The 42nd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals began Thursday at Brainerd International Raceway. As the 2024 NHRA season playoffs approach, racing fans are traveling from across the country to watch drivers smoke tires on the biggest stage.

The cars are the number one attraction, but BIR offers much more than that for the NHRA Nationals.

“We have multiple vendors, probably 20,” said Jim Gerlich, CFO of Brainerd International Raceway. “The pit area that you have access to, the opportunity to ride ATVs in the mud. There are helicopter rides, the fireworks are on Saturday night, just everything for everyone.”

And then there is the zoo, a meeting place and camping site for fans that has been an integral part of the BIR for over 30 years.

“(It’s) an open area, about 300 acres, where people come and enjoy the weekend,” Gerlich explained. “People line up at the end of the gate opening three weeks in advance and come here early. We open the campground on Monday and stay there until (the following) Monday.”

You can also watch as the racers take time out of their busy schedules to visit the zoo themselves and spend some much-needed personal time with the numerous fans in attendance.

“I see thousands of fans at the racetracks every day, thousands of autographs, but you have to take a moment where you’re not in the best mood and spend a certain amount of time. And that could be something that affects a young child,” explained Ron Capps, driver of the NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Supra Funny Car. “And I never want to do that. You have to remember that the fans are the reason we’re here.”

And the BIR Pit Stop for the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals is important not only for the Brainerd Lakes community, but also for the racers as it leads directly into the second half of their season with a trip to Indianapolis in late August.

“If you go around, you talk to Tony Stewart, you talk to John Force, his team. Everyone will tell you that you have to be more together as a team at the Brainerd race,” Capps admitted. “Not only do you have to have your team running at full speed, but the race track could hold any record. And quite honestly, if it gets cloudy, like we’re going to see a little bit this weekend, you’re probably going to see track records fall and you could see a world record fall.”

The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals run through Sunday afternoon. Fans can still purchase tickets for the event at the main entrance of Brainerd International Raceway.