Mr & Mrs Armadilloman go behind the scenes at NHRA AAA Midwest Nationals at St Louis

Mr and Mrs Armadilloman were chosen in the National Dragster drawing to be "VIP" NHRA members at the AAA MIdwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park, St Louis this last Sept.3. As a part of being a "VIP" member, we got to hang out backstage during the pre-race ceremonies and driver introductions. I took a few snapshots so you Steemians can see what goes on behind the stage at a NHRA national pro drag racing event.

Here is stage right of the temporary stage in front of the race tower where the race day opening ceremonies take place. This is what the spectators at the track and on the television see.

The is the view from stage left with legendary dragster pilot Shirley Muldowney (see the movie Heart Like A Wheel) being interviewed.

And here is the same stage from the back with the entry to the platform through a sliding door..

15 minutes before the beginning of the driver introductions, all the qualified for the event pro drivers start to line up by class, starting with Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Then the Pro Stock teams line up. Here is former World Champ, and second in the points Jeg Coughlin Jr.and team ready for their introduction.

As the fuel drivers make their way under the tower, they are interviewed for NHRA.com and Facebook page. Here is J.R. Todd, driver of the Kallita DHL Toyota funny car, most recent US Nationals winner and #2 in the 2018 points chase.

And five time world champ Tony Schumacher, The Sarge, the winningest top fuel driver in the history of the sport, giving an interview before he makes his FIVE HUNDREDTH race day start.

The funny car field makes their way to the stage as their names are called out according to their qualifying position, starting from 16th qualifier working back to the number 1 pole position. In line is former World Champ Ron Capps (team NAPA) and the Courtney Force (the blond).

And he always stands out in a crowd, the winningest driver in NHRA history, with 16 championships and 144 event wins, John Force. With him is daughter Britney, the 2017 Top Fuel Champion.

Three champions in a row, Britney Force, Antron Brown and Tony Schumacher.along with the third DSR Top Fuel driver, Leah Prichett who is also a Nostalgia Funny Car champ and just hoisted the Factory Stock Championship trophy this last weekend in Dallas.

Being back stage I got to watch up close as the first pair of dragsters, Antron Brown's and Doug Kalliita's, get their final work over by their crews. There are things that get changed last minute such as the blower pulleys that control the amount of air being rammed into the engine and I think that is what is being worked on here.

And Antron Brown as he gets his safety gear and helmet on, ready to get in the car.

With opening ceremonies over, we hustled to our favorite place at Gateway Raceway Park, on the pit side fence, about 500 feet down track, and waited for the first pair of 11,000 horsepower monsters to thunder down the strip, going from 0 to 320 mph in 3.8 seconds, We were rattled, shaken, blasted and got a snoot full of nitromethane. And few things in this life makes us happier.