NHRA Drag Strip

The complex was built in 1960, and that it has since held annually is the oldest and most prestigious race sponsored NHRA — U.S. Nationals. It rattled the fateful battle back in the days when the season consisted of only four instead of twenty-four's Event now. This is a real Mecca for all fans of mind-blowing acceleration, which is not indifferent to the history of your favorite sport. For any pilot's victory in the U.S. Nationals — an incredible honor and a reason for pride, because valuable trophy, produced in Indianapolis, can only be the title. There is never empty seats in the stands, even taking into account that it is the only event, which ends on Monday evening. In parallel with the stage of the regular season this weekend held the bonus race Nitro Shootout, where both divisions nitromethane pilots fighting for a check of $ 100 000. Well, in addition to the prize Wally are comparable to the championship — nearly a quarter of a million dollars. Only U.S. Nationals to win one of the races Shootout relies thirty points instead of the usual twenty. Thus, becoming the first driver in Indianapolis enter your name into history, it makes a very impressive by the standards of the industry and the amount gets a unique chance to climb in the standings and jump up on the step of the departing train called Countdown To The Championship. U.S. Nationals — the final stage of the regular season, after which only the top ten drivers in each class continue to fight for the top six regalia during the events. Lucas Oil Raceway — is the number one place that is worth a visit as soon as possible, if «402» is not just the numbers for you.

As well as Lucas Oil Raceway in Pomona track unlike other tracks is directly in the NHRA property. In this concrete strip since 1961, holds its first official event of the year NHRA — Winternationals. Huge complex, calculated today by 40 000 visitors in the mid-fifties was the parking site where California Hot Rodder on a semi-legal basis of race staged on weekends. And in 1984, he moved here and the final stage of the most prestigious in the world championship drag racing — NHRA Finals, the results of which until 1974 was determined the winner of the national championship. Auto Club Raceway also never had problems with attendance, because this is where all fans flocking rate in February after a long period of the off-season to enjoy plenty mnogolitrovyh roar of engines, the smell of burnt rubber and cheer for your favorite pilot. And in November, surrounded by mountains on the road year after year continues to decide the fate of the championship, because drivers do not always have enough of twenty-three steps to ensure his place in history.

C 1970 in Gainesville held, perhaps, the third on the importance and historical significance of the championship event — Gatornationals. In addition to this strip, located in North Florida, it is considered one of the fastest in the vast geography NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.Tak, for example, in this concrete kvotere the first time in world history collapsed boundaries 260, 270 and 300 mph. All teams without exception await this first stop on the east coast, to overwrite existing records time and maximum speed. And we have to admit that, year after year for many this can be done here, in the third stage in a row championship. This year, Jack Beckman continued his last year's war with a stopwatch, and once again pushed the bar passage tysyachefutovoy distance in the classroom Funny Car.

The track in Concord, established in 2008 for a record six months, can not boast such a rich history as the all of the above, but there is one very important «but». It is the world's only quad strip, the idea of ​​building which has come to its owner in 1998. Initially, the state government and the bosses NHRA innovative idea was received very cool for security reasons and because of the low appeal for spectators. I think it is difficult to find a person who is interested in motor sport, which says that 40 000 «horses», bursting into the atmosphere nitromethane pillars of flame, shaking the bleachers deafening roar of a low frequency, can create some noise for entertainment. In each race involved four car, go to the next round the top two and the winner is the one of the four semi-finalists. Despite the crazy popularity among fans, contrary to the expectations of skeptics, for pilots Four-Wide Nationals — it is always a very difficult test, and here it is necessary especially for beginners hard times. Two pairs of lanes, separated by concrete striker, two Christmas trees at the start and the big problems with concentration on the opponent. Many riders from their emotions Zmax Dragway describe roughly as follows: «Concord — this is probably the only place where you just do not screw it up and put pressure on all the money. There is absolutely no way to look, how are things at your opponent. Because three of them. » A unique place, a unique event, but the eyes and the truth at first.

Despite the fact that Bristol Dragway has long been on an annual basis it takes NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, namely the strip began in 1970, the cradle of the rival organization IHRA (International Hot Rod Association), whose founder at the time was the owner of the track. In truth, this point in our collection does not possess a variety of significant historical events, the number of established records or some special qualities in terms of the race track, but you can hardly anywhere can find more picturesque scenery around the place where regular people gather who care about the environment in the last turn. And the thunder in the middle of the green hills surrounding the strip, generated huge engines at maximum speed, according to witnesses, presented quite an incredible experience. Apart from the natural beauty it is worth noting that this is where there was a historic race, when drivers at the finish line separated by exactly 0.000 seconds.

Always dreamed of his own strip, and in the bank accidentally lying around extra $ 2.7 million? Then, as they say, «do not pass by,» because you have to take! Founder and owner of the world famous tuning house Hennessy Performance Engineering, famous for its extreme versions of the road American cars, John Hennessey put up for sale test track Lonestar Motorsports Park. Located a 45-minute drive from the Houston complex of the Strip is a certified IHRA (International Hot Rod Association). In the appendage to an asphalt strip a mile-long walk rostrum, designed for 800 spectators, a hangar for storage of fuel, serviceable telemetry, but his own studio, which is located on the territory adjacent to the track, for obvious reasons, Hennessy decided to transaction object is not included.
If we remember how much it costs, such as kilometer section of the Moscow Ring Road, the price for a full race track with all the infrastructure it looks extremely attractive. Another thing is that the content of such sites — it's a huge job that requires constant infusions of financial and labor than a dozen people. That is why the head of Hennessy Performance Engineering has taken such a decision, and is now in search of a new host, who was able to find a good use for the Strip. Currently at Lonestar Motorsports Park race held every Saturday the local scale, and with the words of John Hennessy track will operate in the usual mode, exactly as long as will find a new owner.

Photo: open source