Is NHRA’s Nitro Track-Prep Tempest An Old Topic Now?
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Is NHRA’s Nitro Track-Prep Tempest An Old Topic Now?
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Is NHRA’s Nitro Track-Prep Tempest An Old Topic Now?
By Susan Wade July 30, 2018Since the April race at Houston, NHRA racers and fans have squawked about the new track-prep method.And perhaps the most practical of all who have weighed in is Funny Car contender JR Todd. In a recent episode of “Nomex Effect,” his podcast with Kalitta Motorsports teammate Shawn Langdon, Todd said, “This track-prep deal, it’s almost like beating a dead horse at this point. It most likely isn’t going to change anytime soon.”
The NHRA’s decision to remix the traction compound-to-alcohol ratio for the two nitro classes – from 75 percent compound and 25 percent alcohol to 65 percent compound and 35 percent alcohol – has drawn some anger.
The NHRA’s decision to remix the traction compound-to-alcohol ratio for the two nitro classes – from 75 percent compound and 25 percent alcohol to 65 percent compound and 35 percent alcohol – has drawn some anger.
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Before hearing some of the who-said-what reactions, consider a few truths (in no special order):
- Many racers have said they believe the fuel cars need to slow down. It’s impossible to know if they truly mean that or if it sounds politically correct – or if they’re conflicted about it. But racers, and certainly tuners, don’t want to slow down. The reason they race is the thrill of how it feels to blast down a dragstrip at 330 or so miles an hour. As Matt Hagan said, “You can’t get that rush anywhere else.” Maybe those in favor of slower cars just have trouble communicating that they want the cars to go quicker and faster, yet offer safer and safer features. Enough double-talk.
- Crew chiefs have not shown much interest in slowing down the cars. That’s nothing new at all. About 10 years ago, legendary tuner Austin Coil figured the cars could be equipped with all kinds of protective packaging but said fans would be turned off because the cars would look like tanks lumbering down the racetrack. Besides, liver and broccoli are nutritionally sound, and neither is wildly popular. Crew chiefs will behave like “techno-brats” and figure out a way legally to follow rules but twist or tweak something else to gain an advantage. They’re choosing the cookies and ice cream over liver and broccoli.
- Both those for the new method and those against it cite the fan experience. Some racers genuinely do care about the fans, some racers not so much. The litmus test is how much time they spend at the rope lines and how friendly and accessible they are (within reason) for those who spend their disposable income at the dragstrip.
- Just as when the NHRA decided in 2008 to shrink the course for Top Fuel and Funny Car from the traditional quarter-mile to 1,000 feet, the argument arose about how discerning the average fan is about elapsed times and speeds. Would they notice the difference? It’s hard to say whether the fans would notice a change, especially if it’s relatively slight (from a spectator point of view).
- The NHRA has not only the responsibility but the right to adjust physical racing-operation parameters to ensure safety for racers and fans. If they neglected that tenet everyone trusts them to uphold, then the sport would be in trouble on a variety of fronts. So it has to consider the fact that these tracks were constructed decades ago and might not be as responsive to modern technology that’s growing in unprecedented leaps.
- The sanctioning body also is the entity that teams expect to help curb costs. As Graham Light said, some of the escalating expenses are matters beyond the NHRA’s control (such as hotel rates that vary across the country and gasoline or diesel prices for the haulers and motorhomes that travel to races). No track wants the schedule trimmed – at least not its own date(s). The NHRA doesn’t want to lop off any of its existing markets – and has designed the seemingly odd jumping-bean pattern to the schedule to avoid saturating markets. It might make sense logistically to race throughout the Southeast while the tour is there or at Dallas and Houston in successive weekends. But the fear is that ticket sales will drop. So what’s the answer? Where’s Dear Abby when we need her?
- No matter who says what, the NHRA cannot accommodate everyone. Although the timing of this track-prep decision was a bit goofy (why not start it at the beginning of the year and give teams time to prepare their tune-ups?), it appears rescinding it isn’t up for discussion. So Todd is right. And maybe support from PRO was grudging, but reportedly PRO signed off on it.
- It’s fair to say the new track prep has helped to level the playing field and give others besides the 11 combined Don Schumacher Racing and John Force Racing drivers a shot at going more rounds. But to say it is the sole reason drivers, notably Scott Palmer and Terry McMillen in Top Fuel, have improved results is to ignore the fact they made major strides last season. Other factors have played into their performance gains.
- Legal liability surely factored into the decision.
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Keystone Motor Club (Founded 2012)... Free car show Every 3rd Saturday, newsletter is
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Keystone Facebook ...click: "Keystone Motor Car Club"
Port Richey Rod Run at Coast Buick GMC Coming May 25 2024
https://carstoshow.com/registerevent.aspx?eventid=99114
50's Diner US19.... A Florida Attraction.
1730 US-19, Holiday Fl 34691 click: https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/t...-racing.html CHRA sanctioned cruise-in.
Cruise-In; Free; Every Saturday 5-8PM plus 10% off the whole menu to cruisers
All Cars Every 2nd Saturday Free Breakfast: Since 2015 and more. click: https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/e...ast-tampa.html
Tampa Racing.com covers the Tampa car scene and supports many fund raisers, worthy causes and events that enrich our community. We hope you enjoy them all.
What do I do? ---- on-site *Aftermarket* spring/suspension installations --- on-site impact wrenching---street lowering with your own stock springs...........True Bi-xenon HID projector headlight conversions........ Much more at Bob's Garage!
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“Not everybody doesn’t like it,” he reminded. The tighter-budgeted teams welcome it, and Pedregon said, “It’s good to see some of those guys have a fighting chance. The day it becomes about the guy with the most money, that’s not good for NHRA. It was starting to. It’s not like that now.”
He has been around long enough to know the talk will turn soon to new controversies.
“A lot of cars are smoking the tires,” Pedregon said, “but the good ones always figure it out. And I think they’ll do the same thing here.”
He has been around long enough to know the talk will turn soon to new controversies.
“A lot of cars are smoking the tires,” Pedregon said, “but the good ones always figure it out. And I think they’ll do the same thing here.”
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Port Richey Rod Run at Coast Buick GMC Coming May 25 2024
https://carstoshow.com/registerevent.aspx?eventid=99114
50's Diner US19.... A Florida Attraction.
1730 US-19, Holiday Fl 34691 click: https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/t...-racing.html CHRA sanctioned cruise-in.
Cruise-In; Free; Every Saturday 5-8PM plus 10% off the whole menu to cruisers
All Cars Every 2nd Saturday Free Breakfast: Since 2015 and more. click: https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/e...ast-tampa.html
Tampa Racing.com covers the Tampa car scene and supports many fund raisers, worthy causes and events that enrich our community. We hope you enjoy them all.
What do I do? ---- on-site *Aftermarket* spring/suspension installations --- on-site impact wrenching---street lowering with your own stock springs...........True Bi-xenon HID projector headlight conversions........ Much more at Bob's Garage!
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/b...ontact-us.html
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/b...e-senor-honda/
Keystone Motor Club (Founded 2012)... Free car show Every 3rd Saturday, newsletter is
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/e...-car-club.html
Keystone Facebook ...click: "Keystone Motor Car Club"
Port Richey Rod Run at Coast Buick GMC Coming May 25 2024
https://carstoshow.com/registerevent.aspx?eventid=99114
50's Diner US19.... A Florida Attraction.
1730 US-19, Holiday Fl 34691 click: https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/t...-racing.html CHRA sanctioned cruise-in.
Cruise-In; Free; Every Saturday 5-8PM plus 10% off the whole menu to cruisers
All Cars Every 2nd Saturday Free Breakfast: Since 2015 and more. click: https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/e...ast-tampa.html
Tampa Racing.com covers the Tampa car scene and supports many fund raisers, worthy causes and events that enrich our community. We hope you enjoy them all.
What do I do? ---- on-site *Aftermarket* spring/suspension installations --- on-site impact wrenching---street lowering with your own stock springs...........True Bi-xenon HID projector headlight conversions........ Much more at Bob's Garage!
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/b...ontact-us.html
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/b...e-senor-honda/
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