Junior Dragster

The Junior Dragster is a half-scaled version of the top fuel dragster. Also known as the halfscale or jr dragster, it reaches speeds of up to 85 mph. There is a league called the JDRL (Junior Dragster Racing League). The JDRL is a division of the NHRA. Junior drag racers may choose to participate in programs run by the NHRA, IHRA, or at an unsanctioned facility. Drivers may be male or female between the ages of 8 and 17, though racers can run through the end of the year that they turn 18. The track is 1/8 of a mile, and contested as a bracket race on a 5-tenths sportsman tree. Racers E.T (Elapsed Time) is determined by age. Drivers age 8-9 can go no faster than 12.90, 10-12 year olds are limited to 8.90 and 13-17 year olds can go up to 7.90 at 85 mph.

Jr. Drag Racing was first conceived by the late Vinny Napp, co-owner of Old Bridge Twp. Raceway Park. He started building the first Jr. in 1989 for his son David. The car was debuted at the national event in 1992, and soared in popularity from there.

Racers compete most every weekend, running in points series at their home tracks, or in various specialty events with big prizes. During the course of the year, racers could also attend various division events, or Nationals. In the NHRA, racers choose between attending the Eastern Conference Finals, and the Western Conference Finals. In the UK there are over thirty racers and still growing. Thought Bracket racing is still the main factor of Jr. drag racing, varieties of heads up racing are also a growing part of this sport. The next step up for Jr. racing is super comp dragsters.

External links

* [http://www.topendtales.com/images/2006/thunderball/pages/jayne_kay_02.htm Photo] courtesy of sharkman
* [http://jrdragster.nhra.com/ NHRA site.]
* [http://www.bratracing.net BRAT RACING SITE]

see http://bandimerespeedway.com for more information on jr.dragracing