In basic terms, a drag race is an acceleration contest between two vehicles over a measured distance, but what is a holeshot? Or a breakout? Welcome to NHRA 101, your complete guide to the world of NHRA Drag Racing, from the terminology of the sport to what you need to enjoy a day at the races to info on the many different vehicles that take to the track during a race weekend.
All 24 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events feature same-day television coverage on ESPN2 of the Professional-class action with play-by-play from motor racing veteran Paul Page and expert color commentary by former Top Fuel and Funny Car racer Mike Dunn. Sundays kick off with NHRA Race Day presented by Lucas Oil, a half-hour pre-race show that gets you up to speed for the day's activities. ESPN2 also offers coverage of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. NHRA Drag Racing also is aired in Canada on TSN.
NHRA.com offers a wide array of multimedia features for you to enjoy the sights and sounds of NHRA Drag Racing. With video clips and photos from the Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, the popular Auto Imagery Photo of the Week, and a gallery of .wav files for your computer, there's lots to see and hear in NHRA Multimedia.
In the words of baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra, Jim Dunn hopes it's “déjà vu all over again” this weekend at the 22nd annual NHRA Northwest Nationals. Dunn and team won last year’s event, and with new team driver Jerry Toliver behind the wheel this year, they would love to repeat the feat. Full Story Video Link
View Gallery
BELATED THANKS Tim Ditt had to wait nearly 40 years to finally thank the man who saved his life
The stars of the NHRA take you behind the scenes with exclusive journals.
News and notes from the NHRA Full Throttle and Lucas Oil Series
Shop at NitroMall.com
"Winning makes you heal from all those times that you lost before. This is my Robitussin.” -- Denver Top Fuel winner Antron Brown
“I think it’s only on your birthday that you get away with what I got away with.” -- Norwalk Funny Car winner (and birthday boy) Jack Beckman, on his close .001 light in the final
"We didn't make it down the track on our last pass; we needed to learn our boundaries and where we can't go tomorrow." -- Norwalk Funny Car low qualifier Mike Neff
"We’re on a little bit of a mini streak right now and we’d like to keep it going." -- Norwalk Pro Stock Motorcycle low qualifier Matt Guidera
"Racing on the same track as ‘Jungle’ and Garlits and Shirley and all my heroes that I grew up watching race is a great deal.” -- Englishtown Top Fuel winner Larry Dixon
"Give it everything it has." -- Englishtown Top Fuel low qualifier Tony Schumacher to crew chief Mike Green before taking the top spot
“I watched Don Prudhomme win his last Top Fuel race in Dallas in 1994, and now he’s high-fiving me in the winner’s circle. That’s unbelievable.” -- Chicago Top Fuel winner Spencer Massey
“Being No. 1 means a lot to me and gives me confidence going into Sunday, but it’s still not quite as good as the two runner-ups.” -- Pro Stock Motorcycle rookie Doug Horne, on his first career pole
"Alan [Johnson, team owner] took his crew chief hat off and put his coach hat on and worked on me and getting me right." -- Topeka Top Fuel winner Larry Dixon
"We’ve run good in the heat before, and we’ll just do what we do. The good thing is we’re all in the same boat." -- Topeka Funny Car low qualifier Ashley Force Hood