“How to drag race”
Hunter Cooper 2/7/17 5th period In NHRA drag racing the racecars are constantly breaking track records with speeds of 330 plus MPH each year. There are 4 major NHRA drag racing classes that are famous, and seen on tv. They are Top Fuel Dragster, Top Fuel Funny Car, Pro Stock Car, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. There used to be more than that, but spectators were not happy with the classes they had, so NHRA Eliminated them. NHRA is the fastest racing motorsports in the world. NHRA has changed dramatically since 1951. In the 1950s, top performance marks were 140 mph in nine seconds. Today, they’re more than 330 mph in less than 3.7 seconds. Back then, winners earned little more than a trophy and bragging rights. Today’s racers in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series compete for trophies and bragging rights as well as a share of more than $3 million in prize money. Famous drivers like Don Garlits, Connie Kalitta, Andrew Hines, and Greg Anderson are all just some of the drivers that shaped the NHRA into what it is. Don Garlit is considered the father of drag racing. He is known as "Big Daddy" to drag racing fans around the world. Connie Kalitta is a retired American drag racing driver, once known as "The Bounty Hunter". Andrew Hines is a five-time National Hot Rod Association Pro Stock Motorcycle champion, and Greg anderson is a current NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock driver for KB Racing, driving the Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro. All these driver have revolutionized their NHRA cars to make quicker times, and faster speeds. Don Garlits was the first driver to ever race an electric top fuel dragster. That is just one way these drivers have helped the sport. Although Drag racing seems easy; the cars these drivers race are very ill handling and tough on the driver’s body.To drag race you have to do the following 1.Warm up your tires in the water box. 2.Approach the starting line from the staging area.3.Watch the Christmas Tree for the starting lights. 5.Leave on green. 5.Power through the finish. 6.Follow the proper slow-down etiquette. When a racer warms up there tires in the water box it means they do there burnout to gain traction to the track surface. The water box is just a little puddle of water that the drive goes through to make it easier to do a burnout. When a racer approaches the starting line they go slow so they don't go too far and get a red light. A red light means disqualified. The christmas tree is a stand with lights on it that tells the races when they are staged, and to go, or if they are disqualified. Once both racers are staged the top 4 yellow light will turn on. Then the tree flashes 6 yellow lights, then green. That's when you go. If the racer leaves before green they have a red light and they lost the race. There are a lot of benefits to being an NHRA driver. “Every driver type is paid different, depending on their series. Drivers from road racing series such as, World Challenge, or a similar sports-car series, if paid at all, don't make much. Some as little as, 25K...that's why so many race, in multiple series. NASCAR drivers for the Sprint Cup Series, can make millions of dollars a year, in fact...Danica Patrick, is one of the, five highest paid "Female" athletes in the world.” Being an NHRA driver is benefiting the drivers because they get the fame, the fortune, and much more.” Pro Stock Motorcycle riders, more often than not, make $30,000 A year just with races. “Top guys, on the Vance and Hines Screaming Eagles(Motorcycles) team may, make as much as 75-100K, after marketing money, and merchandising.” Antron Brown as an example and a team like, Don Schumacher Racing could be making a base salary of around 100-150K a season. There are some benefits to racing and I like them. NHRA is still the fastest racing association in the world to today. NHRA has changed dramatically since 1951. In Drag racing there is a lot of steps to follow. There are a lot of benefits to being an NHRA driver. Being in NHRA seem’s to be awesome to me, and I hope this essay has encouraged the readers to enjoy not only drag racing, but other series like NASCAR, FORMULA 1, and much more. |
AuthorMy name is Hunter Cooper, and I am an 8th grader at South Central middle school. Archives
May 2017
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