By: Sean Kovacs, Zachary Phelps, and Jack Hoofnagle TOP FUEL DRAGSTER RACING

EXPLANATION OF RACE Races for top fuel are very short because since they are a dragster car, they race via drag strips. Drag strips are fairly long straightaways that can take a few to ten seconds to complete. Drag races can be done in two ways, one being time. The person with the fastest time to finish the drag strip wins. The other way is ‘head-to-head’. Two dragsters race each other on the drag strips, the first to cross the finish line wins. Drag race championships are held across the country for one championship. Each race is on a different drag strip in a new state each time. Slowly but surely people get eliminated and the final winner gets chosen. Usually there’s a championship once every year.

HISTORY OF DRAG RACING Drag racing began in the 1930’s. But the first official race was on April The location where drag racing began was in California Mojave Desert. The official drag races location was in Los Angeles County Fairgrounds. It is said it started because people wanted to become popular.

HISTORY OF DRAGSTER CAR SAFETY The first top fuel dragster had a long but sleek body and then goes to the engine. Behind the engine is the place the driver drives and behind the driver is the tail wing. The wheels in the front are very thin and they are vey thick in the back. In the lower back there would be a claw/grapple that is pushed down for an emergency break. The cars changed a lot over time. Now in the front there is a wing in front of the wheels in the front and the wheels are now more thick. The body is long and slim but not as long as they used to be. On the body is a wind shield where the driver sits. The engine is behind that and there is a tail wing supported by an assortment of rods. The wheels in the back are thick and in front of the wheels is a small well for aerodynamic purposes.

TECHNOLOGY THAT CHANGED DRAGSTER CARS Top fuel dragster cars have some safety features that have changed the dragster cars completely. There is a claw-like thing at the back of the car that is used as an emergency brake in case the regular brake does not work. There is a parachute at the back that gets released to help slow down the car at the end of the race. Wheels have been made thicker to prevent tires slipping. And much more!

PICTURES!

TOP RACE CARS Top fuel dragster racers have won some races before, but there are teams that have won world championships before! One of these many teams are the Al-Anabi team. There are about ten people per team. One person is the driver while the other nine people work on repairing their car and making improvements to it.