While drag racing is perceived as two automobiles lined up alongside one another and racing from a standing start for a determined distance, the possibilities of things that you could theoretically “drag race” are virtually limitless. Power tools, remote controls cars, bars of soap on a slanted counter top. You name it, someone has thought of it. And it probably came from the mind of a bored drag racer in the dead of winter.

An interesting form of drag racing that’s gaining steam on the East coast involves high-powered, heavily-modified ATV’s, sporting wheelie bars, motorcycles engines, and the whole nine. When you really think about it, ATV Drag Racing isn’t that out of the ordinary, given that motorcycle drag racing has been around for ages and these are simply motorcycles with a couple extra wheels.

These racers compete at venues such as Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina and other paved drag strips, as well as dirt venues using more off road-style tires. Outfitted with slicks commonly found on Jr. Dragsters or treaded tires like you might see on a Mini Sprint, several of these four wheelers sit on custom, lowered and stretched tube frames with big two stroke engines and lengthy wheelie bars to save the riders from certain back flips. The leading organization for this unique form of drag racing is the ATV Drag Racing Association (ATVDRA), which conducts events around the eastern portion of the country. One of the series’ big upcoming events is their season finale, The Pro ATV Wars, October 29-30 in Rockingham. To learn more about these four-wheeled rockets, check out ATVDRA.com.