Basic Jr Dragsters Information

The popularity of jr. dragsters has skyrocketed in recent years. For example, there are currently over 4,500 members in the NHRL's Jr Drag Racing League (JDRL).

The JDRL provides an opportunity for kids 8-17 to race a half-scale dragster on a real racing track. Over 65 tracks are currently participating in the NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr Drag Racing League Challenge. In addition to the opportunity to win individual and team awards, the series provides $100,000+ in savings bonds at both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals. The finals draw over 1,000 young drivers from all across the country, giving them the experience of racing at a big-time event.

Jr dragsters are also popular in the IHRA and a number of other racing sanctioning bodies.

Looking to start your child racing? The best places to start are the NHRA website, http://jrdragster.nhra.com, the IHRA website, www.ihra.com, or one of the independent websites dedicated to jr dragsters, like www.jrdrags.com . These websites offer general information, race schedules, the latest racing news, helpful links and even chat rooms. Like all childrens' racing series, jr dragsters are committed to protecting the health and safety of their young drivers. Using the proper racing safety gear is one of the ways parents can minimize the risks. The most common safety gear used when racing jr dragsters include the following:

• Racing Helmet (M or SA rated)
• Helmet Support/Neck Collar (Either karting or SFI rated versions)
• Racing Suit or Jacket (Single or double layer, SFI-1 or higher)
  • If a jacket is used, racers usually wear either racing pants or jeans.
• Gloves (single or double layer, SFI-1 or higher)
• Arm Restraints (Velcro or D-Ring style)
• Racing Harness/Belts (Must be manufactured within the last 2 years - to determine the date, look on the SFI tag).