Whether it involves a stick and a ball or an engine, we’re of the opinion here at Dragzine that every form of sporting event is a show better under the stars. Like an outdoor rock concert, racing under the lights is a spectacle in and of itself, particularly in big league drag racing, where the header flames from nitromethane-fueled and nitrous-fed race cars add a whole new entertaining dimension to the show.
In recent years, we’ve seen the departure of nighttime racing, for one reason or another, in the NHRA, the ADRL, and elsewhere, and we can’t help but think it’s played a small part in fewer fans attending the drag races. Looking back to the days of match racing and bigtime nitro shows in the 1960’s and 70’s, the common theme was nighttime racing, the images that photographers captured of those events are absolutely timeless, reflecting the incredible environment that such hyped-up shows had under the lights at OCIR, Raceway Park, and other historic strips. That tradition continued for decades as the NHRA packed the fans in for their Friday night qualifying sessions, and even hosted a few select night races during the early 2000’s. The ADRL, likewise, was borne out of outlaw Pro Mod racing that took place at small strips on Friday and Saturday nights around the south, and largely contested their events in front of huge crowds in the twilight hours.
But whether it was for competitive purposes to even out the conditions in each of the qualifying sessions, or to get the fans and race teams done and on the road at a decent hour, it’s hard to find big league racing at night anymore. Grudge and bracket racing are, of course, a whole different story, but it’s not often you get to witness nitro flames at night anymore.
The majority of NHRA national events, for example, now have their Friday qualifying sessions schedule as such that the days activity is complete before the sun has even set. This, in our minds, not only takes part of the “show” out of racing, but keeps those working 9-5 from making it out the track to catch some nitro.
So tell us your thoughts — is drag racing a better show at night, under the lights, when the race track is cool, ripe for big speeds and elapsed times, and there’s an undeniable electricity in the air? Or is drag racing just drag racing, regardless of what hour it goes down?
Lead photo courtesy Arabian Drag Racing League