About Drag Racing
Drag racing is a competitive event of two vehicles racing to reach a specific distance. Unlike the more popular auto races that occur around an entire track, this type of race is intended to be ran in a straight distance of a quarter of a mile on a unique strip. Professional and amateur drag races occur in various countries all throughout the year.
History
According to the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), the first drag race began in the early 1930's, but the first commercial race occurred in 1953 in Pomona, California. Although it is not quite certain how the name came about, many people believe that "drag" race means to hold the transmission in gear for a specified amount of time.
Types of drag racing vehicles
There are three types of car used in drag racing:
- Top Fuel
- Funny drag cars
- Pro Stock
Top fuel cars are designed to top speeds over 330 miles per hour (mph). They use a special mixture of carbon fiber and nitromethane fuel instead of gas. These are the fastest accelerating cars made. Funny drag cars are made from a carbon frame, but resemble a standard car. They can also reach a speed of 330 mph even though it is very light in weight. Pro stock vehicles also resemble a regular automobile but can reach 200 mph.
Types of drag racing
There are two popular styles of drag racing, which are:
- Handicap
- Heads-up
In a handicap race, the drivers predict the length of time it will take to reach the finish line without going under or over a certain speed. The driver who comes the closest to the predicted time is crowned the winner. The heads-up race is when both drivers take off at the same time, but whoever crosses the finish line first is the winner.
Track layout
The drag race track is known as a strip and only has two racing lanes. The strip is also equipped with special sensors, lights and timers to ensure accurate finish times. The racing lane is one-fourth of a mile (1,320 feet) and the approximately 30 feet wide.