Top Fuel Track Shortening?

Question

With the passing of Scott Kallitta, NHRA reduced the Top fuel length to 1000 ft. Does this seem like a good step? Or should other considerations be made (like chutes being deployed when the blast plate is blown off, etc)? Inportant info to be considered, the racing length was 1320 feet, but most tracks have an overall length over 5,000 feet.

Answer 1

I think it's a good first step. It can be done with a minimal cost. It serves the purpose of slowing the cars and giving them more time to stop. This also gives NHRA and PRO time to make other adjustments to make the sport safer. It all comes down to safety.

Answer 2

I am hoping that this rule will be reversed. Although I do not believe they will change it before this season is over. It is a great safety measure. I believe that some of the tracks on the NHRA circuit that are deemed to have too short of a shutdown area should be held to this rule or attempt to lengthen it if possible. Every track that the fuel classes come to should not be affected by this is they have an adequate shutdown area.

Answer 3

It is a band-aid and hopefully temporary ( or they will lose a fan). I think Don Purdohme sumed up the problems in NHRA pretty well this weekend- they can easily decrease the cubic inches and the amount of fuel these guys can use- they just need time to make the rules and see what will be better for the long run. Drag racing has always been 1/4 mile and they can improve the facilities they race at and slow the cars down- make it more of a challenge for these guys to make that kind of horsepower with more limitations- Now you have to realize they will make the horsepower and continue to blow things up that is their nature.

Answer 4

I thought it was a knee jerk reaction at first but now I think it's a good thing. I would rather see them do that than limit the cars horspower or something. That's the important thing.

They'll continue to look at new safety features too.

Lengthening every track across America is just not feasible.

If you go to any track on a Saturday night you'll find 7, 8 and 9 second Super-Pro car's running the 1/8th mile so i'm fine with the 1000' line for Top Fuel and Funny Cars.

Answer 5

i think they should keep the track length at a 1/4 mile, but after the finish line increase the length of the asphalt, and increase the length of the sandtraps by alot.