NHRA announces additional changes for Top Fuel and Funny Car

NHRA officials notified Top Fuel and Funny Car teams, today, of a minimum tire pressure for rear tires beginning at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver and the formation of a task force to evaluate and recommend short-term and long-term performance parameters. In addition, NHRA announced a change to the nitromethane/methanol mix starting at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in Seattle.

Last week, a new Goodyear tire was introduced for Top Fuel and Funny Car competitors and NHRA required roll cage shielding for all Top Fuel dragsters. Beginning in Denver, and in addition to those changes, the minimum tire pressure, as recommended by Goodyear, for rear tires will be 7 PSI for Top Fuel and 6.5 PSI for Funny Car.

NHRA also announced it will form a task force comprised of professional Top Fuel and Funny Car team owners, crew chiefs and NHRA officials. The objective of the task force is to evaluate and recommend short-term and long-term performance parameters for the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories. The task force will be facilitated by Don Taylor, senior director of national technical operations at NHRA, along with Graham Light, senior vice president, NHRA, and chairman of the NHRA Competition Committee, and Ray Alley, director of Top Fuel and Funny Car Racing.

Beginning in Seattle, NHRA announced that the maximum percentage of nitromethane/methanol mixture used in the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories will be reduced from 90 percent to 85 percent. Other possible changes are expected in the near future.

"NHRA always will be committed to refining our unique style of racing to improve the quality of our show for our loyal fan base and improve the safety of the participants," said Light.