Antron Brown and Leah Pruett: Life in the Fast Lane as NHRA Drivers

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The 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season is set to kick off March 11 in Gainesville, Florida, a 23-race schedule culminating with the season-finale near Los Angeles in November. NHRA drivers are among the fastest in the world, navigating their 11,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars down the track at speeds that exceed 330 miles per hour. Every ticket is a Pit Pass, allowing fans to walk through the pits and enjoy an up-close look at the cars in between rounds of racing. Fans also can walk right up to their favorite drivers to pose for a picture and get an autograph, while children 12 and under can get in for free. In this conversation with SportsTravel Senior Editor Matt Traub, three-time series champ Antron Brown and eight-time national event winner Leah Pruett discuss the NHRA’s devoted fan base, how they got started in auto racing and what stands out for them when they travel across the country.

Among the topics discussed in this episode:

• What makes being part of the NHRA special to them (2:38)
• The biggest misconception about being an NHRA driver (5:55)
• Diversity and more as part of the NHRA’s legacy and its future (9:40)
• Competing against a teammate with championships on the line (15:36)
• How they stayed sharp during the pandemic in a sport that requires split-second reflexes (23:19)
• Their levels of confidence in being able to have a full 2021 season without interruptions (28:28)
• Some of their favorite stops on the annual schedule from every region in the country (33:26)

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