The (Surprising) Tool Brands Drag Racers Use Colin Aylesworth"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."Quick OverviewCraftsman 159-Piece Metric and Standard (SAE) Mechanics Tool Set$149 at lowes.comDeWalt 142-Piece Mechanics Tools Kit and Socket Set$109 at amazon.comKobalt 158-Piece Household Tool Set$60 at lowes.comIn early August, I attended the 11th Annual Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge drag racing event in Pontiac, Michigan. At the event, hosted by our sister publication MotorTrend, I had the opportunity to see dozens of amateur drag racers with genuinely impressive cars. It was clear to me almost immediately that they spend a lot of time in the garage making serious modifications to their cars to get them down the strip as quickly as possible.I was curious what tool brands these racers use, and so I asked them. It shouldn't have been a surprise that so few of them would actually name high-dollar brands like Snap-on, but given the amount of wrenching required to compete in this event, perhaps my expectations were somewhat overblown. However, the tools many cited are ones that you and I likely already have in our toolboxes.Most of the cars racing at Roadkill Nights were stripped of all but the essentials inside.Colin AylesworthThe majority of the cars brought to the event are not new. Many appeared to be at least a decade old and completely optimized for drag racing, with the interior stripped of all but the essentials, and they were fitted with custom suspension systems and highly modified engines.AdvertisementAdvertisementA lot of the work done on these cars is delicate, yet as it turns out, most of the tools they use are hand tools found in any good mechanic's tool set. For the amateur drag racers, it's enough to handle essential components of engine and suspension work.Many of the racers told me they use brands such as Craftsman, Harbor Freight, Kobalt, and Hart. Some did mention Snap-on, but just as many mentioned these more accessible brands. One racer did specifically mention that he uses a Milwaukee-powered ratchet wrench due to the amount of time it saves him in tightening and loosening hardware.Roadkill Nights participants cited common tools from brands like Craftsman (pictured) as what they reach for most often.Tony CarrickReasons given for these brands include affordability and durability for the dollar. One racer told me that he uses Harbor Freight tools because they do what he needs and allow him to put more money into other aspects of the car and his racing hobby.It makes sense. Unless you are a full-time racer with a sky-high budget, there's no reason that an affordable tool set can't do everything you need it to. It goes to show that even basic tool sets are highly capable, and also that car racing as a hobby is more accessible than you might think.Craftsman 159-Piece Metric and Standard (SAE) Mechanics Tool SetCraftsman 159-Piece Metric and Standard (SAE) Mechanics Tool Set$149 at lowes.comDeWalt 142-Piece Mechanics Tools Kit and Socket SetDeWalt 142-Piece Mechanics Tools Kit and Socket Set$109 at amazon.comKobalt 158-Piece Household Tool SetKobalt 158-Piece Household Tool Set$60 at lowes.comYou Might Also LikeAdvertisementAdvertisement20 Cars That Were Massively Improved by a RedesignGoing on Vacation? These Appliances Need to Be Unplugged Before You Leave the HouseRoborock Reigns Supreme for Robot Vacuums, but We Also Loved These Other Models