many are |
| most engines are modified to burn alcohol | | | | solely used by one sanctioning body or the other. |
| (methanol) for quicker times. Dragsters are the | | | | NHRA cars can run no more than 8. NHRA |
| result of years of extensive on-track testing and | | | | member tracks began adding JDRL programs, and |
| in-house development. | | | | dozens of builders began filling orders for Jr. NHRA |
| Dragsters cost between $8,000 and $9,000 new, | | | | national events are contested over a quarter-mile. |
| $3,000 to $4,500 used. They must use naturally | | | | Today's Top Fuel dragsters are |
| aspirated V8 engines fitted with carburetors only. | | | | computer-designed wonders with sleek profiles |
| These cars have progressed rapidly though and | | | | and wind-tunnel-tested rear airfoils that exert |
| can now even run 7 second quarter miles and can | | | | 5,000 pounds of down force on the rear tires |
| run superchargers or nitrous oxide. | | | | with minimal aerodynamic drag. DRAGSTERS are |
| Dragsters in the fastest classes can cover the | | | | fast, safe and fit perfectly into the curriculum. |
| quarter-mile in as few as six seconds at more | | | | Dragsters are required to use the same basic |
| than 200 mph, but NHRA also offers novice and | | | | five-horsepower Briggs & Stratton engine. |
| intermediate categories for every level of | | | | The bottom line: dragsters are made to haul |
| enthusiast. Races take place on a straight stretch | | | | ***** off the line. |
| of track and, for Jr. Racers began competing at | | | | |