Racing offers numerous exciting aspects, one of which is the vast range of options available to suit virtually any preference. Whether it’s drifting, stock car racing, circuit racing, or drag racing, there’s something for everyone.
At first glance, drag racing might seem simple just driving a car in a straight line for a quarter-mile at full speed.
However, this high-intensity motorsport can be incredibly dangerous for both the driver and the vehicle, as mechanical failures and catastrophic breakdowns are not uncommon.
When everything goes smoothly, though, drag racing showcases some of the fastest cars on the planet.
To highlight just how quick these machines can be, here are ten of the fastest drag racing cars ever built, both production and professional.
10. 2019 Tesla Model S
When considering the fastest drag cars, most people think of Top Fuel-class vehicles and extreme machines rocketing down the track. However, not all exceptional drag racers are immediately obvious take the 2019 Tesla Model S, for instance.
Tesla is renowned for designing vehicles that combine affordability, eco-friendliness, and luxury. What makes the Model S truly remarkable is its ability to achieve all of that while delivering astonishing speed.
Thanks to its all-electric powertrain, it produces instant torque, allowing it to launch off the line with incredible force.
The Model S can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under three seconds, and without the factory speed limiter, it is capable of exceeding 155 mph.
9. Bugatti Veyron 16.4
The automotive world was forever changed in the mid-2000s with Bugatti’s revival.
As part of its resurgence, the company introduced the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 one of Top Gear’s most beloved cars and a former record-holder for the fastest production car in the world.
Boasting a top speed of over 267 mph, a blistering 0-60 time of just 2.5 seconds, and an extravagant price tag exceeding a million dollars, the Veyron quickly became synonymous with both luxury and cutting-edge engineering.
Even today, Bugatti owes much of its continued success and dominance in the hypercar market to the legacy established by the Veyron.
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8. Twin-Turbocharged Lamborghini Huracan
Straight from the factory, Lamborghinis are already among the fastest cars on the road, with few rivals capable of matching their performance.
However, one particular owner decided that even Lamborghini’s engineering wasn’t enough, opting to equip their Huracan with a twin-turbo setup to push its capabilities even further.
This heavily modified Huracan made its way to the Underground Racing meet at Pikes Peak with one goal to dominate the competition.
In the end, it accomplished exactly that, reaching a staggering speed of over 258 mph and cementing itself as one of the fastest V10-powered Lamborghinis in existence.
7. Dodge Challenger Demon
In 2015, Dodge set out to build a truly formidable machine the Dodge Challenger Hellcat. This high-performance version of the Challenger quickly gained a devoted following thanks to its sheer power and aggressive styling.
With such strong fan support, Dodge decided to push the envelope even further with an even more extreme successor.
Enter the Challenger Demon, a car that more than lives up to its name. Packing over 800 horsepower, this beast is nothing short of a drag racing monster.
The Demon is widely recognized as one of the fastest production cars in a quarter-mile, though its blistering speed even led to its disqualification by the NHRA.
What makes it even more impressive is that it delivers more power than a Lamborghini while coming in at just a fraction of the price.
6. Rimac Concept 1
Much like the Tesla Model S, electric power has proven to be a formidable force in quarter-mile drag racing and acceleration, thanks to its ability to deliver instant torque.
With this advancement in technology, many automakers have embraced electric propulsion, and some have even emerged as new players in the industry one such example is Rimac.
Currently, Rimac is developing a new model, the C_Two, but since its official performance figures have yet to be tested or confirmed, it doesn’t qualify for this list.
However, their debut vehicle, the Concept 1, serves as a strong testament to the company’s engineering capabilities.
Fans of The Grand Tour may already be familiar with the Rimac’s sheer speed, as it has proven itself in head-to-head races, outperforming both a Lamborghini Aventador S and a Honda NSX in a straight-line sprint.
With such an impressive track record, expectations are high for Rimac’s upcoming models.
5. Larry “Spiderman” McBride’s AMA Drag Bike
While it may not technically be a “car,” this motorcycle undoubtedly deserves a mention when discussing the fastest vehicles on the drag strip.
Larry “Spiderman” McBride’s drag bike remains one of the quickest motorcycles ever built.
Back in 2010, McBride managed to push his Spiderman-themed motorcycle to an astonishing speed of over 245 mph in a quarter-mile run.
Even today, the AMA drag bike is widely regarded as one of the most dominant machines in professional drag racing.
Of course, having a superhero emblazoned on the side of your racing machine is always a nice touch.
4. Alpha Logic Performance’s Nissan GT-R
As car enthusiasts increasingly turned to the relatively affordable Nissan GT-R to challenge high-end supercars like Ferraris and Lamborghinis on highways worldwide, professional drag racers also began recognizing its potential on the track.
This led Alpha Logic Performance, a tuning company, to take on the challenge of pushing the GT-R to its limits.
Based in Dubai, Alpha Logic Performance still holds the title for the world’s fastest GT-R a feat that was anything but easy to achieve.
To propel their Nissan to an astonishing 232 mph with a quarter-mile time of just over 6.5 seconds, the car required more than 3,400 horsepower and a fearless driver behind the wheel. With all of these factors combined, the GT-R became a record-breaking machine.
3. EKanoo Racing Outlaw Supra
Much like Alpha Logic Performance, EKanoo Racing is an independent company dedicated to building ridiculously fast drag cars.
They have produced a variety of drag-specific vehicles, but one of their most impressive creations is the Outlaw Toyota Supra.
At first glance, the Supra appears to be an even better platform for drag racing than the GT-R, as it boasts a higher top speed of over 240 mph and a blistering quarter-mile time of under six seconds.
What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that the Supra accomplished it all while retaining the same base engine as the stock model: the legendary 2JZ-GTE.
2. Robert Hight’s NHRA ‘Funny Car’
The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) features several fascinating classes of racing, all showcasing vehicles that are unbelievably fast.
Among these classes is the uniquely named “Funny Car” series, which, despite its humorous title, is home to some of the quickest cars in the sport.
Don’t let the name mislead you Funny Cars may have an unconventional appearance, but they are among the fastest race cars that still resemble production vehicles.
The absolute quickest of them all belongs to Robert Hight, whose Funny Car reached an astonishing top speed of 339 mph.
Even imagining such velocity is enough to make your head spin now picture being in the driver’s seat, even if only for a few seconds.
1. Army Top Fuel Dragster
Every motorsport discipline has its own elite category the pinnacle of speed and performance within its domain. In circuit racing, it’s Formula One.
For drifting, it’s Formula Drift. In oval racing, it’s IndyCar. When it comes to drag racing, the ultimate class is undoubtedly the Top Fuel series.
Top Fuel dragsters are the epitome of drag racing machines, checking every box: razor-thin body design, massive rear tires, engines as large as a sedan, tiny front wheels, and an ever-growing list of speed records.
Among these monsters, the fastest belongs to the U.S. Army-branded dragster driven by Tony Schumacher (no relation to Michael Schumacher). This beast clocked an incredible top speed of 336.5 mph with a blistering quarter-mile time of just 3.6 seconds.
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