Drag Racing in Bloom at Byron Spring Nationals

Words by Jeff Burk - Photos by Jeff Burk, Dennis Mothershed, and Tommy Shaw

The surest sign that winter is over for Midwest drag racing fans is the annual April nitro Funny Car and heads-up doorslammer event at Illinois’ historic Byron Dragway.

The Eighth Annual Spring Nationals featured four nitro-burning AA/FC cars, a couple of jet dragsters, the always popular heads-up doorslammer series the Midwest Super Stock Mafia, and the Chicago Wise Guys Pro Mods.

Unfortunately, while it didn’t rain on the event, there was a constant 20-mph wind blowing, and temps that struggled to reach 60 degrees. Despite that, the track had bite and the hardy fans got their first dose of nitro for the 2011 season, along with some very entertaining heads-up doorslammer action and a full card of bracket racing.