Midnight Madness, presented by Ranken Technical College and fueled by NOS Energy Drink, are events at World Wide Technology Raceway offering a safe and legal alternative to street racing. Open to street-legal cars and motorcycles, participants can engage in drag racing, drifting, and enjoy DJs, contests, and other attractions.
The first one of the year is set for Friday, March 21 at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill.
One of the main attractions at these events is drag racing. For those who are unfamiliar, drag racing is when drivers race in a straight line to get to the finish line as soon as possible. The Ford Mustang is one of the most popular cars to race on the drag strip, which is exactly what Ava Weatherford (11) drives.
“I drive a 2005 Mustang GT with a 5 speed manual transmission, and the length of the track is ¼ mile and the fastest time I’ve got was a 14.009,” Weatherford said. When it comes to adrenaline, there’s no better place to find it than on the track. This is something Weatherford can relate to closely. “The adrenaline you get at the track is indescribable. The feeling you get is not like anything else and you get to experience that feeling with your friends and all car people.”
But drag racing isn’t just cars, but bikes too. Lucas Westhoff (12), who is a recent LHS graduate, also plans to participate in the event.
“I took a Suzuki GSX-R1000 down the 1/4 mile, made a time of 9.58 seconds at 153 mph,” Westhoff said.
One thing that many drivers have in common at these events has in common is that they all feel a deep connection to not only their car, but also the environment cars bring.
Westhoff was asked about his favorite moments at these events.
“My favorite memories though would have to be when I’m not racing but being at the drag strip with my friends, having a blast enjoying the shows,” Westhoff said.
And similarly to Weatherford, adrenaline is also something that Westhoff loves.
“My favorite part on track though, would have to be the adrenaline of the race. I’ve always chased that feeling since I was a kid and the drag strip definitely is a sure fire way to get it,” Westhoff said.
Drag racing isn’t the only racing attraction at these events, it features drifting too. Unlike drag racing, the goal isn’t to reach a checkered flag, rather it’s all about sliding around and getting as close to the wall and other drivers as possible. Jake Martin is a driver at these events with his Nissan 240sx s13.
“I’ve had a lot of good times at the track with the car and meeting new people,” Martin said.
These drift events are mostly full of local drivers who are just having weekend fun, but there are some drivers who are professionals that also show up. Martin mentioned these professional drivers when asked if he’s driven alongside anyone.
“I’ve had Derek Madison chase me before as well as Coty Demster. Both are pro drivers in Formula Drift,” Martin said.
The first event on the 2025 schedule is on March 21, and the last event is on Oct. 10. There is around one event per month, so make sure to check out this link for the full schedule. I myself will also be out there driving my Nissan 240sx s13, similar to Jake’s car.
What is your favorite kind of racing?
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