PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRADY FLOYD , DAVID HILNER

Fans can find a small-tire race – typically running on 28x10.5 slicks – nearly every weekend , and many times more than one . While there might be some concern with oversaturating the market , certain events have separated themselves in terms of raising the bar for racers and fans . Those include events such as the $ 50,000-to-win King of the South , War in the Woods ( over $ 20,000 to win ), Small Tire Gangsta ’ s , and the Dig or Die “ Dig Days ” backside race .

Race promoter and Spoold Media owner Corey Stamper has arguably helped push the small-tire racing scene as much as anyone , and he believes part of the success stems from giving everyone a chance to realistically compete .

“ The front-side world opens it up more for your higher-budget teams ,” says Stamper . “ At some of our events , horsepower becomes a factor . You ’ re seeing more tube-chassis cars , more guys coming in with Hemis or big blocks , all these bigger builds . Meanwhile , these backside races really open it up for your smaller and mid-budget teams . You don ’ t have to go as fast ; you don ’ t need all that horsepower . You ’ re on the crappiest surface you can get , and you ’ re just trying to get down .”

The creation of the L ’ il Gangsta ’ s class has also helped push participation and excitement . Running on a 5.30 index , it gives teams that might not be quite ready to run in an unlimited-style class a chance to progress .

“ I push L ’ il Gangsta ’ s hard ,” Stamper says . “ It allows the guys that don ’ t necessarily have unlimited budgets and horsepower to still go heads-up racing within a controlled environment . This class has opened up a door of options that is crazy . I feel like that ’ s something that is really needed , because no matter how you write the rule set , a bigger budget team can still move in . Having a cap really keeps it in control , because it doesn ’ t matter how much money you ’ ve got in your car – you still have to go 5.30 .”

The racing aspect is only one side of the proverbial small-tire coin , however . The flip side to that is the atmosphere at these tracks . Held at smaller venues as opposed to massive national event-level facilities , the vibe is hard to put into words ; it ’ s something that simply has to be experienced .

“ For King of the South , we had 4,000 people on Saturday night at Shadyside Dragway ,” says Stamper . “ It was the track ’ s highest-attended event ever . It ’ s about getting back to the roots of having a ‘ cool ’ race . The stands are packed , you ’ ve got fans going down the fence line all the way to the eighth mile , the starting line is packed with people betting and having a good time . It ’ s a rush for the racers . You can ’ t get that type of environment at a big facility .”

Stamper says he has met many fans at these small-tire races that had never been to a track before , and now they ’ re coming back for other events . It ’ s grassroots drag racing that is growing the sport for both racers and fans – what could be more exciting than that ? – CRAIG COOK DI

September / October 2024

Now , that seems old hat , and it ’ s almost expected of events to have livestreams or somewhere that live updates can be found , furthering the point that content is king .

A few livestream platforms that have since been created with the rise of the social media-obsessed generation are FloSports and FRDM +, YouTube personality Cleetus McFarland ’ s brainchild . Plus , there is NHRA . TV that gives fans access to live coverage of national and some regional events , with the option to watch behind-the-scenes content , just like FloSports . Of course , pioneering streaming service MotorManiaTV continues to offer livestreams of major bracket races and other events .

Not only has there been an increase in drag racing content overall , but there has also been a rise of racers , media , and fans getting in on the action .

One of the key platforms for sharing experiences is social media . With the rise of various social media apps , there ’ s been a significant increase in content . Anyone can easily share their experiences , whether it ’ s a racer giving an update or highlighting a sponsor . A fan witnessing something spectacular can share their point of view immediately , or they also have the chance to share a horrific crash right at their fingertips .

Additionally , motorsports media outlets are capitalizing on this trend by integrating mainstream sports coverage tactics . These include breaking news , statistics , live event coverage , and quote card graphics , enriching the drag racing narrative .

Behind-the-scenes videos have been extremely popular as well . Take Top Fuel dragster pilot Clay Millican . It ’ s safe to say that his fans are just as interested in what ’ s happening behind the scenes as to what ’ s happening on the track . Millican has even admitted that some of his sponsors commit to working with him not solely because of what he does on the track at NHRA national events , but because of the following of his YouTube channel and how it paints Millican in a diverse light .

Then there ’ s No Prep Kings . Many of them , like Ryan Martin and Shawn “ Murder Nova ” Ellington , have supplemented their living with their YouTube channels , which only makes sense since our society is obsessed with reality TV .

The aforementioned Cleetus McFarland has nearly based his entire career on YouTube , getting the start with one viral video and learning to cultivate a fanbase that has allowed him to sustain his popularity for several years .

Adding another layer , dedicated motorsports influencers and content creators have emerged with the rise of content creation . These individuals , like drag-and-drive star Alex Taylor and multi-talented doorslammer wheelman Alex Laughlin , have tapped into a new revenue stream and are able to monetize social media posts on Facebook , Instagram , YouTube , TikTok , etc .

The rise of podcasts has given fans the chance to listen to new content almost every day of the week . Competitors , fans , and media outlets are all contributing to the coverage , offering a wide variety of topics and perspectives . This provides a unique opportunity to share the diverse stories within the world of drag racing . – KAYLA ZADEL DI

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