The National Hot Rod sees no color, only speed and as a result has more successful minority racers than any other motorsport.
In January during the twelfth annual Urban Wheels Awards held in Deroit, Mich. NHRA was awarded the Urban Wheel’s 2008 Diversity in Motorsports Award honoring diversity and excellence in the automotive industry.
“Drag racing has always been a diverse sport,” Michael Vaca a La Verne resident and dedicated NHRA fan and follower said. “The stands, the pits and the tracks are full of people from all sorts of backgrounds, races and religions.”
Today racers come from many different backgrounds and ethnicities thanks to those that dedicated their lives to the sport and broke the so-called color barriers.
“The drags aren’t about race, they are about who can race,” Christopher Santana a La Verne resident and dedicated NHRA fan and follower said.
African-American racers have been a part of NHRA’s Top Fuel and Funny Car classes for over five decades beginning with nitro-fueld racers such as Malcolm Durham, John Kimble, Rodney Flournoy, Clarence Bailey, Leon Cain and Barry Kelly. Racers such as Tony MacCallum, Maurice DuPont and Steve Hamilton followed them.
Today there are two African-American competitors in the Top Fuel class. J.R. Todd who drives the Torco/Lucas Oil dragster, became the first African-American to win an NHRA Top Fuel race at the 2006 Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at the Bandimere Speedway in Denver, Colo.
“J.R. has always been one of my favorite drivers,” Santana said. “When he won (2006) everyone was just so excited that he did it. He made history.”
Antron Brown, driver of the Matco Tools dragster became the first NHRA driver to win both Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcyle with his first Top Fuel victory at the 2008 O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park in Houston, Texas.
“Brown is just a great competitor and a great role model,” Vaca said. “It doesn’t matter that he is colored, he is good and everyone loves him.”
NHRA’s Pro Stock classes have also features multiple African-American competitors. Some of the competitors included former NBA players Larry Nance and Tom Hammonds. Others include Ronald Lyles, Paul Gant, Stacy Shields and Clarence Thomas.
African-American’s have excelled the Pro Stock Motorcycle class more than any other NHRA class. Brown had collected 14 wins and 27 final-round appearances in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class before switching to Top Fuel this season. He also won the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in 2000.
African-American competitor Reggie Showers, a double amputee below the knees won the U.S. Nationals in 2003.
Other African-American Pro Stock Motorcycle racers include Redell Harris, Michael Phillips and Peggy Llewellyn.
Today Harris and Llewellyn are the only African-American Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors.
In 2007 at the O’Reilly Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex in Dallas, Texas Llewellyn won her first career final round appearance, becoming the first African-American woman to win an NHRA POWERade event.
Hispanic racers have also played a major role in diversifying NHRA beginning with Joaquin Arnett. Other Hispanic competitors included Frank Pedregon Sr. whose three sons followed in his footsteps. Today Cruz and Tony Pedregon compete in the Funny Car class.
“They (Pedregon’s) display how closely knit Hispanic families are. One and off the track,” Vaca said.
Diversity has always been a part of NHRA and will continue to help the sport grow in the future. Although it does not have a formal diversity program it is very much a part of the sport.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Race the strip not the street
When there are cars on the road there is a desire for speed, which often times results in serious injuries and even death. Illegal streets racing has been a growing problem in the United States and although there is no database tracking the number of street racing related deaths, they are too common. Even one is too many.
“I lost a friend in high school to a street racing accident,” Kristina Carone a La Verne resident said. “It is just stupid because it could easily have been prevented.”
“I just wish people would think twice before getting involved,” Carone said.
Law enforcement officials and street racing experts say that there are three types of drag racing challenges. The first challenge is a spontaneous contest between drivers who wind up at the same red light or stop sign on public roads. The second challenge is between two different groups where racers and followers take over the highways. The third challenge is a planned event where racers stage contests for money or even pink slips.
“They happen everywhere,” Louie Sevilla a La Verne resident said. “People of all different age, sex and race are involved.”
Although the need for speed will never diminish there are some alternative forms of street racing. Legal and regulated forms of racing can be a valuable outlet for those who feel the need to go fast.
When Wally Parks created the National Hot Rod Association in 1951 it was an attempt to get drag racing off of the street and onto the strip. He worked with law enforcement, car clubs and hot rodders to create a safe and organized form of drag racing. Today NHRA POWERade series is the second most popular form of auto racing in America behind only NASCAR.
“I do watch the legal racing from time to time,” Carone said. “It still scares me but at least they are in a controlled environment and there are professionals and paramedics nearby.”
There are 140 NHRA member tracks around the country that offer NHRA Street Legal Drags presented by AAA. Some of the NHRA POWERade Series drivers recently produced a video to help promote the tracks and remind people to “Race the Strip Not the Street.” The video will be shown on media outlets such as YouTube.
NHRA, law enforcement officials and other legal drag communities urge people to think about the potential danger they can cause to themselves and other people and to race responsibly.
For those who insist on racing illegally, there are serious repercussions. Laws tend to vary but some general penalties include: being arrested and having your car impounded for 30 days, if convicted of street racing or aiding a street race you can be imprisoned for up to three months and fined up to $1000, your drivers license can be revoked and your car insurance may drop you or significantly increase.
“I used to have a lot of friends that street raced for fun and it never ended well,” Sevilla said. “I’m just thankful they never hurt themselves or anyone else.”
Spectators may be subject to penalties as well and cars near or around illegal street races are often issued violations.
“I lost a friend in high school to a street racing accident,” Kristina Carone a La Verne resident said. “It is just stupid because it could easily have been prevented.”
“I just wish people would think twice before getting involved,” Carone said.
Law enforcement officials and street racing experts say that there are three types of drag racing challenges. The first challenge is a spontaneous contest between drivers who wind up at the same red light or stop sign on public roads. The second challenge is between two different groups where racers and followers take over the highways. The third challenge is a planned event where racers stage contests for money or even pink slips.
“They happen everywhere,” Louie Sevilla a La Verne resident said. “People of all different age, sex and race are involved.”
Although the need for speed will never diminish there are some alternative forms of street racing. Legal and regulated forms of racing can be a valuable outlet for those who feel the need to go fast.
When Wally Parks created the National Hot Rod Association in 1951 it was an attempt to get drag racing off of the street and onto the strip. He worked with law enforcement, car clubs and hot rodders to create a safe and organized form of drag racing. Today NHRA POWERade series is the second most popular form of auto racing in America behind only NASCAR.
“I do watch the legal racing from time to time,” Carone said. “It still scares me but at least they are in a controlled environment and there are professionals and paramedics nearby.”
There are 140 NHRA member tracks around the country that offer NHRA Street Legal Drags presented by AAA. Some of the NHRA POWERade Series drivers recently produced a video to help promote the tracks and remind people to “Race the Strip Not the Street.” The video will be shown on media outlets such as YouTube.
NHRA, law enforcement officials and other legal drag communities urge people to think about the potential danger they can cause to themselves and other people and to race responsibly.
For those who insist on racing illegally, there are serious repercussions. Laws tend to vary but some general penalties include: being arrested and having your car impounded for 30 days, if convicted of street racing or aiding a street race you can be imprisoned for up to three months and fined up to $1000, your drivers license can be revoked and your car insurance may drop you or significantly increase.
“I used to have a lot of friends that street raced for fun and it never ended well,” Sevilla said. “I’m just thankful they never hurt themselves or anyone else.”
Spectators may be subject to penalties as well and cars near or around illegal street races are often issued violations.
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