NHRA shortens race distance for Top Fuel and Funny Car classes to 1,000 feet as an interim safety measure
worst idea ever. but this way they don't have to spinned any money to add on to the shutdown area, and the money is the most important thing to them. i can tell you that for a fact.
I am still confused about that track having a wall at the end of it? National trails raceway here in Columbus has gravel then a chain link fence if you make it that far you go across a country road into more gravel then hay bails. not a cement wall?
yeah, thats to bad when there are lives involved. if the nhra was proactive instead of reactive maybe my wife would be alive today.
Excuse me? If you'd car to share your story, please do. If it's too private, I understand. My condolences.
if they are going to require the longer shutdown areas...how many of the tracks will realistically be able to accommodate this?....and how much longer of a shutdown area are they looking for?
As the investigation continues into the tragic accident that took the life of driver Scott Kalitta, NHRA has announced that beginning at the Mopar Mile High Nationals in Denver, Colo., both the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes will race to 1,000 feet instead of the traditional 1,320 feet or one-quarter mile. This is an interim step that is being taken while NHRA continues to analyze and determine whether changes should be made to build upon the sport's long standing safety record, given the inherent risks and ever-present dangers associated with the sport. This interim change was made by NHRA in collaboration with professional race teams. NHRA believes that racing the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes to 1,000 feet will allow NHRA and the racing community time to evaluate, analyze and implement potential changes based on the safety initiatives outlined last week. With the change, fans will still be able to enjoy the sights, sounds and thrill of NHRA nitro racing with speeds around 300 mph and quick elapsed times to 1,000 feet. Over the years, NHRA has implemented many initiatives to enhance safety including measures to limit speeds from increasing, personal protective gear, vehicle improvements, and track enhancements such as sand traps, catch nets and concrete barriers the entire length of the drag strip. In the wake of the tragic series of events that took Kalitta's life, the following technical issues are currently under investigation: 1) what might be done to reduce engine failures; 2) parachute mounting techniques and materials as well as identifying a parachute material that could be more fire resistant; 3) exploring whether there is a way to increase brake efficiency when cars lose downforce due to the loss of the body; 4) analyzing additional methods that might be developed at the top end of the race track to help arrest runaway vehicles; 5) considering whether current speeds should be further limited or reduced to potentially improve safety. “The board members of the Professional Racers Owners Organization (PRO) wholeheartedly and unanimously support this decision,” said its president Kenny Bernstein. “We want to thank NHRA for listening to our input and suggestions to incorporate these changes. It is not lost on any of us that this constitutes a change in our history of running a quarter-mile, but it's the most immediate adjustment we can make in the interest of safety which is foremost on everyone's mind. This may be a temporary change and we recognize it is not the total answer. We will continue to work hand in hand with NHRA to evaluate other methods of making Top Fuel and Funny Car competition safer so that we might return to our quarter-mile racing standard. We also want to thank Connie Kalitta for his invaluable input. He has been a rock through these difficult times.”
it is a temp move ask for by the funny car drivers. in the past year since the cars started pushing 330 there has been deaths, serious injuries, and a very high rate of fires from grenaded engines. there is a HUGE difference between 300 and 330 on these funny cars. all the trouble happens after the motor goes and they are loosing them in the last 200 feet. if they can take care of that then the other problems go down drastically.
in one of the interviews after scott died....one of the drivers said that all the damage that was done to the engine during a run happens after the 1000' mark....so i think they will all be pleased with this move until they figure out something better
I kinda like the new rule. I remember back in the day when TF cars were running low 7's@ 220mph. The jet powered exhibition dragsters were limited to 300mph back then. Anything faster was considered unsafe and today's TF cars run at those same tracks at 330mph. It'll still be a good show at the 1,000 ft mark.
-1000' ??????? That doesn't make ANY sense to me.... What happens to the record book and point standings? Uh.... "The Fastest 1/4 mile-1000 ft." time and speed? No....wait.... how about 3/16 or 7/32 mile strip! Ridiculous.. I bet a lot of drivers don't even show up. It is a WHOLE different ball game in car set up. They should treat it like Nascar. Instead of having them run a carb plate....have them run a throttle stop. To think we can figure out to stop a plane that is landing on a ship at about the same speed.
They'll still be running 300 mph at the 1,000'. I even heard that the drivers would have been happy to run the 1/8. Let's see...I believe we lost 5 drivers in the past 6 years?
Shortening the track will do nothing.....they will just make the cars as on the edge in the 1000' as they are now at the 1320'.
