The cars roar across the finish line, and car number 376 tears across the finish line ahead of the others, taking home the victory. On the racetrack, the driver climbs out of the junior dragster and begins walking toward the pit. The driver’s helmet is removed and she shakes out her hair; sophomore Arleen Carver is ready to accept her first place trophy.
Drag racing isn’t new to fifteen-year-old Carver, who has been racing since she was eleven years old.
“My twin brother first got me started with racing,” Carver said. “It’s a really fun time.”
Carver and her family work on tuning up her dragster, as well as her brother’s, in their free time.
Carver’s dragster has a 50 horsepower one cylinder engine, an all-aluminum block, and a 42 millimeter carburetor.
Her fastest 1/8 mile run was 7.90 seconds with a top speed of 85 mph, the fastest time allowed without getting disqualified.
Carver goes to the track once every week during the summer. She has placed in first three times, second two times, and third place 13 times.
“It’s a great adrenaline rush,” Carver said. “It’s something my whole family can do together; we make great friends while doing it and it’s fun to beat the guys.”
Carver does have other hobbies, including volleyball and playing the piano, but racing is her overwhelming favorite.
“The track is just a place where I can clear my thoughts,” Carver said. “I can just forget about everything else for a few hours and do something I love to do.”
Though she has been very successful so far she does not plan on making this hobby a profession in the future.
“Drag racing is easily my favorite hobby,” Carver said, “but that’s all it is: a hobby. I don’t plan on going pro or anything.”