Since organized drag racing began in the late 1940s, the sport has been about creating the most powerful machines and the bravest drivers. To say it is a male dominated sport is an understatement, but it is one of the few sporting events where gender does not matter. In 1964, Barbara Hamilton became the first woman to earn a National Hot Rod Association racing license. Hamilton not only raced in events but also built and tuned her own vehicles.
There are few sports where you could compile a list of the top five competitors of all time and include both men and women, but drag racing is one such sport. Arguably the greatest female drag racer of all time, Shirley Muldowney won numerous national events and three NHRA titles during her 40-year racing career. Muldowney’s accomplishments were more than enough to secure her a place in any drag racing hall of fame as well as a spot in the top five drag racers of all time.
It takes a special woman to get into a drag racer in the first place, but in a male dominated sport it takes exceptional courage. From the very early days of women in the sport, the attitudes of male drivers made it a constant uphill struggle, but the ladies have more than proven their worth.
Drag racing is catching on and no matter what you’re planning on watching on Direct TV this weekend, we bet you there’s a drag race on or going on near you! Here are a few of the best races going on in somewhere near you soon
Tulsa Raceway Park: If you live in Oklahoma you’ve got to head to Tulsa to see this race. It’s one of the biggest in the Midwest and all your favorites are likely to ride – it’s state sanctioned, too, so you won’t have to worry about the cops shutting down all the fun.
Central Florida: The newest racing complex in Central Florida has all the bells and whistles you’d expect from something its size. There are dozens of races a month and you’re bound to see someone drag-famous here.
Pacific Raceways: There are tons of reasons to head to Pacific but the one that matters most is that you can practice AND catch a great race, all in one weekend. Head here for lessons on how to swerve, turn and float with the best of them.
Drag Racing is a sport for everybody. It is a sport of hand, eye and foot coordination. You can run anything down the racetrack including your mother’s mini van or your father’s super pro 1969 big block Camaro. The classes of Drag Racing are extremely wide ranging to include: jet cars, junior dragster, motorcycles, cars, boats, jet ski’s, monster trucks and even mud vehicles. This is an exhilarating sport for all ages. A regular car off of the showroom floor could show up to a local racetrack and run in the sportsman class while someone with a highly modified Ford Lightning could run in the Top Truck class. It makes no difference if you have a domestic or an import car; there is a class for you. There are rules to follow the faster and more powerful your car becomes but that is for your safety. Everyone is immediately required to pass a technical inspection prior to racing his or her car. This consists of a technical inspector verifying that your vehicle has all of its required factory safety equipment and that you have a Snell approved racing helmet, jeans, covered shoes and a fire retardant jacket. The helmet and jacket can be purchased for under 200 hundred dollars. You are then ready to line up and have a grudge race match against your buddy’s Camaro legally and safely.