Frank Hawley’s drag racing school fills the need for speed

Reporters Annie Costabile and Madeline Kenney go head-to-head at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet.

Ever wonder what it feels like to go from zero to 100 mph in less than six seconds?

Frank Hawley’s drag racing school at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet has an adrenaline- overload answer for you.

“We started three decades ago,” Hawley says. “I raced my entire life and most of the people who come to our school are coming to prepare to actually go NHRA drag racing.”

FRIENDLY competition @madkenney pic.twitter.com/AOQtdsDJgE
— Annie Costabile (@AnnieCostabile) May 22, 2019

Hawley’s school starts with a 20-minute video lesson, followed by a walk-through on the track and a detailed breakdown of how to operate a drag-racing car. After finishing lessons, suit up, step into a car of your own and take two runs down Route 66 at max speed.

All of the cars used are significantly slowed down reaching speeds just over 120 MPH as opposed to their usual 300 MPH capabilities.

“It’s really rewarding,” Hawley said. “What we like to do is get people out who have never been out before and maybe they find out racing is something for them.”

Update (cc @Route66Raceway) pic.twitter.com/nStEUrmZb2
— Madeline Kenney (@madkenney) May 22, 2019

View Sun-Times reporters saw as they participated in drag racing school at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet on Wednesday May 22, 2019. | Brian Ernst/Sun-Times

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Racing champion and instructor Frank Hawley prepares to cue a racer at the starting line at his drag racing school. | Brian Ernst/Sun-Times

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Annie Costabile waits for the signal to take off on her quarter-mile run at Route 66 Raceway. | Brian Ernst/Sun-Times

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Annie Costabile and Madeline Kenney get in their cars after a morning of lessons in Frank Hawley’s drag racing school. | Brian Ernst/Sun-Times

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The cars are altered to reach max speeds just over 120 MPH, significantly slower than their normal speeds of 300 MPH. | Brian Ernst/Sun-Times

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One of Frank Hawley’s instructors, Jimmy Montgomery, goes through every detail of the drag car with each racer individually before racers take off. | Brian Ernst/Sun-Times

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Before stepping inside the car Costabile and Kenney get geared up in a full racing suit including a jacket, pants and gloves. | Brian Ernst/Sun-Times

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Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois is just one home for Frank Hawley’s drag racing school. Hawley hosts classes throughout the year around the country. | Brian Ernst/Sun-Times

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