The Lucas Oil National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Nationals began Thursday. The event is held at the Brainerd International Raceway every year and will take place from Thursday to Sunday.

The 42nd annual event will feature some of the world’s best drag racers including Duluth native, Greg Anderson, who is making his return to the Brainerd raceway and seeking his third win this season.

Even though he holds 105 career wins, the 5-time Pro Stock World Champion’s original dream wasn’t to drive, it was to work on cars.

“I worked for a guy in Georgia by the name of Warren Johnson, who actually came from Minnesota also, but he raced the same class I race in Pro Stock. And I worked for him as a crew chief, and I was a little hard on him one day about his driving. I was critiquing his driving, and he said, ‘I’m going to teach you a lesson. I’m going to send you to the Roy Hills Drag Racing School.’ I got the bug after that,” said Anderson.

Every ticket to the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals comes with a pit pass. Event qualifiers run through Saturday, with championship races scheduled for Sunday.

For more information on the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Click Here. For the event schedule, Click Here.