This NHRA Nitro First-Timer Is Both Hilarious And Heartwarming

Unless you were fortunate to have grown up around the sport from its early days and witnessed it’s progression to the 11,000 horsepower, 330 mph machines we enjoy today, then you’ve had a first-time experience at some point with modern-day “big show” nitro cars. And chances are, if that first time were on film, your reaction would be both priceless and rather entertaining, because little can prepare you for it. Thankfully, John Washington, Jr. had a camera fixed on his brother, Keith, as he took him to his long-awaited first NHRA drag race, the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, earlier this summer.

The video tells the story much better than we could, but Keith is visibly overcome with the assault on the senses at first — to the point that less resilient and hardy attendees might walk away or even go home. But not Keith. By the end of the day, he’s loving life and perhaps is even a fan for life. If this doesn’t put a smile on your face by the end, then you don’t really love drag racing.

About the author

Andrew Wolf

Andrew has been involved in motorsports from a very young age. Over the years, he has photographed several major auto racing events, sports, news journalism, portraiture, and everything in between. After working with the Power Automedia staff for some time on a freelance basis, Andrew joined the team in 2010.
Read My Articles