NHRA takes steps to improve driver safety
Posted by Steve Kaminski | The Grand Rapids Press July 03, 2008 09:50AM
Categories: NHRA

The National Hot Rod Association continues to search for answers nearly two weeks after Scott Kalitta was killed during a Funny Car qualifying session at Englishtown, N.J.

NHRA officials announced Wednesday that the series has taken steps designed to improve safety while its investigation pf the fatal accident continues.

The plan is to shorten the Top Fuel and Funny Car races from 1,320 feet to 1,000 feet beginning with the July 11-13 Mopar Mile High Nationals in Denver. It's only an interim move until the NHRA can implement long-term solutions.

If you attended the American Drag Racing League races at Knoll Gas Motorsports Park in Martin in June, then you saw that passes covering 1,000 feet can be exciting and competitive. The ADRL has drivers shut it down after 1,000 feet, too.

(... story continues at mlive.com)

I think they are definitely making a move in the right direction. Actually, I agree 100% with fuel funny car pilot and innovator Jim Head, about moving it to an 1/8 mile. I mean come on. It would be definitely better economically. The little teams could have a better shot also. The fuel guys burn all the parts and engines up after the 1/8 mile mark. It would also require less nitro to run, too. That would also help with the nitro shortage that the NHRA is experiencing. NHRA has allowed them to run faster and faster all these years, so they are going to have to give more real estate and/or slow the cars down. The people at NHRA, drivers, crew chiefs, and crew members are doing a great job with trying to develop safer stuff.