NHRA what is that?

Question

I was watching a NHRA Pro race a few weeks ago and was wondering what is the crew guy is doing when the driver is getting ready to get lined up on the top of the motor, it looks like he is turning something?

Answer 1

i believe that what you may be talking about is what happens after a burnout.  after the car is rolled back and as it prepares to stage, one of the crew member's jobs is to remove the "burnout throttle stop."  in short, the engine is limited with a throttle stop that keeps the driver from over-revving the engine while performing his/her burnout.  once the burnout is complete, that throttle stop is removed, so the driver can get full power from the engine during the actual race.

there are many stories of crew members standing around hitting themselves on the heads as they hear the engine grunt as the driver goes to accelerate, realizing that they didn't remove the throttle stop.

at least that's what i think they are doing.  my brother is the nhra fanatic (and ex-vintage dragster driver) and would know more, and i will check with him and check back here later in the day.

this question is probably better suited to the "general auto-racing" category.

Answer 2

After the first burnout and are rolling it back to the start line. The crew chief pulls a pin on the distributor cap to turn it on because during the first burnout they only use one distributor . Thats what Ive been told at the John Force Pits.

Answer 3

Based on what I saw on the TV coverage from today's Funny Car final, they have to raise the body after the burnout to change something in the air intake and the clutch. The team members couldn't get the body up on Mike Neff's car and therefore were unable to make those changes before the run. Consequently, the engine blew up about halfway down the track and Neff lost the race.

I will admit, I'm merely an armchair fan (except when they come to my neck of the woods once a year), so I'm not well-versed in the mechanics of it all.

Answer 4

NHRA what is that?

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