Drag racing got its start in North Carolina back when the roads
were dirt and transporting moonshine made speeding from the police
a necessity. Drag racing is no longer small time, however. Millions
of dollars are pumped into the sport each year, and sponsorship
is huge. All types of people can be found at the various races
on the weekends. For some, it's their full time job, and they
travel all over the country with their entourage of trailers and
crew members. For others, it's a weekend sport, but one that they
persue with great passion and effort. I chose to photograph the
Jackson family from Bennettsville, South Carolina for their obvious
love of and dedication to the sport. Their motivation is not the
money involved in racing, for their wins barely exceed all the
costs of participating. Jennings Jackson, and his wife Nancy,
have been frequenting the drag strips since the early 70s. Each
of their three sons has taken up racing at one time or another.
It is now Keith, 26, who primarily races the two cars that they
own. He usually races with his cousin Randy Nolan. |