NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

NHRA race teams from across the country are preparing for the annual Western Swing, a grueling three-week stretch that will carry them from their home base to the high-altitude climes of the Rocky Mountains, then west to California's Wine Country and north to the Great Northwest outside of Seattle.

 

Teams need to stock up for the long haul, carrying extra parts and supplies because there’s no break between events and no chance to return to home base for more provisions.

 

For teams traveling from the drag racing operations hub of Brownsburg, Ind., it’s an 1,100-mile trek west to Bandimere Speedway outside of Denver for this weekend’s Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, where the famous racetrack is located at an altitude of 5,800 feet, robbing cars of the usual amount of oxygen depended upon for high performance and downforce. Special preparations are made to both the engines and race cars themselves.

 

From Denver, it’s a long 1,200-mile trek to Sonoma Raceway in California, home of the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals, the middle leg of the Swing, July 29-31. Teams have just a few days to make the haul and then get set up to race again.

 

After leaving Sonoma, teams will head north to Pacific Raceways just outside of Seattle for the final stop of the Swing, the Protect the Harvest NHRA Northwest Nationals presented by Lucas Oil, Aug. 5-7.  It’s a scenic 800-mile drive up the coast, but by then, fatigue will be setting in after more than two weeks of nonstop action.

 

With the completion of the Seattle event, it’s a grinding 2,200-mile trip home, completing a 5,200-mile, three-week odyssey. Teams will have a weekend off, then prepare for the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Minnesota, Aug. 18-21.