Adrenaline junkies have been racing cars since the form of transportation was first invented. Drivers got more serious about speed in the ‘40s, and modifications in the ‘70s. And then it turned into a full-fledged sport and competition to make the fastest drag car.
These speed demons are built with the engine in the back. Teams gain large sponsorships, just like other forms of auto sports
, which enables them to fabricate something even lighter and quicker. The fastest drag car
It broke the record for fastest 1000 ft. pass in Top Fuel history in 2019. Top Fuel is the fastest accelerating category of drag racing. It was a new track record at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, according to Top Gear
. Driver Brittany Force took just 3.659 seconds to cross the finish line. Her dragster was traveling at 338.17 mph, beating out race legend Tony Schumacher’s previous record of 336.57 mph. When you need two parachutes to slow down after a race, you know you’re driving the fastest drag car.
The runners-up for fastest drag car
Those looking for more than 1,000 hp will be satisfied with the Bugatti Veyron 16.4. It runs the 1/4 mile in 8.027 seconds. The car belongs to Team Dutchbugs and they’re notorious for pulling crazy stunts, like taking the Veyron off-roading.
Lexus is renowned for cars that are comfortable and luxurious. But it’s also made a name for itself in the drag racing segment with the Rocket Ekanoo. It packs 4,000 hp in a 500 cu-in big block with a three-speed transmission. It goes 220 mph thanks to the custom-built torque converter and drivetrain billet shifter.
Ekanoo Racing was also responsible for the Outlaw Supra. Its modifications included a Toyota 2JZ engine, a tuned Liberty transmission, and a Precision turbo. Driven by Gary White, it reached 240.8 mph at the Bahrain National Drag Racing Championship in 2014.
Modern electric vehicles are making headway on the drag racing scene due to their incredible acceleration. The 2019 Tesla Model S has two motors to power the axles. Although weighing 4,941 lbs, it’s capable of 825 hp and 959 lb-ft of torque.
Another electric vehicle in the fastest drag car competition is the Rimac Concept 1. The Croatian company equipped the car with a 120 kWh battery that has 400 miles of range. Of course, that number is reduced when you run 0 to 60 mph in just 1.85 seconds. This EV is capable of 1,914 hp.
The Camaro Dragster ran 10 seconds on the 1/4 mile during official testing in 2017. Its supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 V8 engine was borrowed from the ZL1 model. It managed 140 mph and successfully tested new parts for public sales.
Another American-made drag car is the 840 hp Dodge Challenger Demon, when fueled with 100 octane gasoline. It’s the company’s lightest model at 4,252 lbs. It has a 6.2-liter V8 engine that’s supercharged.
The Alpha Logic Performance's Nissan GT-R has 3,400 hp and 2,200 lb-ft of torque. It sports a 4.3-liter billet block from AMS Performance that takes methanol. Other features include Diamond pistons, GRP connecting rods, Trend wrist pins, and T1's ported factory cylinder heads and valvetrain.
The fastest drag cars that don’t even look like cars
Back in 2016, the fastest drag car in the world was the FireForce 3 Jet Car. It hit 336 mph in 5.79 seconds on the 1/4 mile strip. It was outfitted with the Pratt & Whitney J60 engine that had 5,500 lbs of thrust and made 10,000 hp.
Its successor, the 2018 FireForce 5 Jet Dragster completed the 1/4 mile in 5 seconds at 300 mph. The engine, a Pratt & Whitney J60 turbojet, came from a helicopter. It makes 5,500 lbs of thrust and drinks 28 gallons of fuel.
The Bloodhound Car literally looks like a bullet on wheels. It topped out at 562 mph through the Kalahari Desert in 2019. According to HotCars
, this is one of the fastest drag cars equipped with sensors to track performance data. An eight-second car on the 1/4 mile is the Lamborghini Drag Racer. Its supercharged V8 is encased in a fiberglass shell. This pro modified model is undergoing testing due to a lack of competitors.
Lamborghini did set a half mile record in 2017 with the twin-turbocharged Lamborghini Huracan. It ran 257 mph in the only event it ever took part in. It was also the first to achieve a 250 mph pass. Owners can have the fastest drag car and still enjoy cabin comforts such as navigation and stereo.
Of course, the famous National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Funny Car from Robert Hight is one of the fastest drag cars in the world. It has a top speed of 339 mph.
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