Nitro teams planning to test at the annual O’Reilly Raceway Park pre-Indy test session apparently caught the facility by surprise because when they arrived the track was not set up to record 1,000 foot times.

The NHRA has conducted organized tests at the facility since 2003. Nitro teams planning to test at the annual O’Reilly Raceway Park pre-Indy test session apparently caught the facility by surprise because when they arrived the track was not set up to record 1,000 foot times.

The NHRA has conducted organized tests at the facility since 2003.

This morning crews scrambled to correct the situation just to record 1,000 foot elapsed times. Team’s tested today without working scoreboards listing 1,000 elapsed times or speeds. There have been no speeds registered for the 1,000-foot runs.

A call was put in from track officials to Compulink’s Bob Brockmeyer to assist in setting up the system.

CompetitionPlus.com was told by an official at ORP that upon such short notice there was little they could do to rectify the situation. The staff member went on to say that the only time ORP runs a 1,000 foot course is when the NHRA, also the owner of the facility, contests the NHRA U.S. Nationals each Labor Day. Otherwise the facility utilizes the quarter-mile format.

Timing issues aside, the day has been a frustration to several of the teams many of whom have been unable to navigate the complex racing surface. According to dragracecentral.com, with a track temperature of 128, all Funny Car teams have consistently struggled to make it to half track under power.

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