Fontana Street Legal Drags – 2011 Racing Schedule

Join your fellow Mopar enthusiasts and race the strip – not the street. AAA and Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, California, sponsor NHRA Drags – Street Legal Style throughout the year, here’s the 2011 schedule which we last updated on Mon, Aug 15, 2011.

NHRA Street Legal Drags

2011 NHRA Street Legal Racing Schedule

  • September 03, 2011 (Twilight)
    Gates Open at 9:00 AM for Stacking
    Ticketing/Tech Opens at 12:00 PM
    Racing from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM
  • September 17, 2011
  • October 15, 2011
  • October 29, 2011
    (Halloween Street Legal)
  • November 19, 2011
  • December 03, 2011

Dos and Don’ts

Snell Certified Helmet

Do be prepared to have a Snell Certified helmet if you expect to break a 13.99 ET in the 1/4 mile. Most of you will probably need a helmet, get one. Required in all vehicles faster than 13.99 seconds. Helmet must meet SNELL 2000 or better standards (must have label inside of helmet). NOTE: In January 2012 the requirement will be SNELL 2005 or better.

Tech Inspection and Fees

Do be prepared to undergo a vehicle tech inspection after you pay the fee to race which is $20.00 (per Tech Card). If you wish to spectate only, the fee is $10.00 per person. So, if you bring along a couple of friends, your total cost would be $40.00 for the day. If it is just you and a couple of friends, no racing, your total cost would be $30.00.

Appropriate Attire at the Track

Do wear clothing that is suited for drag racing at the track. Driver: Must have valid state driver’s license. Driver and Passenger: No shorts, bare legs, tank-tops, bare torsos, or bare feet permitted when racing. (Insurance Requirement).

Suggestion: Do not wear nylon type clothing like that normally used for working out. This type of material is highly flammable and if you’re racing, I suggest you prepare yourself and at least wear jeans, a good pair of driving shoes, a flame retardant shirt and/or jacket along with a nice pair of driving gloves. This is for your own safety.

Roll Bars and/or Roll Cages

Do be prepared to have a Roll Bar/Cage installed if you expect to break the 11.49 ET in the 1/4 mile. Some of you are quite capable of turning an 11.49 ET and I would strongly suggest that you have a Roll Bar/Cage installed or keep your ETs above 11.49. Don’t even think about getting by after your first 11.49 or better run. You’ll sit in the staging lanes and once you get close to the burnout pits, you’ll be asked to leave the staging area. This is for your safety, respect the rules and enjoy your day.

10 Second Rule

Don’t break the 10 second rule! There is a 10-second flat ET rule. No cars quicker than 10 seconds will be allowed. If you need an NHRA Competition License to drive your car at an NHRA Drag Strip, it is too quick for Auto Club Dragway during a Street Legal event.

Ballast During Racing

If you’re racing, do remove all ballast. Track rules dictate that you have NO loose ballast in the car, e.g. suitcases in trunk, loose stuff that can be easily turned into a projectile during an accident. This of course is for your safety. If you have to slam on the brakes during a run for some reason, the last thing you want is something flying within the compartment of the car or inside the trunk. Remove it before going to the track or be prepared to remove it at the track and place it in your pit space which is 10.0′ x 20.0′ in size.

Tips for Race Day

Tech Cards (Run Cards)

You can purchase more than one Tech Card (Run Card) which allows you to race in more than one group. For example, the last time I raced at Fontana (Dec 4, 2010), I purchased 2 Tech Cards at $20.00 each and ran in groups 2 and 4, there were a total of 4 groups that day with about a 45-60 minute wait between each group. This is not advertised and something that the regulars know about. When you see vehicles with multiple group stickers on their windshield, that means they’ve purchased more than 1 Tech Card.

Reduce Your Vehicle Weight

Reduce your vehicle weight as much as possible, every pound counts. If you are going to race during one of the planned event days in 2011, prepare to arrive with as little fuel as possible, I usually try to get there with less than 1/8 of a tank. There is a gas station within a 1/2 mile of the track.

Grudge Racing

Grudge Racing is permitted at Auto Club Dragway. You’ll need to arrive in the Staging Lanes bumper to bumper, not side by side. Let the folks directing traffic know that you’re doing a Grudge Race with the other person, they’ll direct you into an appropriate lane. Once you reach the Burnout/Staging Area, let the staging boss know and you’ll be directed to enter.

Speed Limits

Please be careful with your speed as you approach the Auto Club Dragway in Fontana. Many of you can be heard in advance of your arrival. There are law enforcement personnel in strategic areas and it is in your best interest to maintain safe driving speeds and within the posted limits. Once you are inside the Auto Club Dragway, you MUST obey posted speed limits. No burnouts, no 360s, no showing off, track officials do not take kindly to this and will escort you to the gate.

Enjoy your Day at the Races!

Gates open at 6:00 AM for regular events and at 9:00 AM for Twilight events. There are 2 Twilight Events scheduled for the remaining 2011 season, one on Aug 13, 2011 and the other on Sep 3, 2011. Arrive early and get in line. If you arrive at 05:45, there will most likely be at least 50-100 vehicles parked outside the facility waiting for the gates to open at 06:00 sharp. You’ll start your first race around 09:00. Tune your vehicle radio to 104.7 FM for the track PA announcements.

Note: Check the 2011 NHRA Street Legal Schedule below before planning. If inclement weather is predicted, there’s a good chance the event will be postponed or canceled. Notifications are usually posted on the Auto Club Speedway website.