Could the NHRA make a concerted effort to return to quarter-mile racing at certain tracks in 2010? Certain venues with longer, smoother shutdowns areas could return to 1320 feet (a quarter-mile) while several of the land-locked facilities would remain at 1,000 feet.

If the NHRA does adopt a multi-length format, sources have indicated the sanctioning body would continue with their data gathering testing in an effort to slow the nitro cars down by “knocking some speed” off of the runs. This would enable the sanctioning body a full return to 1320. Will the Sanctioning Body Mix 1320 and 1000 Foot Racing in 2010?

Could the NHRA make a concerted effort to return to quarter-mile racing at certain tracks in 2010? Certain venues with longer, smoother shutdowns areas could return to 1320 feet (a quarter-mile) while several of the land-locked facilities would remain at 1,000 feet.

If the NHRA does adopt a multi-length format, sources have indicated the sanctioning body would continue with their data gathering testing in an effort to slow the nitro cars down by “knocking some speed” off of the runs. This would enable the sanctioning body a full return to 1320.

Several drivers and car owners speculated facilities such as Englishtown, Denver, Reading and Pomona would remain at 1,000 feet while venues in Gainesville, Phoenix, Sonoma and Seattle are just a few that could return to quarter-mile competition.

Ron Capps, admittedly a drag racing traditionalist, has become comfortable with racing to 1,000 feet while the NHRA seeks an efficient way to slow the nitro cars down. A return to 1,320 feet would be met with a bit of reluctance.

“It would work fine [for me],” Capps said, when asked how he would react to racing both lengths. “The last few hundred feet you’re just gritting your teeth and holding on not knowing what’s going to happen down there. Rarely does something good happen in that last 200 feet.”

Tony Pedregon believes that if the NHRA returns even to a partial schedule they are making a move in the right direction for the betterment of the sport. He stands firmly with the NHRA in their quest to slow nitro cars down to make them both safer and more economical in a stubborn economy.

“I think it would be a better alternative than what we have now,” Pedregon, a two-time Funny Car champion admits. Pedregon won both his titles racing the quarter-mile.

“I think people misunderstood me when I spoke out against 1,000 feet but I believe that we do need to slow these cars down. I think ultimately that we do need to go back to quarter-mile. I think it’s in the best interest of the sport.”

A number of crew chiefs have told CompetitionPlus.com that running some tracks to 1,320 and others to 1,000 feet would require little, if any, tune-up changes to switch back and forth.

“I doubt anyone would have to change their tune-up,” Brian Corradi, crew chief for Antron Brown, admitted. “The only thing it would affect would be how I would run my timing curve on the other end and that’s not a major adjustment to make.”

If in fact the crew chiefs are right, then an NHRA decision to run both distances based on the length of the runoff at a particular track could be seen as a compromise by those completely opposed to the current 1,000 foot racing.


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