The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and host events all over the United States and Canada.

With over 80,000 drivers in its rosters, the NHRA is considered one of the largest motorsports sanctioning bodies in the world.

The association was founded by Wally Parks in 1951 in the State of California to provide a governing body to organize and promote the sport of drag racing. The first nationwide NHRA sponsored event was held in 1955, in Great Bend, Kansas. (Typical for the era, this race was held on a World War II-constructed training air field.)

The "Nationals", which now comprise 24 events each year, are the premier events in drag racing that bring together the best cars and drivers from across North America.

The U.S. Nationals are now held at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis in Clermont, Indiana and are officially called the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. Winners of national events are awarded a trophy statue in honor of founder Wally Parks. The trophy is commonly referred to by its nickname, a “Wally”.

The NHRA governs several developmental series. These include the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the Summit Racing Series, and the O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League - Source

US MAC Tools Nationals NEW

US MAC Tools Nationals NEW

Funny Car is a drag racing car class. In the United States, other "professional" classes are Top Fuel, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Funny cars have forward-mounted engines and carbon fiber automotive bodies over the chassis, giving them an appearance vaguely approximating manufacturers' showroom models.

The Dodge Charger and Chevrolet Impala sedans, along with the Ford Mustang and Toyota Solara coupe, are now commonly used in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).

Worldwide, however, many different body styles are used. These "fake" body shells are not just cosmetic: they serve an important aerodynamic purpose. Source

Cars run on a mix of approximately 90% nitromethane and 10% methanol (also known as racing alcohol) rather than gasoline or simply methanol.

The cars are purpose-built for drag racing, with an exaggerated layout that in some ways resembles open-wheel circuit racing vehicles. However, top fuel dragsters are much longer, much narrower, and are equipped with large tires in back and small tires in front, all in order to maximize their straight line acceleration and speed.

Top fuel dragsters are the fastest category of drag racers, with the fastest competitors reaching speeds of 337mph (530km/h) and finishing quarter mile runs in less than 4.5 seconds.

The raw speed and power of these cars is such that, at some events, races are run over 1000-foot (304m) distances rather than the traditional 1320 foot quarter mile, particularly when races are held at locations with insufficient room for cars to slow down after having completed the race.

A top fuel dragster accelerates from a standstill to 100mph (160 km/h) in as little as .7 seconds (less than one fifth the time required by a production Porsche 911 Turbo)and can exceed 280mph (450km/h) in just 660 feet (0.2 km). This acceleration subjects the driver to a maximum force of about 5.7 G. Source

Factory Hot-Rods! The class can be known as "all motor," as the cars cannot use artificial induction such as turbocharging, supercharging, or nitrous oxide, and there are very strict rules governing the modifications allowed to the engines, and the types of bodies used.

Engine
The engine must be manufactured by the same company as the car body. Though no engine currently being raced in Pro Stock is used on any manufacturer's assembly line, all of the raw components are available to anyone. Engine blocks and cylinder heads are often provided in a "raw" condition with only approximate dimensions and rough machining. Each team will continue to machine and modify the part to their own standards.

Pro stocks are limited to dual 4-barrel carburetor (naturally aspirated) intake systems. The four-barrel carburetors can be "split" (i.e. sawn in half) so that each of the halves can be more accurately positioned over the slightly staggered intake runners. The intake manifold and heads are open to modification. The most effective intake manifold configuration has continued to be the "tunnel ram" for nearly 40 years. The carburetors are raised above the engine; the length and configuration of the intake passages ("runners") is critical to horsepower output. The tall intake manifolds predicate the large hood scoop that is a signature of the Pro Stock class.

A complete Pro Stock engine normally costs more than $80,000. Source

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Pro Stock Motorcycle, formerly known as Pro Stock Bike is a drag racing class that is the two-wheeled equivalent of Pro Stock.

It has been a feature of NHRA drag racing since the 1980s when it was added to the professional class structure and has since spread around the globe. Their 1st Points Championship Season took place in the 1987 NHRA Season.

The class has for years been dominated by inline-4 cylinder Suzuki based bikes but in recent years Harley-Davidson based V-twin machines have become more competitive due to favorable rule changes.

Frames are purpose-built specifically for drag racing and are not based on their road-going counterparts. Source