The Beauty of Drag Racing

As you may know, I recently graduated from college with degrees in Sport Communication and Public Relations. I chose these majors because, when I entered my freshman year of college, my goal was to become a PR Representative for a drag racing team. Several years have passed since my freshman year, and my love for racing has grown. Not only do I enjoy NHRA drag racing, but I'm also a fan of NASCAR, IndyCar, and Formula 1, and I would be more than happy to work within any of these organizations.

Now that I've graduated, I'm often asked: "Which kind of racing do you like better?"

Hmm.

I can honestly say that's a tough one. NASCAR, while I used to not like it, has risen toward the top. I diligently follow the headlines and watch the races every week.

I like IndyCar and Formula 1 because I love all of the road courses, especially when they race in the rain; however, I do not follow these series as closely as I follow NASCAR and NHRA.

While I have broadened my horizons beyond drag racing, I'd have to say that NHRA drag racing is still my number 1.

"Why?" you may ask.

Depending on the category, each match may only last 4 to 7 seconds, but there is something about the simplicity of drag racing that I simply can't ignore.

1. While I referred to drag racing as simple, it's far from it. From the stands or on TV, we may only see the drivers make their pass down the drag strip, but there is so much more to it than that. Have you ever gone down to the pit area and watch the crew members work on the machines? If one small part is broken or isn't in its correct place, much more could happen than not making a good run. For instance, the car may not start when it's in the staging lanes, the car may not go in reverse after the burn out, the engine may blow up, and so on. Overall, it may look easy to make a run down the strip, but there is so much more going on within that machine than you can even think of.



Spencer Massey putting fuel into his dragster.

2. One of my favorite parts of going to an NHRA event is being able to see the drivers. I always hear that NASCAR drivers are accessible, but NHRA drivers knock it out of the park. Your ticket for an NHRA event gets you into the pit area - you don't need to pay extra for it or be in "the know." Often times for NASCAR events, you have to have a hot/cold pass to get close to the cars, but that's not the case for NHRA. If you want to watch the crew members work on the cars, you're more than welcome to do so. Also, as mentioned, it's relatively easy to meet the drivers. They make a point of meeting the fans frequently throughout event weekends. If they aren't out when you walk by, just wait awhile or come back later because you will most likely see them. You can also take to Twitter (if your favorite driver is on there) and ask them when would be best to stop by. Chances are that you will get a reply.
3. I've had the pleasure of frequently talking to low-budget NASCAR drivers, and I always hear the same thing - if you are a low-budget team, your chances of getting a good finish are slim. Well, let me rephrase that: a good finish for a low-budget team is not the same as a good finish for teams like Team Penske, Joe Gibbs Racing, and the like. For some of the teams with lower budgets, they are ecstatic with an occasional top-20 finish. In drag racing, yes, team budgets are a crucial part; however, it's not the main part. By this, I mean that drag racing is a right time-right place kind of sport. Because you are one-on-one with another driver, anything can happen. Upsets happen frequently. Granted, simply because an upset occurs in the first round, that doesn't mean the driver will go on to win the event. But getting that first round win is a huge confidence booster.
4. Lastly, I mentioned that drag racing is a sport where drivers face each other one-on-one. I love this. It goes back to drag racing being a sport where anything can happen. Say you're seeded in the 16th position and have to face the #1 qualifier in the first round - the odds may not be ever in your favor, but you still have a chance because it's just you and one other driver as opposed to 1 vs. 42 in NASCAR.

Overall, nothing can beat my love for NHRA drag racing. Don't get me wrong - I love other racing series, as well (it's hard to pull me away from the TV when a NASCAR race is on), but NHRA will always be my number 1.

Race-Attending Etiquette

I’ve attended a fair amount of races in my time (granted, I’m only 22), and it has occurred to me that many people are… inconsiderate.

*It should be noted that I considered using a much less delicate word in place of inconsiderate.

I know this may seem like I’m being overly sensitive to what others do, and you may even think I’m the one being rude for pointing this out.

But the things I’ve seen people do at races, both NASCAR and NHRA, have blown my mind.

In June, my mom and I sat behind some of the rudest people I have ever been near at an event.

Because of this, it lead me to believe that some people could use a resource for proper race-attending “etiquette.”

So, here it goes:

This is not okay.

1. Do not stand during the race. For a NASCAR race, it’s perfectly fine to stand during the first and last few laps. Cheer on your driver! That’s partially why you’re there, after all. Even stand during cautions. Try to find out what’s going on. Stretch, go to the bathroom, walk around—not much is happening during cautions laps. But when the race is in full action, sit your butt down. If you’re standing, the people behind you have to stand. The people behind them have to stand… and so on. And if those behind you decide not to stand (I’m that type of person because I don’t want to stand for the whole race—that’s why I purchased tickets for a seat), then that means they probably can’t see. I like to be able to see what I paid for, and I didn’t pay to see your back and butt. For a NHRA event, the same rule applies. Sit down. All it takes is a couple of people at the finish line to stand, then pretty much everyone needs to stand. Life would be so much easier if everyone just sat down!
   
   
2. Keep your trash to yourself. Too many times now, my favorite driver has been screwed over from winning a race because trash was on the grill of his car. I know accidents happen and things can get away from you, but I see way too much trash flying around. Yeah, yeah… it may be funny to cause a caution or to wreck someone’s chance at winning. But it’s really not. I don’t see trash flying around as often at NHRA events, but keep your trash to yourself there, too. If it gets on the track, the Safety Safari will have to pick it up, and it slows down the flow of the event.
   
   
3. Do not smoke in the stands. My father smokes, so I am used to it. I’m used to people doing the whole “fake cough” thing because they don’t like smoke getting blown in their face. I can see how it is rude to smoke in a grandstand full of people, especially if there are young children around. I fully understand that it is your right to smoke, but I suggest you just go down under the stands to smoke. You won’t miss much of the racing action.
   
   But keep in mind that the “fake cough” is rude, too.
   
   
4. Be patient in the parking lot. There are a lot of people at a racing event, but it might not always seem like that until you are actually trying to leave. When my mom and I went to Pocono Raceway, we waited nearly 30 minutes to get out of our parking spot just to get into the line to leave the track. Practice the rule of letting one person into the line. I know, I know. If you don’t let anyone in line, you may get out sooner. Trust me—you’re going to be waiting for a long time anyway, so you might as well be polite.
   
   On the flip side of this, also don’t be rude if you are the one trying to get into the line. If you see someone let a person into line, don’t make them let you out, too. I point this out because, sometimes when I let people into line, a lot of people try to take advantage of that opportunity.
   
   Long story short, everyone just wait your turn. You will get out of there eventually!
   
   
5. Be mindful of little kids. I mean several things with this statement. If you are the one with children, keep track of them. It’s difficult for those around you to enjoy the race when kids are running all over the place. I know they have a lot of energy, so take them underneath the stands and let them play for a little bit so they aren’t distracting everyone.
   
   If you don’t have kids but there are kids sitting behind you, try to make it so they can see. As mentioned previously, it’s not fun to have your only view be the back of a person’s head. When we were at Pocono, there were kids next to me. A man in front of these kids stood nearly the entire time. Those poor kids could not see, and that is not going to be a memorable experience for them.
   
   And finally, let kids go in front of you when you are in line for an autograph. This isn’t always necessary if it’s an organized autograph session (with wristbands or something). But if the driver(s) kind of seem to be in a rush, make sure the kids are able to meet them. This goes back to making the experience memorable for the kids. :)

That’s all I have!

Moral of the story—just remember to be courteous and thoughtful when you are at the track. I know it’s important to have fun (tons and tons of fun!), but that doesn’t mean you have to be rude to those around you. After all, they want to have fun, too!

What tips do you have for those going to an upcoming racing event?

NHRA and NASCAR -- Save the dates (and times!)

The racing season kicked off this past weekend with TUDOR United SportCar's Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway. For details on the race, click here.

This means that the first NHRA and NASCAR races are right around the corner!

I don't want you to miss any of the action, so here is the schedule for the upcoming events:

NHRA

The NHRA season will kick off at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California for the Winternationals. The event is from February 6 through February 9.

TV Schedule

Qualifying: February 8 from 11:00 p.m. to 1 a.m. ET on ESPN2
Eliminations: February 9 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET on ESPN

Are you attending the race? Visit www.nhra.com for a full race schedule!

NASCAR

The official NASCAR season starts with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on February 21, the NASCAR Nationwide Series on February 22, and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series on February 23 at Daytona International Speedway.

TV Schedule

NCWTS qualifying: February 21 at 4:05 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1
NCWTS race (NextEra Energy Resources 250): February 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1

NNS qualifying: February 21 at 1:05 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1
NNS race (DRIVE4COPD 300): February 22 at 1:15 p.m. ET on ESPN

Sprint Cup qualifying: February 16 at 1:05 p.m. ET on FOX
Sprint Cup race (Daytona 500): February 23 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX

However, don't forget to watch the entire Daytona Speedweeks extravaganza (practices and Budweiser Duels and the Sprint Unlimited, oh my)! To view the full TV schedule, click here.

Who's ready?

What is a Pedal Fest?

If you attended the NHRA Auto Plus Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway or (like me) watched it on TV, you might have noticed a little trend:

It was pedal fest, after pedal fest, after red light, after pedal fest...

What's the best way to explain a pedal fest?

Cruz Pedregon, driver of the Snap-on Funny Car and two-time NHRA Funny Car Champion, said that a pedal fest is "When two cars smoke the tires at the same time, the key is to 'pedal' the car. This means that you try to catch the car in tire smoke as quick as possible and let off the throttle. Then, you get right back on gradually and hope the car works through it. If not, repeat."

This is when it becomes a battle. Remember, the goal is always to get to the finish line first, so the drivers may have to step on it six or seven times (maybe more) to beat the car in the other lane.

I can't even imagine what it must feel like stepping on and off of the throttle in a car with an average of 8,000 horsepower, but Pedregon tried to sum it up for those of us who have not experienced it: "You have to be one with the car. I just react in a slip second. Depending on the number of times I have to get back on the car, I'm going back and forth in the seat."

A photo of a pedal fest. Photo courtesy of www.markjrebilas.com.

The photo above is a great illustration, but I think the best way to understand it is to watch it. Click here for a video of a pedal fest between Phil Burkhart and Cruz Pedregon at Thunder Valley in 2004.

Pretty impressive, exciting, and arguably one of the best I've seen.

However, out of the multitude of pedal fests he has been a part of over the years, the most memorable for Pedregon was the 1992 final between him and John Force in Dallas.

"Without question, that win stands out. The championship was on the line, and it was a come from behind victory," he said.

Is there a pedal fest battle that stands out the most in your mind? Share your thoughts!

Track Tips: Gateway Motorsports Park

The 2nd Annual Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park in St. Louis is one week away!

Unfortunately, I can't make it this year. However, I do have a few tips for those of you who are headed to the NHRA event based on my experience at the track last year.

1. If you haven't purchased your tickets yet, I strongly suggest sitting in Nitro 1 (which you can see in the diagram below). This is where I sat last year, and I loved it. This area was fenced, and the park officials did a great job of ensuring that only those with tickets for that area were allowed in. Another perk of sitting here is that the tow vehicles park in front of the section. Why is this awesome? Because this is also where the drivers stand before/after they make their run. In other words, it's a chance to get some autographs! Seats in Nitro 1/Nitro 2 also give you a great perspective of the track. Normally, you'll see the side of the car as it goes by. Here, you'll be able to see them from behind as they go all the way down the track. It gives you an idea of what the drivers are seeing when they make their run. I can't say everyone will love these seats, but they are my first pick.
   
   I suggest sitting in Nitro 1, but Nitro 2 might be great, as well!
   Photo retrieved from Gateway Motorsports Park.
   
   
2. Because the event is sponsored by AAA Insurance, you might get a discount on tickets if you are a AAA member. We got a 10% discount last year. I can't say for sure that they will give discounts to AAA members this year. I also don't know how much the discount might be, but any kind of a discount is good in my book!
3. Great news! I took to Twitter and asked Gateway Motorsports Park if there will be a track walk this year. The answer is yes! Do it. Get to the track early if you can. Pre-race ceremonies start at 10 a.m. on Sunday (Sept. 29), and the track walk is a part of these ceremonies. The track walk isn't only a chance to walk the quarter-mile drag strip with fellow NHRA fans, but you also get to walk with NHRA stars. I don't know who will walk the track at this event, but Robert Hight, Terry McMillen, and TJ Zizzo walked with fans last year.
   
   
   A photo of the NHRA fans walking the track at Gateway Motorsports Park last year.
   
   
   *Also, as a side note, don't wear flip flops during the track walk. You might lose one. ;)

Will you make your way to the Gateway of the West next weekend? What are you most looking forward to?

Indianapolis: The Big Go

It's the biggest race of the year.

The U.S. Nationals. Indy. The Big Go.

Why is the atmosphere surrounding the U.S. Nationals so palpable?

The Big Go

This year marks the 59th running of the U.S. Nationals, and it is the 52nd consecutive year the event has been held in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Raceway.

Originally called "The Nationals," the Big Go was first held in Great Bend, Kansas in 1955. At that time, it was the NHRA's only national event.

Then, the event moved to Michigan's Detroit Dragway.

In 1961, the NHRA's U.S. Nationals found its permanent home in Indy at Lucas Oil Raceway (formerly Indianapolis Raceway Park).

The U.S. Nationals has a different setup than the other races on NHRA's circuit. The pro categories make five qualifying runs (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) instead of the usual four (Friday and Saturday).

Running eliminations on Labor Day, it is the only Monday event on NHRA's schedule. In fact, in 2004, the U.S. Nationals earned the title of being the longest-running Labor Day motorsports event in the United States.

Additionally, the Big Go is notorious for holding a "race within a race." In recent years, this event has been titled the Traxxas Shootout.

Eight drivers from both the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories compete. Seven of the eight drivers qualify for the Traxxas Shootout by being the first drivers to win in the regular season. The eighth driver is entered into the shootout by a fan vote lottery drawing. (If a driver receives 35% of the vote, they will have 35 entries in the drawing).

When these drivers run in the shootout, each round counts toward their qualifying effort.

The prize? The winner in each category receives $100,000 and a huge (and heavy!) trophy.

According to Larry Dixon, a four-time U.S. Nationals winner, the race in Indy has become "the biggest, most prestigious race on tour."

Dixon explained how the U.S. Nationals earned the name "The Big Go": "Back in the day, it was the only race. It was the biggest, and you had to go."

It was where the big names--the legends--gathered: Don "The Snake" Prudhomme, Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen, "Big Daddy" Don Garlits...

Now, the Big Go is also the last regular season event in the NHRA circuit before the countdown to the championship starts. It is your last chance to secure a spot in the top ten. After eliminations in Indy, the top 10 to compete for the championship are set.

In short, drivers and crews bring their A-game to Indy. They want to win Indy more than (almost) anything.

In a TV interview, Ron Capps, driver of the NAPA Auto Parts Funny Car, said when he was asked if he would rather win the championship or the Big Go, that it's something you have to think about.

I asked Dixon the same question. "That would be like choosing which kid is your favorite," he said. It's impossible. Indy is that big.

2013 Traxxas Shootout Winners

Top Fuel: Shawn Langdon
Funny Car: Jack Beckman

 

2013 U.S. Nationals Winners

Top Fuel: Shawn Langdon
Funny Car: Robert Hight
Pro Stock Car: Mike Edwards
Pro Stock Motorcycle: John Hall

Some information for this post was retrieved from the following:
Lucas Oil Raceway's website
Wikipedia

What is a Reaction Time?

First thing's first: what is a reaction time (abbreviated as RT)?

In drag racing, the reaction time is the amount of time it takes a driver to react to the green light on the Christmas Tree (which is an electronic device on the starting line that shows each driver's approach to the line--pictured below).

This is a picture of how the current NHRA Christmas Tree appears.

Picture retrieved from USA Today.

Measured in thousandths of a second, the reaction time often determines the winner of the race.

Larry Dixon, NHRA Top Fuel driver and three-time champion, said that a good RT is "vital to help the team win rounds, getting that head start" over the driver in the other lane.

However, it is important to not get too much of a head start, as a driver may red light. If a driver red lights during eliminations, they are automatically disqualified and lose the round.

So, what does a good reaction time look like?

My dad has always told me, "Getting a .000 light is basically a bad red light." Meaning, either the driver was too quick on the throttle or simply guessed on the light and got lucky.

"For me, I sleep well at night cutting .040-.050," Dixon said.

The next question for Dixon--if a driver knows they have a performance advantage over another, does that mean there is less emphasis on the RT?

Dixon said that he tries to be the same, regardless of the competition. Drag racing can be unpredictable, and it is important to remain as consistent as possible.

To test your reaction time, you can go here. My best reaction time in ten tries was .035. How did you do?

Night Under Fire at Summit Motorsports Park

Do you remember my top ten reasons to visit Summit Motorsports Park? Well, another reason to visit is SMP's Night Under Fire.

I attended this year's Night Under Fire with my dad on Aug. 10. A picture is worth 1,000 words, right? So, instead of writing about my experience, here are 50 pictures in honor of Summit Motorsports Park's 50th anniversary.

If you would like to read specifics about their year's event, you may do so here.

*Note: I did the best I could with my picture-taking. Keep in mind that they were all taken with my iPhone!

Nostalgia Funny Cars

Mark Oswald in the Candies Funny Car vs. Jim Head in the Funny Car Firebird

Contemporary Funny Cars

Blake Alexander, Chad Head, John Force, and Robert Hight

Benny "The Bomb"

This 70-year-old man gets into a car that is strapped with dynamite...and sits in it as it explodes

Monster Trucks

Performed a car-crushing freestyle and battled to make a 100 mph lap down the drag strip

Larry "Spiderman" McBride

Goes 200+ mph on two wheels

Jet Dragsters

Jill Canuso, Elaine Larsen, Ernie Bogue, and Lou Pereira

Stuntman Chris Morena

Performed the "Suicide Spiral." The goal is the land tires-first...the didn't happen. He landed upside down, but he was okay. *Note: The fire is not from the spiral--it was from fireworks.

Tim Chitwood

Drove his truck on two side-wheels for a quarter-mile...with a person on the outside of the truck.

Bubba Blackwell

Jumped over 12 cars on his Harley-Davidson Motorcycle

Bob Motz's Jet Truck

Uses his Jet Kenworth to burn down a billboard

Fireworks

$100,000 worth

It was such a great night. I can't wait for next year!

What do you think would be your favorite part?