The modern sport of drag racing stems from the efforts of Wally Parks, who founded The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and helped to establish the Road Runner Club and the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA). In 1953, the NHRA hosted the inaugural drag race in a parking lot of the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds. The “extreme motorsport” community has grown since then to include more than 35,000 competitors, who continually aim to hit higher speeds. In 1999, Tony Schumacher cleared the 330 mph marker in Phoenix, Arizona, surpassing the previous record of 300 mph.
Whether on a race track or a drag strip, drivers compete in head-to-head races in tournaments throughout the country. Each run is measured for time and speed, and racers advance or are eliminated accordingly.