Some events could be affected by actions overseas 

Drag racing could soon face a shortage of nitromethane, the very lifeblood of the sport’s entertainment value.
 
A source, who spoke to CompetitionPlus.com under the condition of anonymity, said nitromethane production will likely be affected by a large demand for the product outside of racing applications as well as the upcoming Olympics. Many of the supplying factories, which are located in China and provide the raw materials for making nitromethane, will be shut down during the Olympics.
 
Our source, who we’ll call Mr. Nitro, said this problem isn’t in the future, it’s in the now.
 
“Internationally, the shortage has already begun,” Mr. Nitro confirmed. “There has been a pick-up in the usage of nitromethane for other chemicals.”

Some events could be affected by actions overseas 

Drag racing could soon face a shortage of nitromethane, the very lifeblood of the sport’s entertainment value.
 
A source, who spoke to CompetitionPlus.com under the condition of anonymity, said nitromethane production will likely be affected by a large demand for the product outside of racing applications as well as the upcoming Olympics. Many of the supplying factories, which are located in China and provide the raw materials for making nitromethane, will be shut down during the Olympics.
 
Our source, who we’ll call Mr. Nitro, said this problem isn’t in the future, it’s in the now.
 
“Internationally, the shortage has already begun,” Mr. Nitro confirmed. “There has been a pick-up in the usage of nitromethane for other chemicals.”
 
According to Mr. Nitro, there was only one plant in China that made nitromethane exclusively and this plant belonged to the Wego chemical company. Other plants make nitromethane as a supporting use with other chemicals.
 
“These plants would have extra nitromethane,” Mr. Nitro added. “Now, because of the demand, they no longer have the extra. In fact, these companies are looking for nitro for themselves.”
 
How does this affect drag racing? Immediately, the shortage might not affect the next few NHRA or IHRA events but the possibility of problems down the road are very real.
 
“We’re in an emergency status right now,” Mr. Nitro confirmed. “Most of the professional racers don’t understand. The people who are running the situation are listening to their supplier and whatever they say goes.”
 
The shortage will likely command a higher price for a barrel of nitromethane. A 42-gallon barrel currently sells for $1075 from the official NHRA supplier.
 
Other nitro entities sell their product for $900 for the same 42-gallon barrel uncut with methanol.
 
As for the Olympics, the Chinese government will reportedly shut down production of some raw materials suppliers during the Olympics, August 8 – 24, 2008. The factories are reportedly informing their customers their shutdowns will take place July 1, 2008 and they will not resume production until October 1, 2008.
 
“The concern over pollution has the government over there cracking down; they want to look very good during this time,” Mr. Nitro said. “They are trying to find ways to combat that and one of the plans is to shut them down. The plants that weren’t up to snuff are getting shut down. Some of the other plants, who do follow the guidelines, are getting shut down because they are close to the area (where the Olympics is being held).
 
“They [the Chinese government] have the same concerns our government would have about hazardous materials moving around when the world is looking at one particular area.”

China is drag racing's only source for racing grade nitromethane since the Uinted States-based Dow-Angus company ceased racing application production prior to last season.