Illegal street racing, sometimes incorrectly referred to as drag racing, has been around almost as long as automobiles. In an effort to curb illegal street racing, and concerned for their safety, NHRA has a program in place to give drivers who wish to race their cars a safe place at the track to see what their car can really do.
The name of the program is NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA program, and the local version of that is called the Year One "Fast Friday" Street Legal Racing Program, held on select Fridays throughout most of the year. The program offers the opportunity to compete in grudge-match-style drag racing in a safe, controlled environment. In addition, every racer receives an elapsed time slip that tells them exactly what their car did at five different points on the track, each time they make a pass down the quarter mile racing surface.
Anyone with a driver's license (17 years old and under must have parent's written permission – see website for further information) is allowed to race their car as fast as it will go on the quarter mile, and there is no worry about traffic tickets. In fact, the only tickets handed out at Atlanta Dragway are the Elapsed Time slips each racer receives after they make a pass down the quarter mile racing surface. Obviously, the really fast cars are subject to NHRA safety rules.
If you are a first time racer, let them know at the racer gate, as they have a helpful information packet that explains a lot about the program.
A $20 entry fee gives you and your car access to the entire facility from 6:30 to 11:00pm. Spectators and crew can get in for $10. Children 6-12 years old are $5, and children 5 and under are free.
For more information, please contact the Atlanta Dragway office at (706) 335-2301 or visit http://www.atlantadragway.com/ and click on the NHRA Drags – Street Legal Style icon.
