recently attended the NHRA Division 2 Bracket Finals in at Carolina Dragway in Aiken , South Carolina , and let me tell you , it was a blast . When we rolled up to the track , after about two hours of driving through country roads , I knew there was something special about this place known as “ The House of Hook .” This track was built in 1957 , and to say we were on some grounds of history would be an understatement . It ’ s a quarter-mile track but very short compared to today ’ s standards . We were racing eighth mile and still had to be on the brakes to make the turnoff .

I have not been to a Division Finals since I was in my early 20s , so to go with my son , who ’ s nearly 20 years old , was quite a treat for me . For this race , our track raced against other Division 2 tracks for a points battle . Team unity and fun-spirited attitudes filled the days there . What I loved most was sitting back and seeing so many different cars and people . I saw 35-year-old builds still racing and families gathering together in the staging lanes talking and enjoying each other ’ s company . I met some wonderful people and made some new friends .

My son was the only one racing , so I decided to use the time to just go around and talk with people . It ’ s amazing what can come about when you go out of your way to say a kind word or encourage someone . One car I saw was a Vega wagon that I had raced against when I was a kid . Turns out a third-generation driver is still driving the same car in the same family . How cool is that ?

Another great story was seeing a beautiful new build , a Chevy II Nova . Most who know me know I love Chevy II Novas . I talked with the gentleman and took some pictures of his car . By the end of the weekend , he had me taking the car for a drive around the pits . Where else can that happen but in our sport ? We truly have some of the most genuine people in all of motorsports in drag racing .

Going out of my way a little to take time to talk with others actually blessed me and our weekend , and that ’ s what I ’ m getting at here . Every time you go to a race , you have the opportunity to meet new people , but seldom we do . We get so busy with our own stuff that we don ’ t give a thought to blessing someone else with a kind word or conversation . I myself am guilty of this . When you have four cars going at one race , the time is limited . But that ’ s just an excuse I make to not take the extra time out for others .

So , let ’ s all think about it . The next time you go to a racetrack , take time to talk to someone you don ’ t know . Tell them “ nice car ” or “ great job racing ” – anything that can start a conversation , and you never know what could come out of it .

The race in South Carolina was a blast , and my son did an amazing job racing . We had fun and made new friends along the way . That was a true success story of some days at the races . The win lights will come and go , but the family we build is forever . Go out of your way and make someone else ’ s day . As always , the choice is yours to make . DI

Email Tommy at tommyd @ dragillustrated . com

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