We’d like to think that drag racing is a pretty exciting sport on its own merit without the need for additional sideshows to make things entertaining and interesting. Now, we’re not talking sideshows as in Fuel Altereds, wheelstanders, jet cars, and similar exhibition vehicles brought in to create a show here, but rather, putting some odd twist on what should be a rather straightforward drag race between two (or four if you live near Charlotte) cars.

But every now and then, the need arises to kick back, relax, and bring some hilarity to drag racing, and that’s just what the Buick faithful did last weekend during their annual TurboBuick.com Nationals, held at North Carolina’s Piedmont Dragway.

In addition to the pile of heads-up and index categories for Buicks of all walks (although primarily the supremely badass turbocharged GNX machines), the promoters put on what they’ve termed a “tag team” race, in which competitors launch off the starting line, bring the vehicle to a complete stop, and perform a good old fashioned Chinese fire drill. Once back in the vehicle, they drop the tranny in gear and take off to see who can reach the stripe first.

Thus, this is a drag race not just of horsepower, but a small bit of physical ability as well. Next thing you know, we’ll have racers training and conditioning for these little side races.