This habit that is called “drag racing” grabbed me in the early seventies. Since then, I have met thousands of stars that take part in the sport.

As any photographer that covers motorsports will tell you, the people you meet and their background can cover the full spectrum of life. As the photographer for Pacific Raceways, I cover a variety of different forms of motorsports, from Drag Racing, Motocross, Road Racing and Go Karts, and they all share one thing in common, Family.

All, of these families have their stories. When an unusual “story” presents itself, I like to focus on it…

An unusual or unique story in drag racing at Pacific Raceways are twins Abbie and Angie Hagen. As high school seniors they will once again compete in the Air Force Reserve High School Drag Racing Series. The twins hope to improve on their 3rd and 4th place finishes last season.

Their attraction to drag racing stems from father Steve who came to the track to watch the 1978 Fall Nationals. In the mid 90’s when looking to buy their first house Steve and wife Kim found a home just a few blocks from the track.

A few years later the twins were born and raised just blocks from the sounds of the race track. Abbie was the first to hit the track though not what you may expect. As a sophomore, she entered her father’s Dodge Challenger in the high school burnout contest. Abbie in the driver’s seat and Angie sitting on the passenger side, the track announcer asked her if her Dad knew you were burning the hides off his car? Without hesitation Abbie replies “Yes, he is in the back seat”.

Twin sister Angie was not really into Drag Racing, she kind of fell into it at her sister’s request. Abbie was fighting for points in the high school class. So, Angie jumped into her sister’s car hoping to do well. Angie had so much fun she decided that she should have a Challenger too. Then the Hagen’s became a three Challenger family as Abbie found one very close to her sisters.

With dad Steve running in the Sportsman class and the girls in the High School class, it is easy to spot them in the pits with the White, Red and Green Challengers lined up in a row.

This time together earned both girls a trip to the “winners circle” for trophy and pictures and enough points for Abbie to earn a prestigious spot on the E.T. Finals Team and a trip to Canada to race at Mission Raceway. Not bad for their first season of racing!

Seeing the fun that Abbie had last season, a bit of a sibling rivalry has formed! Angie is forgoing softball this season to put all her energy into racing in her effort to make it to the E.T. Finals and of course Abbie will try to re-peat her ET Finals performance.
If these two-college bound young ladies go at racing with the same energy as they do for school, the competition should be a bit worried!!

April 15th is race number one for the Air Force Reserve High School Series this season and should one of them win this special day to begin with would really be “frosting on the birthday cake”. Good luck to both of you this season.

06 May 2016 Kent, WA – Calling all high school drag racers and their friends to the track for some fun competition! Each year Pacific Raceways hosts the high school drags for safe drag racing, way better here at the track than on the streets.

With licensed NHRA driver’s in attendance the drivers meeting begins with track manager Ed Garfield explaining the starting line area and how it equates to the Christmas tree and what it does to start the race. Pointing down track explaining how to exit the track at the three possible exits, and please don’t stop and turn around on the track.

Ed also stressed that if you have an issue on the track pull over to the guard rail and stop, to minimize any possible leakage which then is easier to clean up. Be safe in all manners was stressed as the meeting closed to begin the time trials.

After two rounds of collecting time slips then it was time to get serious.  The NHRA drivers were at the head of the staging lanes explaining how to read what is printed and how to pick a dial-in for their race. Do what you did the previous two runs and you should run this number.

It was pretty good coaching as quite a few came within a couple of hundredths of their dial-in. Add to the racing a DJ playing music, a tug-o-war with a big chain stretched between trucks and of course the “burn out” contest for all to watch.  Because of the number of entries they ran up against the curfew though, the time that is in place for the track and the finals will be finished the next day.

Images of all the fun and action are now available.  Click here to go to the album.