They’re usually called dragsters. In top-tier drag racing, the long, narrow cars you’re probably thinking of are often Top Fuel dragsters.

Common terms

  • Dragster : the general name for a long, purpose-built drag racing car.
  • Top Fuel dragster : the fastest and most famous version, with a very long wheelbase and open wheels.
  • Funny Car : another drag racing class, but these look more like enclosed cars and are not the long, open-wheel type.

Simple way to tell

If it’s the super-long, skinny car that launches hard in a straight line, “dragster” is the word most people use. If you mean the pro-level ones seen on TV, “Top Fuel dragster” is the more specific name.