CHANDLER, Ariz. — It feels cliché to write this because it’s been told to me so many times, but anyone who calls themselves a motorsports fan needs to experience the sights, sounds, smells, and feelings of an NHRA drag racing weekend.
This reporter has covered many forms of auto racing — almost everything from bandoleros on short tracks to Formula 1 and countless NASCAR races over the last decade.
And with as many experiences as I’ve had covering racing of all different types, nothing left a first impression on me the same way an NHRA Top Fuel dragster when it gets the green light did.
If you’re standing on the ground, wear ear protection — and then put ear protection over your ear protection. The cars are incredibly loud, and the rumble of the engines vibrates the ground, the grandstands, and your body to its core.
The vibrations are nothing like NASCAR or open-wheel racing. Yes, auto racing is naturally loud, and ear protection is always a wise decision. Still, an accelerating dragster produces such a shock to your system that you’ll want to reach to cover your already protected ears.
The sound of these nitro-powered cars is so great that if you’re not paying attention to the track, the sudden roar of the engine will make you jump out of your skin. Hell, even if you are paying attention, that still might happen.
The press building at Firebird (formerly Wild Horse Pass) Motorsports Park shakes when drivers rev their cars’ engines on the strip. The sound is powerful even inside the media room.
I figured I looked like such a rookie each time I was startled by the roar of the engines. It was my first time seeing the NHRA, after all. But a few industry people I spoke to said they still occasionally flinch — even after years of exposure to the sport.
NHRA is well-known across the American motorsports landscape but isn’t covered as extensively as NASCAR and IndyCar. Only a handful of reporters were on assignment in the press area (myself included), and it doesn’t get network TV time like NASCAR and open-wheel.
But this type of motorsport is a gem. The Force family is like royalty in the NHRA paddock. John Force and his daughter Brittany still compete, while Ashley and Courtney are retired from drag racing. But every time one of the Forces has their name announced on the PA system, the crowd erupts in cheers. The Force family in drag racing is what the Fonda family once was in Hollywood — a dynasty of greatness and fame that spans multiple generations.
On Friday evening, the track underwent extensive prep work. NHRA did not specifically say what the issue was, but there was chatter on the ground that the concrete started coming up from the racing surface about 800 feet down the strip.
“Some of the track was coming up down there. It’s the concrete,” said Tony Shortall, crew chief for Funny Car driver Jeff Diehl. “It looks like it’s where they ground it or prepped it. It looks like the aggregate was coming apart.”
Two other team representatives were asked to comment on the track conditions, and both declined. Their reason for refusal was similar, citing that they work for a race team, not for NHRA itself.
NHRA released a statement about the delay, which lasted more than two hours. However, other than mentioning weather conditions, the statement did not explain in detail why the extra prep time was needed.
“Due to unseasonable weather conditions on Friday in Phoenix, the Safety Safari has spent additional time working on the track and track prep,” the statement said. “When we return to racing action, Legends Nitro Funny Cars will be the first cars on the track, followed by the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, starting with Funny Car.
“Based on Saturday’s forecast, we expect great race conditions, and we plan to start racing in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at 8 a.m., as scheduled.”
That’s the complete release. The series never actually said if the track had damage, as Shortall said. It’s also unclear if the weather actually caused any damage or if it might simply be a result of an aging racing surface.
Over the years, NASCAR has delayed races due to track repairs. While it’s unfortunate when that happens, NASCAR has been generally transparent with teams and fans about it. NHRA didn’t quite do the same on Friday.
“(NHRA) didn’t let us know what they did,” Shortall said. “We got to try to figure it out on our own.”
Nevertheless, Friday and Saturday were an eye-opening two days. NHRA really puts the word MOTOR in motorsports. Having thousands of horsepower sitting idle at the start line and then erupting into more than 300 mph in seconds is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
A two-car run down the strip is as loud and as fast as anything that isn’t designed to take flight, and even if you don’t come to root for a particular driver or follow the overall championship, it’s worth coming for the mesmerizing experience that is NHRA drag racing.
