Thats what My buddy does.. this was his first year to run
Class.. every year before he was SME which has to wait
most times.. but he likes to leave after 1 or 2 passes

That is what I did in 2016...too slow to make the SME 32 anyway.

I was within the first couple pairs down the track, along with Ray, made one run and hit the road. Was still a LONG week.

If I go again, I would want to at least be somewhat competitive. That said, already looking into what it would take to wake the Plymouth up...lol

If I were to run class being first in the lanes would be my preference as well. But since I run SME I can't seem to get in the front of the lanes, someone is always "that guy" and starts lining up way early and by the time I see what is going on i'll be 20 cars back before the class is even called. Luckily my car usually always goes A-b with no Drama so it is easy to be one and done. I have always managed to qualify for the quick 32 but it gets harder each year!

Hotels are sold out already, took less than 15 minutes

We never use the ones HotRod lists.Usually Google Hotels closest to the track. I know of a few that wing it on rooms every year and always find something.Im not that adventurous.Had to stay at Americas best Valu Inn in Hebron OH a few years back. NEVER AGAIN.LOL

the registration for 2018 filled up in 7 minutes. that's 400 cars in 7 minutes. then they took another 400 standbys and that went quickly too. better be ready on the computer when it opens up. my wife and i followed it again this year and it is grueling. i am impressed with the people that participate in this. hard core racers for sure. especially this year. it was very surreal to see race cars with trailers behind them driving in the severe weather conditions heading towards the hurricane while everyone else were heading out of town. would love to participate one day.

Great pic! He Averaged 6.85 for the week and won.

I've been watching the times in Pro Street Natural Aspirated for a few years and I think my new build will be competitive (not #1, but not last either). The results have been very similar up until last year when the Hemi Camaro started running in the 8's.

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/hot-rod-drag-week-2018-official-final-results/

Got my rooms booked for DW2019!

Still scratching our heads over 2019, over 1,200 miles for us to the first track. Feel like a wus since many folks drove a lot more than that to get to Atlanta and other Drag Week starting points.

Richard Guido drove his GTO 6300 miles for DW this year.Red Deer Alberta to Atlanta.In July he drove from there to Topeka to do RMRW.Thats one of many reasons we call him the Canadian Chuck Norris.I sure as heck couldnt do it.

I want to ask a serious question and don't want anyone to take it like I'm making light of the effort or experience: What is it about Drag Week that makes it so difficult, and why is the attrition rate so high? Thanks - Brad

I think what you are seeing are a lot more “purpose built” entries, where in the past it was race cars subtly changed to fit the legalities.... at least that’s my take.

Brad,
Honestly it depends on how hard you try. Meaning, the guys swinging for the fences trying to throw down big numbers are usually among the first to break. Quite a few people have had to back down their combinations to get them to live and get a solid finish.

Another factor is that the human attrition is nearly as rough as the mechanical stuff. Planning and preparation are key, but still, sleep deprivation and heat exhaustion are just as culpable as trans and valve train failures.

I'm going to put a guide together...on this thread...to assist anyone serious about a first attempt for Drag Week 2019. Hopefully it will be helpful and informative.

Attrition rate is actually better than what it was from 05 to around 2010.Valve trains take a beating andcooling systems are the biggest culprits.Perfect example. First year(2005) Carl Scott won Unlimited and was running low 8s.It took til 2010 for someone to run in the 6s.Thats a big drop in E.T.Driver fatigue can lead to over looking things that come back to bite you in the but and cause you not to finish.Lets say you leave a track late and break down at 1 a.m in the middle of no where.No parts store open etc and you are 200 miles from the next track.Staging lanes close at two pm.You have to find a way to get parts in the morning,fix your car and still have to drive that 200 miles before staging lanes close.Guy I crewed with in 2010 we broke a fuel injector on the way to Indy.It was an odd one that Oreallys didnt carry.Another competitor came by at 2 AM in the middle of no where and gave us a ride.The next morning we found a place in Indy on Gasoline Alley that got us an injector.Fellow racer hauled back to Indy so he could get a pass in.While installing the bad injector we found a few other minor things we had to address to make it to Indy.Git it fixed and hauled to Indy and hoping to be in the lanes before 2 PM.We get there at 1:50.Dont recall the reason but HotRod changed the cutoff time to 1:30.We got a DNF.

What Billy said.LOL

A whole lot of this years attrition was due to the weather. There was several people who threw in the towel in fear of the hurricane or having to travel through weather on the way home. I'll be honest I was pretty grumpy about the whole deal on monday after being rained out in the lanes, and being soaked all the way through my wallet while loading the car, then driving in the rain for 260 miles. A sunny sky and my first official 10 second drag week pass turned things around for me lol.

There is just lots you can't plan for. Six drag weeks payed off for me this year and we didn't have to turn a wrench on the car all week other than a lash check. But I never go into it thinking it is going to be easy.

Like said before the route is the real test. I was real glad I upgraded to rear disc this year, and I actually wished I had an LBA valve body just for the engine braking if needed. Who would ever guess a car with a 4.10 gear, in 2nd gear, would also need help from the brakes to slow down at 35mph?

It may have just been a coincidence or timing on what I watched, but it seemed like a large number of cars were just BLOWING the tires away. Was it track prep? or just going for broke? or some inexperience drivers? or new combo’s not sorted yet. I’m sure that there are a good number of drivers that do dragweek, but aren’t your hardcore racers. Just curious.

The track went to crap on friday afternoon in the heat, as well as the timing system. My Car didn't turn a tire all week, I have wheelspeed data..0% slip! I went a 1.41 60ft Friday morning, first round of the Street Machine Bracket Race I went a 1.65.