Top fuel dragsters are the undisputed kings of the dragstrip. Able to accelerate from 1-100 mph in under a second, with 5 G's of force at launch (more G's than an F-18 catapulted off the deck of an aircraft carrier) and top speeds of 335 mph, top fuel dragsters are the automotive epitome of technology, power and speed. With their long dragonfly-like bodies, fiery exhaust plumes, large top fins, and parachute-aided stops, these iconic racers have long fired the imaginations of everyone who loves fast cars, a good head-to-head battle, and a touch of crazy. Drag racing—a battle of acceleration conducted on a straight track—was born in dry lake beds in California in the 1930's. Regional and national championship races for dragsters and motorcycles have been held in the U.S.A. since the 1950's, and from there the sport has moved to many countries around the world.
Named for the very rich air-fuel mix of 90% nitromethane and methanol that powers the car's  11,000 horsepower engines (the equivalent power of ten Formula 1 cars combined), a top fuel dragster consumes fuel at the rate of 11 gallons per second—the same burn rate as a Boeing 747 jet aircraft, only the dragster engine is four times more efficient! On the straightaway a top fuel dragster will leave the fastest Bugatti or Porsche in the dust—it's not even a competition. The quarter-mile record for top fuel dragsters is an incredible 3.6 seconds!
