I've never been to any drags above the weekend "bracket" races at the local strip.
Some of them would let drivers take their daily drivers out to see what they could do. Though I never tried.
I'm not very educated when it comes to drag racing's rules, reasons etc.
As a spectator, I grew more familiar with the quarter-mile runs, and I just find them more enjoyable.
The 1000' runs just seem like they don't even get out of 1st gear.
I remember wondering if we were in contact with the road at all because it felt like we were floating, and no road noise that I can remember at all.
Years later, I got to sit in an Indy Car (Johnny Rutherford's), and I imagine it would probably be like that in an Indy car.