The NHRA's Junior Dragster Program is designed to build the racers of tomorrow while providing a
fun family activity today. Jr. drag racing offers kids ages 8-17 the
chance to race half-scale dragsters on an eighth-mile course at any
of more than 100 participating NHRA Member Racetracks. And just like
NHRA's many classes for adult racers, the Jr. Drag Racing League has
room for every type of racing family— from the grass-roots team with
the stock motor and the simple paint job to the highly competitive
crew with the latest components and the fastest alky burner on the
grounds.
Jr. Dragsters must adhere to stringent safety specifications, and all
begin with the same Briggs & Stratton five-horsepower race engine,
but the rules and a healthy aftermarket industry allow enough modifications
to satisfy even the most innovative crew chief. Who could have
thought a one-cylinder, five-horsepower engine originally designed
for lawnmowers and generators could produce 20 horsepower or more?
Regardless of modifications, no car may race below the 7.90 e.t.
limit, and drivers under 10 years old are limited to an e.t. of
12.90.
Competition is equalized with a handicapped starting system just like
the one used by thousands of e.t. bracket racers across the country,
and classes are usually divided into age groups, which helps to keep
racers of the same skill level together.
With support from its Vision 2000 Founding Partners (Automobile Club
of Southern California/AAA, Briggs & Stratton, MBNA America,
Quaker State, and Slick 50), the Jr. Drag Racing League is not just
a racing program. It's also a college scholarship program, and a
junior membership program all in one.
Jr. Drag Racing League members who qualify for the annual National
Championships will compete for more than $300,000 in individual
and team scholarships. Kids who attend the Nationals for several
years running can amass quite a college fund.
The racing experience pays off, too. Now that the League is beginning
its 6th full year, its graduates can be found in NHRA's Federal-Mogul
Sportsman ranks, most notably in the Super Comp class, where former
Jr. drag racers are still running that familiar 7.90 e.t., but on the
famed NHRA quarter-mile with V8 power behind them.
The best part about membership in the Jr. Drag Racing League is that,
just like membership in NHRA, no race car is required. For just $15 a year,
kids of all ages can join the League and receive six issues of the award-winning
Jr. Drag Racer magazine. Jr. Drag Racer delivers not just the latest news in
the world of Jr. drag racing, but also exciting color race photos and fun facts
about kids professional heroes. (Only in Jr. Drag Racer will kids learn
Cory Mac's most hated household chore, Mike Dunn's favorite cartoon character,
and who gave Don "the Snake" Prudhomme his famous nickname.) They'll even
learn how to hop up their Hot Wheels cars and get racing tips from the top.
With the Jr. Drag Racing League, parents can start sharing the sport
they love with their kids today.
For more information on NHRA's Jr. Drag Racing League, call George Phillips,
(626) 914-4761 or call NTR Management at (740) 928-5706 for
National Trail Raceway's Jr. Drag Racing participation information!
