WATCH: Blink and its over - behind the scenes with pit crews at drag races

Drag racing is over in less than 10 seconds, with vehicles literally rocketing to terrifying speeds. A single mistake or miscalculation can spell disaster for drivers and crews.

That is what makes the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) drag racing series such a massive attraction in the United States.

High speed, minimal mistakes

The long nose and powerful rear-positioned engine are trademarks of these cars, breaking the 10-second barrier in the process.

WATCH: Type R vs Nissan Champ: This Cape Town drag race almost went horribly wrong

These engines aren't quite either - pit crew members at the starting line and spectators often have to close their ears as the rev limiter is constantly in use.

Watch episode 1 of from the PitCrew series. We will be publishing a new episode every evening. Tune in tomorrow for the next dose of this thrilling viewing.

Please note that this video is almost an hour long in case you want to view during night-time WiFi usage.