That is something you would have to experience. The strangest push-out hot pits I remember was the first ever race at Rockingham Dragway. "Hot Car" fuel pits were at the bottom of the track down about where the scales are now. We had a blown 392, logee (forgot how to spell it) chassis. We pushed with a 1962 chevy station wagon with a 2x12 for a front bumper. The two cars pushed out in the opposite lane from the lane you wanted. You were pushed up the track and at a point you flipped the magneto and released the clutch to fire. When you got to the front of the Rockingham tower you swung the cars out, chris-crossed and got into your lane. Boy does that bring back memories.

A big draw-back to this was that in those days, believe it or not Dragsters open trailer towed and most funny cars were on open slant-back car haulers. The pick-up trucks, most of the time, backed up to the fence and a driver's family and friends would be in the bed of the truck. I remember, possibly the second race at Rockingham, a good friend over in Greensboro, Allen Starr, "Starliner" his car broke apart at about half track. The engine rolled down the track and ended up right at the back of his truck in front of his family.