Doug Banks checked out the 8th Annual Carquest Autoparts NHRA National drag races at Joliet's Route 66! Drivers competed for over 50 million dollars in prizes!
"This is nothing more than a pure contest of exhilaration. It is the first one to get their vehicle from a standing start to the finish line which is 1320 feet, a quarter mile away. The top fuel car for example, will go from 0 to 100 miles per hour in less than a second, so those guys are really hauling the mail," said Ken Kohrs, director of operations for the Speedway at Route 66 Speedway.
If you're looking for the opportunity to fine tune your drag racing skills, head to Route 66's Tuesday night Test & Tune.
"Every Tuesday night throughout the summer, we have an open test and tune, anybody can bring their car out here," said Kohrs.
You will see everything from family minivans to full-blown alcohol dragsters and funny cars!
"Most of them started out with a keen interest in automotive technology and a desire to go fast. There are about 600 racers here tonight. For some of the racers, this is purely a hobby but there's a few young guns who want desperately to make a name, make a mark for themselves and drive one of these hot rods," said Kohrs.
Tony Schumacher is one of the top fuel dragsters in America. He tests the limits of his car.
"Two weeks ago in Columbus we set the world record at 336 miles per hour in 4 seconds. We're traveling at 300 miles an hour," said Schumacher.
Erica Enders is a pro-stock racer. Pro-stock are the cars that a consumer would buy in the showroom except when the car leaves the lot two different things happen.
"We have a little bit more horse power than you would. These we get about thirteen hundred and fifty horse power out of, we go through 5 gears, we run the quarter mile in about 6 and a half seconds, give or take a few 10ths," said Erica Enders, Houston.
Enders is one of the few woman in this sport.
"There are records to be broken, because I am a girl, I'm the fifth woman to ever compete in a pro-stock but other than that, you know, once you put your helmet on, everything is equal. We're put here, trying just as hard as the guys," said Enders.
Enders is competing in the Carquest Autoparts NHRA National drag races.
"This morning we ran a 685, so we're hoping for like a mid to high 670 run probably at 203, 204 miles an hour," said Enders.
For more information:
Route 66
500 Speedway Boulevard
Joliet, IL 60433
(815) 727-7223
www.route66raceway.com
