The history of Harley-Davidson drag racing.

The history of Harley-Davidson drag racing is a wild ride full of loud engines, burnt rubber, and a deep-rooted connection to American motorsport culture. Here's a breakdown of how Harley found its place on the strip:

🏁 Early Beginnings: Post-War Speed Culture

• After World War II, American GIs came home hungry for speed and adrenaline. The rise of hot rods and motorcycle racing exploded in the late 1940s and 1950s.
  
  

• Harley-Davidson riders started stripping down bikes for performance—removing fenders, swapping out parts, and building what we now call “choppers” and drag bikes.
  
  

• At local strips and dry lakes, Harleys battled it out with British twins and rising Japanese bikes.
  

🔥 The Rise of Factory Racing: 1970s-80s

• In the 1970s, Harley got serious. They backed racers like Ray Price, known as the “Father of Funnybike” and an engineering pioneer who developed the wheelie bar.
  
  

• The Harley-Davidson Top Fuel Drag Team was formed, and competition in the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) and National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) took off.
  
  

• Harleys in this era ran on nitromethane, spitting fire and cracking 200 mph by the 1980s.
  

🧨 Screamin' Eagle and V-Rods: The 2000s

• The 2000s brought in the Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines partnership with Harley’s factory backing.
  
  

• The V-Rod Destroyer was born—a 165+ horsepower, quarter-mile-ready, factory drag bike built just for racing.
  
  

• Riders like Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec dominated NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle, grabbing multiple championships and pushing the limits of what Harleys could do on the strip.
  
  

  ⚙️ Modern Day: Legacy and Evolution

• NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle rules evolved, and V-Twin dominance faded a bit with the rise of lighter, faster inline-fours.
  
  

• Still, Harley drag racing lives on through grassroots events, nostalgia drags, and a strong fanbase.
  
  

• Ray Price Harley-Davidson (before it closed) kept the legacy going strong in the Southeast with sanctioned races and Top Fuel monsters.
  
  

💡 Fun Facts

• The V-Rod engine was co-designed with Porsche.
  
  

• The first production drag bike Harley made (V-Rod Destroyer) came ready to race, no license plate, just pure speed.
  
  

• NHRA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle division was the most successful Harley-backed racing venture in the 21st century.