NHRA shortens race distance for Top Fuel and Funny

[Gtmustang88]

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.”

[Dougstermd (Premo)]

can you say "KNEE JERK"

so now everyone has to reset up with new gears etc????

[kevron99]

This just means that instead of blowing them up around 1200' they'll crank everyup a little more and just blow'em up around 800' feet.

[Gtmustang88]

Yea, there are other ways to slow down the cars, such as less nitro but I dont' think they wanted to screw the teams up with that on such short notice. I applaud them for changing something, but I am just not sure if this was the right move. Hopefully it is just a temp change.

[charger383]

here is an idea.. make all tracks a bit safer... like mir. half mile shut down lane. then sand then water then guardrails then a hill... not 1/4 mile to 500 feet of shut down and then a guard rail

[flomaster]

Even NASCAR made some changes by adding the new barriers at the track to improve safety. You would think that at least they could use the 1000 ft rule as a temp change until tracks could get up to speed and implement some changes that would not affect the race teams. Englishtown rakes in some big NHRA bucks. Make the tracks comply and not the teams suffer the changes. We have been running under 4 seconds for years. Did anyone for one second think that an incident like this was bound to happen some day?

[AndyMarquisLIVE (Premo)]

Originally Posted by charger383

here is an idea.. make all tracks a bit safer... like mir. half mile shut down lane. then sand then water then guardrails then a hill... not 1/4 mile to 500 feet of shut down and then a guard rail

Originally Posted by flomaster

Even NASCAR made some changes by adding the new barriers at the track to improve safety. You would think that at least they could use the 1000 ft rule as a temp change until tracks could get up to speed and implement some changes that would not affect the race teams. Englishtown rakes in some big NHRA bucks. Make the tracks comply and not the teams suffer the changes. We have been running under 4 seconds for years. Did anyone for one second think that an incident like this was bound to happen some day?

I don't care if E'Town rakes in big bucks, their Full Throttle Series date should go *POOF* over that.

Oh, just wait until we get to Seattle "Pacific Raceways." No sand, just a 3/8 mile shutdown and a banked corner to a road course which basically acts like a launch pad and shoots the car up and over.

I, for one, CANNOT WAIT to hear Tony Pedregon's comments when they get there. Seattle is another date that needs to go *POOF*

MIR's not the safest track in the world, but it's much safer than Seattle and Englishtown.

[AndyMarquisLIVE (Premo)]

I think the 1,000' is here to stay, and I think IHRA's going to do the same.

[flomaster]

Originally Posted by AndyMarquisLIVE

I think the 1,000' is here to stay, and I think IHRA's going to do the same.

I sure hope not. Think the tracks should be mandated to do what they need to to improve safety. Though cheapest and easiest would be to cut off 320 feet so I have to say that I agree thats the way it will probably end.