NHRA Issues New Rules for Pro Mod Ahead of Bandimere Race
This coming weekend at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, outside Denver, Colorado, there won’t be any Pro Stock cars on the grounds but there will be E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod competitors on-site, many of whom will be dealing with new rules just announced by the National Hot Rod Association.
In order to enhance competition, NHRA has made changes to the weight allowances for all cars. Some have lost, some have gained – it’s all intended to keep racing close and tight as these Pro Mod cars challenge the quarter-mile distance at the base of the Rocky Mountains.
As of June 15th, the minimum weights for Pro Mod – at the conclusion of a run and including the driver – went down for Nitrous-assisted entries, up for Roots supercharged cars and centrifugal supercharged entries, while turbocharge cars lost weight. The nitrous-assisted entries using 910 cid engines are now 2,500 pounds, down from 2,515; for 960-cid engines, another 15-pound weight loss from 2,565 to 2,550 is in effect.
Supercharged Pro Mod entries are gaining weight, as the Roots supercharged cars of 526 cid increases from 2,615 to 2,640, while centrifugal supercharged 526-cid cars have gone from 2,615 pounds to 2,685. Turbocharged Pro Mod cars are getting a break for their 526-cid entries, going from 2,665 to 2,615 pounds. Nostalgia body styles – 1937-38 Chevy, 1941 Willys, 1953 Studebaker, 1953-1962 Corvette and 1955-57 Chevy and Buick entries – are allowed to deduct 50 pounds from their minimum weights.
As of July 6th, there are changes to the transmissions used by E3 Pro Mod entries. For the first time, automated-electric or automated-pneumatic shifting devices have been permitted on all transmission types. They were previously prohibited. They must be controlled by preset engine rpm and/or time functions alone.
Another rule being implemented – for the 2022 season – should please photographers who love getting parachute shots. All pilot chutes must be made of a bright color, NHRA said. The sanctioning body doesn’t want black pilot chutes, and with this change they will be visible on the racing surface if detached from the main parachute. NHRA also made this rule mandatory for Top Fuel and Funny Car.
In the popular Factory Stock Showdown (FSS) category, there have been some adjustments made, effective July 6th of this year. FSS is open to 2008 and newer Chevrolet COPO, Dodge Drag Pak and Ford Cobra Jet muscle cars; they must use a factory production engine of the same make, but the year of the engine’s manufacture is optional.
All FSS cars have a maximum weight of 3,600 pounds, while NHRA can and does make adjustments to minimum weights, supercharger pulley rations at its discretion, to control performance and maintain parity within the category. With the addition of the 2021 Dodge Challenger Drag Pak 354, NHRA has changed the upper supercharger pulley size from 3.500 to 3.375 inches, while the lower engine pulley increased from 7.530 to 8.000 inches.
There are also some new rules for Funny Car as of July 6th, particularly in the use of a Doghouse fire shielding in the driver compartment, which is now mandatory and must seal to the clutch cover and to the top frame rails. The trailing edge of this fire shield should extend to the base of the steering wheel and angle towards the top of the roll cage and must be mounted with minimum of four self-locking fasteners – two on each side. A hinged top is optional, NHRA said.