Drag Strip
★★★★☆
Byron Dragway in Byron, Illinois offers straight-line standing-start sprints. This dedicated drag strip sees vehicles testing their speed in quick, focused runs. Spectators can watch the action as competitors challenge the clock. To plan your visit, call (815) 391-0000 for information.
Know Before You Go
- Test & tune nights
- Most strips run open 'test and tune' or 'run what ya brung' sessions for $20-40 entry. Make as many passes as time allows — perfect for street cars and bracket prep.
- Required gear
- A helmet is required once you run faster than 13.99 in the quarter-mile (or 9.99 in the eighth). Anything quicker than 11.49 typically requires a roll bar and SFI gear.
- Tech inspection
- Cars go through a basic safety check: battery hold-down, throttle return, seatbelt condition, tire condition. Faster cars need NHRA tech and current chassis cert.
- Bracket racing
- Saturday-night bracket programs pit dial-in handicap races. You declare your ET, race against a 'pro tree,' and closer to your dial without going under wins.
- Timeslip souvenir
- Most tracks print your ET, trap speed, reaction time, and 60-foot on a timeslip after each pass — a fun keepsake even if you're just there to mess around.