Many of the original drag strips in the 50s and 60s were set up and sometimes sponsored by police departments. Or the police would get a local service organization like the Lions or Rotary to sponsor them. The idea was to get the street racers to go drag racing instead.
As it increased in popularity drag strips became businesses. And to clean up their image, and lower their insurance premiums, they instituted strict safety inspections as the cars became more powerful/faster.
(I can't take my Chevy to the strip because I'd need a full roll cage.)
I wish them luck with this, but the first time Jr rolls Mom's minivan the lawyers and do-gooders are going to create so much heat for the police I doubt it will last.
