Troy Sitko

The Drag Racer

“Are you ready?” the official shouted over the sounds of the diesel tow vehicle cackling alongside my team and I, the conversations and shouts of inebriated fans and the chilling night air as it passed through the eye port of my helmet. I instinctively push in the clutch pedal, pull the brake handle back and open the throttle blades located inches behind my head with my right foot. I smell the gas from the small bottle my crew chief uses to prime the engine behind me as he pours it into the open injector hat.