NHRA Making Pro Mod Adjustments
The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is constantly looking for ways and means to keep competition on a level playing field. It’s a tough ask and one that is very rarely fulfilled on drag strips around the USA. but still, the sanctioning body tries, and that’s part of the point.
After two races in the FuelTech Pro Mod Series, NHRA decided to take a closer look at the series, its parity and how to keep the racing close and safe. Justin Bond opened the season by earning the first two victories in a 10-contest campaign. Driving his ProCharger-powered Chevrolet Camaro, Bond now has a 41-point advantage on JR Gray Jr and more than 100 on last year’s champion, Kristopher Thorne.
Looking for more parity and, of course, better competition, NHRA decided to reduce the minimum weight of screw supercharged entries by 40 pounds, from 2,740 to 2,700 pounds. A letter from NHRA’s Technical Department also delineated other safety-related rules changes.
One rule change that will align this class with both Top Fuel and Funny Car categories is the use of throttle blade color contrast. Heretofore, every throttle blade must have a contrasting color located on the forward outside face, and all throttle blades must be clearly identifiable from a distance. This rule will stop racers from using all-black throttle blades and these contrasting colors can be represented by a sponsor’s logo, color of the throttle blades, decals placed on the throttle blades, etc.
The primary rationale for this rule is to make is easier for the Safety Safari personnel to determine whether the throttle is closed before they approach the track in the event of a crash or other incident. The coloring of throttle blades will also help identify if a driver is keeping the throttle open well past either the 1,000-foot or 1,320-foot finish line.
To ensure that no FuelTech Pro Mod teams are using electronics to manipulate torque converter charge pressures during a run, NHRA has mandated pressure manipulation devices must be wired directly to the transbrake; they can’t be connected to the car’s ECU.
Following an incident at the second race of the year, the Circle K NHRA 4Wide Nationals, held on the zMAX Dragway strip outside Charlotte, NC, NHRA officials are currently taking a look at the centrifugal supercharger restraint system. Working with manufacturers on potential changes, this could address a centrifugal supercharger failure that occurred towards the end of a pass. Teams will be notified if there are changes to be made for safety reasons.
These changes and adjustments are being implemented at once, so they will be active at next week’s Gerber Collision and Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals held at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, IL, near Chicago. There may be added adjustments to the Pro Mod class, depending on the review of centrifugal supercharger restraint systems.