---
title: "Track/Side: Behind the Scenes of the 2018 NHRA Fall Nationals"
description: "These 30 photos show the surprising artistry behind one of the most brutal motorsports on asphalt."
date: "2018-10-10"
modified: "2018-10-10"
authors:
  - name: "Rip Shaub"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/rip-shaub"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/24149/track-side-capturing-drag-racings-behind-the-scenes-allure-at-the-2018-nhra-fall-nationals"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Car photography"
  - "drag racing"
  - "motorsports"
  - "NHRA"
---

# Track/Side: Behind the Scenes of the 2018 NHRA Fall Nationals

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/10/ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts_hero-1.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

On-track NHRA action is an impressive spectacle, but there's much more to it than the few seconds of thunder it takes to blast through a quarter-mile. *The Drive* spent some extra time trackside at the series' recent Fall Nationals event, in the paddock and staging lanes, capturing the lesser seen sights and details of a race weekend with the traveling drag racer circus. Here's a look into the hard work and elbow grease it takes to prepare and maintain those 10,000-horsepower machines, along with a few others—just for fun.

## 2018 NHRA Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex

![message-editor%2F1539194998877-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-1.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539194998877-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-1.jpg>)
*Two looks at the forces on the wheels of a Top Alcohol dragster. First, spinning and fully extended during a burnout..., *© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1539195037683-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539195037683-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-2.jpg>)
*...and wrinkling at the launch of a pass., *© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1539195084249-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-31.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539195084249-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-31.jpg>)
*© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved*

![Detail of an alcohol dragster with enough sponsor stickers to make a music venue's restroom blush. ](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539195114861-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-4.jpg>)
*© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved*

![message-editor%2F1539196901630-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-22.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539196901630-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-22.jpg>)
*© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved*

![message-editor%2F1539195193765-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-5.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539195193765-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-5.jpg>)
*Kelly Clontz preps for her burnout as a crew member readies the starter for her bike., *© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1539195358290-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-6.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539195358290-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-6.jpg>)
*Jason Line in his Summit Camaro doing a burnout during Pro Stock qualifying., *© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved**

![Courtney Force signs autographs for fans.](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539195446150-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-10.jpg>)
*© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved*

![message-editor%2F1539196918125-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-21.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539196918125-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-21.jpg>)
*© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved*

![message-editor%2F1539198447952-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-241.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539198447952-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-241.jpg>)
*© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved*

![message-editor%2F1539195473700-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-8.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539195473700-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-8.jpg>)
*Brittany Force again, focusing before a qualifying pass., *© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1539195610154-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-9.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539195610154-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-9.jpg>)
*Jack Beckman's crew readies his Infinite Hero Funny Car., *© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1539195711811-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-11.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539195711811-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-11.jpg>)
*© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved*

![message-editor%2F1539195740432-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-12.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539195740432-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-12.jpg>)
*© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved*

![message-editor%2F1539199178400-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-26.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539199178400-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-26.jpg>)
*© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved*

![message-editor%2F1539195769860-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-13.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539195769860-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-13.jpg>)
*Jeff Diehl's crew works on his Gas Monkey Funny Car., *© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1539195811329-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-14.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539195811329-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-14.jpg>)
*Car prep between qualifying heats., *© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1539195937935-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-15.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539195937935-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-15.jpg>)
*© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved*

![message-editor%2F1539195957257-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-16.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539195957257-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-16.jpg>)
*© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved*

![message-editor%2F1539197890451-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-271.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539197890451-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-271.jpg>)
*© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved*

![message-editor%2F1539196198284-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-17.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539196198284-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-17.jpg>)
*Steve Torrence's crew works on his Top Fuel dragster., *© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1539196219774-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-18.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539196219774-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-18.jpg>)
*Engines are rebuilt after every pass., *© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1539196276579-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-20.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539196276579-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-20.jpg>)
*© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved*

![message-editor%2F1539196312425-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-19.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539196312425-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-19.jpg>)
*© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved*

![message-editor%2F1539197850436-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-29.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539197850436-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-29.jpg>)
*© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved*

![message-editor%2F1539197957633-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-30.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539197957633-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-30.jpg>)
*A sportsman driver waits in the staging area., *© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1539198162797-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-28.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539198162797-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-28.jpg>)
*A crew member attaches Robert Hight's HANS device in prep for an elimination pass., *© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved**

![message-editor%2F1539198416504-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-25.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539198416504-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-25.jpg>)
*© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved*

![message-editor%2F1539198497123-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-31.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539198497123-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-31.jpg>)
*© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved*

![message-editor%2F1539199121086-ripshaub\_2018\_nhra\_bts-23.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1539199121086-ripshaub_2018_nhra_bts-23.jpg>)
*© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved*

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/ripshaubphoto>)