Outlaw Dragsters

These four cars represent a small sample of the beautiful machines that race under the "outlaw dragster" definition. Racing classes are: Pro Modified (PM), Top Sportsman (TS); Pro Extreme (PX); Pro Nitrous (PN); and Extreme Pro Stock (XPS). These cars are powered by big block Chrysler, Ford and Chevrolet engines (aluminum or iron) and can be either supercharged or turbocharged. Engine cubic inch measurements range from 500 c.i to almost 1000 c.i.. With a few exceptions, most classes (except Pro Nitrous) are fuel injected. Only Extreme Pro Stock must use only gasoline (Q16 or C23 brands). Because engines are extremely expensive, many racing teams lease their engines for the race matches. After the races, the engines are removed from the cars, transported back to the owner, and rebuilt.
The major drag racing associations are: National Hot Rod Association (NHRA); International Hot Rod Association (IHRA); American Drag Racing League (ADRL); and the X-Treme Drag Racing League (XDRL). Of the four, the NHRA is considered the premier association and is the only organization that consistently races top fuel and nitromethane funny car classes.

Photos above taken by Chris Eiel on the 5th and 6th of March 2013 at Rockingham, North Carolina at the Rockingham Drag Strip (known as "The Rock") The author drove 2600 miles round trip from Nebraska to North Carolina and back. All photographs taken with a Canon EOS Rebel T2i.