The Time Has Come...Lights Out Is Upon Us

For more than a decade now there have been two races that really kick off the drag racing season. The first of which is USSN, and the second is Lights Out. In just days from now, we will roll into SGMP for the 12 annual Lights Out, presented by Donald Long and Duck X Productions.

Anyone who knows drag racing has heard the name Donald Long, that same name that evokes excitement, controversy, and even anger. Well, the time is near to celebrate another season of great racing, and we are looking straight ahead to what has become arguably one of the biggest drag racing events in the world. As usual, South Georgia Motorsports Park is the place, and as of this article, there are already vendors, racers, and fans, rolling on to the property to claim their spot and witness greatness.

There is a song that has become popular over the last few months called “Legends are Made” by Sam Tinnesz. When I think about radial tire racing over the last twenty years, this song is the epitome of the Lights Out race. Duck X Productions wasn’t the first or last to put on radial racing, but Donald has highlighted radial racing, and let’s be honest, his races took radial racing to another level. Radial tire cars knocking on the door of being the quickest and fastest 1/8th mile door cars in the history of the sport.

I would be remiss if we didn’t talk about the fact that radial tire cars are now running in the 3.50’s, whereas at my first Donald race it was David Wolfe dropping 4.40’s and breaking jaws from the shock it caused across the drag racing world. Never did any of us think that we would get to the point that we thought we would see three-second passes on a radial tire, and yet look at there we are now. Not just RvW either though. Classes like Pro 275, LDR, X275, Ultra Street, DXP Street, and damn near every other mix and mash of those as well. Over the last year, we have seen 4.teens in X275, Three second passes in LDR, 3.70’s in Pro 275, and even a 4.50 in Ultra Street. Take a second to reread that last one…yes a 4.50 in Ultra street.

In 2010 a 4.50 would have gotten you close to the #1 spot in the top radial class on the planet. A class that essentially an outlaw class that included big block, twin-turbo, MONSTERS. Fast forward and now one of the most limited radial tire classes has come close to the feat set forth by the kings of the radial movement. I would say that is some progress right there.

Now there are some that will say that the NHRA openers are usually the kickoff to the drag racing season, and for a lot of people that might be true. That has never held true for me though. For me, the USSN at Bradenton in January, and Lights Out in Georgia in February are the true launching point for the drag racing season. Donald Long has created an event like no other, and I can speak on that because I have only missed two Lights Out races in its history. An aura if you will that surrounds this event like no other. Questions are asked about what we will see, who will win, and who might become the next big star.

Drivers like Stevie Jackson, jamie Hancock, Scotty G, Chad Henderson, and so many more have come year after year and battled the best that there is at one of the best tracks in the world. All for a shot to say that they won Lights Out. I have heard drivers say that winning Lights out is better than their NHRA or IHRA wins in years past. This race, along with races like USSN, Shakedown, OSCR, and Yellowbullet Nationals and some others, actually mean something to the racers, the crew, and the fans. These aren’t just another race, they are THE races.

On Tuesday of this coming week, we will see cars rolling out of the trailers and prepared to make a rip at the track. We will see some trying to knock off the winter blues, some trying new set-ups, some trying to improve on their USSN performances, and some trying to rise to the top of the mountain and be crowned Lights Out 12 Champions. Will we see a nitrous car like Jack Green, Marcus Birt, or Jamie Hancock take the crown? Will it be back to back for the Bryan Markiewicz as he comes in hot off his USSN victory? Maybe we will see Stevie in the winner circle again. How many 3 second LDR passes will we see during the week? With Paul Gargus and Justin Cyrnek the only two that managed to do it in competition so far, but Justin Martin certainly has shown his car can do it, along with Eddie Harrison’s ride. How low can we go in X275? Everyone thinks Goss is sandbagging, and I actually had someone tell me two weeks ago that the #1 spot in X275 would be a 4.12. Will White Rice and Titan both go 180+ in X275 trim, and will we see an import take the victory? I can’t even begin to imagine what Ultra Street will look like.

There are a lot of you that aren’t able to make it to this event for one reason or another. Yes, there is a live feed of the event. More importantly, if you aren’t going to watch the feed, and you want the most extensive coverage of the event with no BS, make sure you are checking back here under the Lights Out event area, and following all of the E3xtreme social media channels as well. This is sure to be an event that we carry on the tradition of shock and awe.