When Was the Starting Line Christmas Tree First Used in Drag Racing? HOT ROD photographer Bob D’Olivo was at the 1963 NHRA Nationals, the first race that utilized a countdown starting system.

Buffalo Bills' defensive lineman Marcell Dareus faces drag racing, reckless endangerment and other charges after police say the 24-year-old crashed his Jaguar into a tree.

"They’re usually pretty loud, there’s usually a hand-held (drag racing) practice tree being passed around, and there’s probably a nine iron out in the grass," Coughlin asaid.