Cliff Backx alongside his A-Fuel Dragster

When one thinks about the sport of Drag Racing, Grunthal is not a place that often comes to mind.  But, one day it very well could be if Clif Bakx has his way.  

The owner of Tristar Ag moonlights as owner of a drag racing team and this weekend they are off to test their mettle (or is metal more appropo?) against the world's best in Brainerd, MN.  The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is holding the Nationals event there and also celebrating 30 years of racing at Brainerd International Raceway.  Backx says he's excited about going and seeing how they stack up, but admits it's also about being part of a community.

"The two great things about racing is building these cars and the challenge of the power.  Second of all, the people that you meet at the racetrack.  The community is absolutely fabulous.  They welcome us and it's the people portion of drag racing that is so satisfying."

Backx is realistic about what to expect in Brainerd.  After all, they are just into their first year racing an A-Fuel car.  He says it's been quite an evolution these past few years.

"We built a Nova...it was sort of the first and last one.  That sort of evolved into picking up a Dragster, which was a lot quicker, a lot faster.  Then we went to this A-fuel dragster, which is in the top-alcohol class of NHRA.  We sort of kept the other ones for smaller tracks and smaller events and...I just really love drag racing."

It's a good thing he loves it because he says it certainly isn't lucrative.  He says he's hoping their performance this first year will be good enough to attract a few sponsors to help them out.

"Right now I sponsor the whole thing but, with the A-Fuel car we've had a decent year for first year.  We're going to try and get some sponsors for some of the smaller items because it is not an inexpensive car.  We sort of call it a clutch-burning, parts-chewing, pension-depleting car."

Following the weekend stint in Brainerd, Backx says they are off to Topeka, KS for another event.