The NHRA Technical Services are increasing the minimum weight of Funny Cars starting at the next event in Englishtown. Officials want the class to increase the minimum weight from 2,425 to 2,455 pounds due to the recent implementation of additional safety equipment, such as roll-cage helmet shrouds and extra roll-cage padding.  

Most teams are already well over the limit so the extra weight isn't much of an issue.

The NHRA Technical Services are increasing the minimum weight of Funny Cars starting at the next event in Englishtown. Officials want the class to increase the minimum weight from 2,425 to 2,455 pounds due to the recent implementation of additional safety equipment, such as roll-cage helmet shrouds and extra roll-cage padding.  

Most teams are already well over the limit so the extra weight isn't much of an issue.

"It doesn't bother me," said Chris Cunningham, co-crew chief on the blue Checker Schuck's Kragen Funny Car driven by Jeff Arend, "we're within forty of weight anyway, all it'll do is get us closer."

"Big Jim" Dunn, owner and crew chief of the Lucas Oil Funny Car driven by Tony Bartone, had a somewhat different opinion.

"All of the poor teams are so far overweight that it won't mean anything," Dunn said. "What they should do is weight all the cars that qualify and divide it by 16 and say 'here's your legal weight'. But that would be unfair to Force and all those guys who spend $100,000 on titanium and stuff to get down to minimum weight. The NHRA keeps the weight down to an advantage for the big teams. Everything that happens is an advantage for the big teams."