Drag racing has many divisions where racers can spend a lot of time, money and effort to satisfy their need for speed and excitement. Much time is spent traveling to events where the winnings don't really cover the costs of pursuing enthusiasts' dreams. The question is, why do local racers without corporate support continue down the quarter mile?

Lance Good, 44, of Jeannette owns a nostalgia funny car that he campaigns with in the Great Lakes Nostalgia Funny Car Circuit. Good's car took him more than seven years to complete, so why spend so much time on an endeavor that won't ever pay for itself?

Easy, it's for the love of the sport.

"My dad took me to the old Keystone Dragway [now Pittsburgh Raceway Park] when I was 6 years old to see the funny cars, and I knew then that I wanted to drive one someday," Good said. "I love drag racing and funny cars have just always been my thing. I just love the funny cars from back in the '70s."

For Brandon Greco, 20, of Roscoe, Washington County, driving a 260-mph Top Alcohol Dragster has always been what he wanted to do since he was a young boy.

"My dad raced at Pittsburgh Raceway Park for 15 years, and as I got older we felt I could run a Top Alcohol Dragster. So we did it," Greco said. "It's for the love of the sport. We are always the underdog, but we love it."

Since getting into the class in 2009, Greco has qualified for all four events he has entered against veteran competition.

To say Mike Kosky, 64, of South Fayette loves the sport of drag racing would be an understatement. Kosky, a multi-time champion of the Top Alcohol Dragster class, enjoys what he does.

"We love doing it," he said. He and his wife, Janet, spend many weekends touring the eastern part of the country, competing in a class that doesn't pay the racers enough to keep up with all their expenses.

"We spend a lot of money on this, but it's what we like to do," he said.

Racing continues at 7:30 p.m. today at Lernerville Speedway with BRP Mod Tour headlining the program. ... Also at 7:30 p.m. today, Motordrome Speedway is in action with five divisions and twin 25-lap features for the Super Late Models. ... Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway near Imperial races Saturday with free admission for residents of Washington and Greene counties. ... Mercer Raceway Park is in action with five divisions Saturday and free admission for Crawford County residents. Also, Single Parents Night is back. ... Pittsburgh Raceway Park Motocross Track is open Saturday and Sunday. ... On the drag racing side of Pittsburgh Raceway Park, Sport Compact Night occurs today and all classes will be in action Saturday. ... Sharon Speedway is racing today and Saturday, Dog Hollow Speedway is in action today and Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex races Saturday. Tri-City Speedway in Franklin will be in action Sunday.

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