Blarney Island Drag Boat Racing
The only place in the world where high-performance drag boat racing takes place every Thursday evening, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Heads-Up, Race-What-You-Brung
This is bare-knuckles, heads-up, ‘race-what-you-brung’ drag racing. The racecourse is approximately 800 feet long and sits on an open lake. The notoriously choppy waters of Grass Lake have given Blarney Island racers a reputation for being both fast and fearless.
This format is tough on drivers and tough on equipment. Ultra-lightweight race boats do not last long here. Newcomers typically race at the Island for several seasons before dialing-in their equipment and becoming truly competitive drag boat racers.
All race participants are members of the Northern Illinois Drag Boat Association (NIDBA), the event sanctioning organization that manages the weekly races. Blarney Island is the sponsor and race promoter.
Meet the Racers at the Show
These NIDBA drag boat racers will be at the Lake County Boat Show, September 26 & 27, 2026 — come meet them in person.
Ron Silverstein
Veteran Blarney Island drag boat racer and NIDBA competitor on the Fox Chain-O-Lakes.
Chris Alby
Blarney Island drag boat racer and NIDBA competitor, suiting up for Thursday-night racing on Grass Lake.
Thunder on the Chain
Thunder on the Chain is the Northern Illinois Drag Boat Association’s signature event series on the Fox Chain-O-Lakes. NIDBA manages race rules, safety inspections, class assignments, and season points for the Blarney Island program.
Learn More About NIDBARace Event Details & Safety
Registration & Inspection
New racers receive a brief orientation and are guided through boat registration, safety-equipment checks, and boat inspection. NIDBA race officials determine ‘suitability to race’ before assigning each boat to a racing class.
Safety First
Drivers wear racing life-jackets with leg straps, full-face helmets, racing suits, and required onboard safety gear. Higher (faster) classes add neck supports, ballistic shorts, and parachute jackets. Driver safety is NIDBA’s top priority.
Points & Cash Awards
Competitors accumulate points toward season high-point champions. 100 points at registration, 50 per completed heat pass, and 50 more to each class’s event winner. Blarney Island Enterprises provides cash awards to first and second place finishers in each class.
Weather Calls
Race cancellations for weather are announced by 3:00 PM the day of the event. When wind and waves are excessive, racers run exhibition passes only and the award money is split among registered participants.
The Fox Chain-O-Lakes
The Fox Chain-O-Lakes in northeastern Illinois is the world’s busiest waterway on a per-acre basis. The Fox Waterway Agency reports that 24,000 to 28,000 boats register to navigate its 7,000 acres of waterway each year.
It has been home to more national-championship title-winning boat racers who have set more speed records on water than from any other body of water in the world.
See Blarney Island & NIDBA at the Show
Meet the teams behind Thursday-night drag boat racing and Thunder on the Chain at the Lake County Boat Show, September 26 & 27, 2026 at the Lake County Fairgrounds.
Get Free Tickets