The NHRA Jr. Drag Racing Eastern Conference Finals are sure to electrify fans in many ways.
Video: https://vimeo.com/279515797/d484d0cc24
DELAWARE, OHIO, July 13, 2018 – Summer is known to be the time of the year that brings kids out to baseball leagues, soccer camps or flag football teams throughout North America. It also brings kids out to the drag racing strip thanks to the NHRA’s Jr. Drag Racing League. Kids between the ages of 5 and 18 are practicing five days a week to perfect reaction timing and high-speed handing of finely tuned drag racers. As the league approaches its 30th year, an exciting evolution in tech-integration is occurring that mirrors similar movements in other motorsports formats, and the automotive industry at large—that evolution is called electrification.
Alcohol-fueled combustible engines have remained the norm for the majority of the Jr. Drag Racing League’s existence. New generations of drag racers are experiencing the sport during a time where technology allows Top Fuel combustible engines to race side-by-side against electric engines. The NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League mandates that drag racing vehicles reach a top speed of 85 mph, regardless of how the vehicle is powered. However, electric junior drag racers have clocked speeds of more than 130 mph. In other words, multi-platform races are both fair and competitive.
More and more drag racing teams, families and kids are leaning toward electric drag racing platforms due to multiple factors, including the ease of tuning and maintenance, consistent performance in various racing conditions, and the overall durability of components and parts that electric platforms provide.
Initial costs of electric drag racers have proven to be almost more than double than traditional drag racers. That said, cost savings associated with fuel, oil and replacement parts have been shown to make up for initial costs of electric drag racers in a short period of time, relative to the lifespan of a vehicle.
JEGS Automotive, a leading e-commerce and mail order performance auto part retailer, and Team JEGS, the official racing team of JEGS Automotive, are major supporters of NHRA racing. JEGS is also a long-time competitor in the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League. Team JEGS’ Jr. Drag Racing Driver, Mike Raurk, 18, is gearing up for one of the biggest racing events in the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing season—the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals. More than 900 young drag racers from the U.S. and Canada will descend upon Bristol, Tennessee, on July 19-21 for their shot at a Wally. Team JEGS will have three electric drag racers in Bristol for Mike to choose from.
“We want kids to be excited about the sport, and the introduction of electric drag racers has shown to increase interest, involvement and enthusiasm—this is what we want as coaches, parents and race fans,” said Team JEGS Director of Jr. Drag Racing, David Raurk—father of Team JEGS Driver, Mike Raurk. “Young racers are in the pit, heads down with a tablet in their hands analyzing diagnostics and making their own tuning decisions, bringing them deeper into the more detailed aspects of the sport earlier in their experience.”
As these young racers grow and encourage evolution, the future hints to a wider adoption of electrification that could eventually integrate into other areas motorsports and car culture. Companies like JEGS continue to support electrification in motorsports to meet the evolving needs of their customers. JEGS also hopes to introduce new entrants into the exciting world of racing and car culture through the integration of these new technologies.
“The young drivers in the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League are the future of motorsports and car culture, so it is important for JEGS to stay in lock-step with the electrification movement,” said JEGS Automotive Chief Executive Office, Jeffery R. Hennion. “We are proud to support these amazing, bright kids, and it is always fun to watch them become fully-immersed in the excitement.”
To learn more about the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League, visit www.jrdragster.nhra.com.
To learn more about JEGS Automotive, Inc., call (800) 345-4545 or visit us at www.JEGS.com.
To learn more about Team JEGS, visit www.TeamJEGS.com.
