NHRA drag racing returning to Pacific Raceways

Published 11:24 am Monday, July 14, 2008

The racers of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) go fast.

Seriously fast.

Not the elegantly smooth, faster-than-it-looks speed of an IndyCar race, where 225 mph is the top end.

The time and speed records for a quarter-mile of asphalt are 4.428 seconds and 336.15 mph, set in 2006 and 2005 respectively by five-time champion Tony Schumacher in an 8,000 horsepower, nitromethane-burning Top Fuel dragster with a supercharged, 500 cubic-inch motor.

And loud?

When the light turns green, the roar of two drag racers jumping off the line is so loud you won’t be able to hear yourself screaming.

It’s something every racing fan should experience at least once and your chance is here.

Featuring top names like Schumacher and father-and-daughter racers John and Ashley Force, the Schuck’s Auto Supply NHRA Nationals returns July 18-20 to Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash.

Schumacher’s hold on the records for a quarter-mile run will not be challenged this weekend, as the Schuck’s Nationals will mark the second time in the history of the NHRA that races will be held on a 1,000-foot strip.

Following the death of Scott Kalitta in a racing accident on June 21 in Englishtown, N.J., the NHRA took the interim step of cutting the length of Top Fuel and Funny Car races from a quarter-mile to 1,000 feet.

The change kicked in last weekend at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo. It marked the first time the NHRA had raced at any distance other than a quarter-mile at a national event since the first one was held in 1955.

Schumacher recorded his sixth Top Fuel victory of the season at Bandimere, reaching 304 mph despite having 320 less feet of track to get up to speed.

“I think as an interim measure it achieved our goals,” said Graham Light, NHRA senior vice president of racing operations. “I think we’ve still produced exciting side-by-side, 300-mph plus, close and competitive racing.”

Kalitta died after his Funny Car caught fire and continued at speed through the sand pit at the end of the quarter-mile track, slamming into a retaining barrier.

The NHRA has not indicated how long the shorter track will be used. A task force has been formed to look at safety issues such stopping runaway cars and whether speeds should be limited.

Two other big stories in the NHRA this year have been the performances of female racers and the return of a longtime champion.

“It’s been a big year for us,” NHRA media relations manager Brian Hacker said. “Three women have won in the series this year and John Force won after returning to competition.”

Ashley Force scored a pair of Funny Car firsts, becoming the first woman to both lead the point standings and win a main event — beating her father in the final round of the Southern Nationals on April 27 in Atlanta.

Just weeks later, Melanie Troxel, who raced in Top Fuel dragsters for eight years, became the second woman to win in Funny Car at the Thunder Valley Nationals on May 18 in Bristol, Tenn.

Hillary Will, known as the fastest woman on Earth, became the first of her gender to win a Top Fuel event at the Summer Nationals on June 1 in Topeka, Kansas.

Topeka was also the site of John Force’s first event victory of the season. Winner of 14 Funny Car championships, Force recorded his 1,000 round victory earlier this year after being hospitalized for months after crashing at last year’s Fall Nationals in Dallas.

The NHRA rolls in for its annual visit to the Pacific Northwest at a critical point in its Countdown to the Championship.

The first 18 NHRA events for the Funny Car, Pro Stock and Top Fuel divisions are called the Countdown to 10, after which the top 10 drivers in each division compete for the overall championship over the final six events — the Countdown to 1.

With a shorter season schedule, the Pro Stock Motorcycle division uses the first 12 events and final five events.

There will be just four more events in the Countdown to 10 after the Schuck’s NHRA Nationals at Pacific Raceways, so there will be plenty of incentive for drivers on the bubble to do well.

“As we get closer to (the Countdown to 1), for those people outside the top 10 or just inside, those are important races,” Hacker said. “(The Washington event) is the middle of three races in three weeks … so you’re talking about some tight times for those racers.”

In addition to the national divisions, regional drag racers will compete as part of the Lucas Oil Northwest Division.

For more details on this weekend’s drag races, including schedules, ticket information and television coverage, (CLICK HERE). To read about how drag racers prepare for their runs, (CLICK HERE).