How To Get Started

The NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League offers kids ages 5-17 the opportunity to experience the thrill of racing half-scale dragsters in a controlled racing environment at many of NHRA's 130 member tracks across the United States and Canada.

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The cars that Jr. Drag Racing League competitors race are called Jr. Dragsters and are half-scale versions of Top Fuel dragsters. Using a five-horsepower, single-cylinder engine, a Jr. Dragster can go as fast as 85 mph and as quick as 7.90 seconds in an eighth-mile, though younger competitors are restricted to slower times/speeds. Just like their full-size Top Fuel counterparts, Jr. Dragsters must meet NHRA's stringent technical specifications. NHRA also places speed and elapsed-time restrictions on competitors based on their age and experience.

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The starting cost of a new basic Jr. Dragster is about $5,000. Though it may not go from 0 to 85 right away, investing in a basic Jr. Dragster is a great way to get started. You'll learn the basics of the sport and still get moving right along at about 45 mph.

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In addition to having the parts and pieces needed to make a Jr. Dragster run, NHRA requires that racers be licensed members of the JDRL and have necessary items such as an approved helmet, jacket, neck collar, and gloves. All drivers must also wear long pants and arm restraints while behind the wheel of their Jr. Dragster. Depending on the style of the items you choose, these items will cost about $500.

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To join the Jr. Drag Racing League, CLICK HERE.

To find an NHRA member track near you that has a Jr. Dragster program, CLICK HERE.