NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The Big Go Block Party returns to Brownsburg, Ind., Aug. 23 as the community celebrates the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, the most prestigious event in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis Aug. 31-Sept. 5. The party, which will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. at Town Hall Green and is hosted by the town of Brownsburg, NHRA, Lucas Oil Raceway, Don Schumacher Racing, and John Force Racing, will feature family activities, entertainment, and concessions.

Numerous NHRA Mello Yello drivers will take part in an autograph session from  6 to 7 p.m. Drivers scheduled to appear are Antron Brown, J.R. Todd, Richie Crampton, Shawn Langdon, Leah Pritchett, and Brittany Force from the Top Fuel ranks. Funny Car racers scheduled to attend are Tommy Johnson Jr., Matt Hagan, Cruz Pedregon, John Force, Courtney Force, Robert Hight, and Jeff Diehl. Pro Stock Motorcycle racers Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec also will take part in the autograph session.

Team show cars will also be on display, including the Top Fuel dragster of Tony Schumacher and the Funny Cars of Pedregon, Diehl, and Ron Capps.

Children can enjoy the free inflatable playground, and a variety of exhibitors will have interactive experiences for attendees. Local food trucks will provide hot and cold concessions.

Fans may also bring a blanket and lawn chairs to enjoy a concert by popular central Indiana jam rock band 800 lb. Gorilla.

The event is a celebration of the jaw-dropping action of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series that returns to central Indiana for the Big Go. Nearly 1,000 of the best of the best from all over the world will compete in 12 categories with hopes of hoisting the elusive Wally on Labor Day Monday. With heightened competition and a holiday weekend crowd in attendance, a win at the Big Go often goes down on racers’ résumés as the biggest single-race achievement.

Throughout the years, fans have cheered on drag racing immortals such as “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney, and Don “the Snake” Prudhomme as they raced to the winner’s circle at the Big Go. Today’s stars – including nine-time Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals Top Fuel winner Schumacher, four-time Funny Car winner John Force, and six-time Pro Stock winner Greg Anderson – are all racing with plenty of determination to continue to build on their legacies.

This year’s edition of the famed event will feature intense side-by-side racing as drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle compete for their share of Mello Yello Series points. Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock), and Jerry Savoie (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners.

For the first time, the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals will be aired live on FOX and FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Dave Rieff leads the coverage, with Tony Pedregon offering insight as an analyst, and they along with the rest of the broadcast team will give viewers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the sport.