New for 2026- TAFC / TAD (2 Viewers)

[Just Paul]

Oh man, if you thought the A/Fuel funny car deal ruffled some feathers, wait until you see this.

I 100% LOVE it. Can't wait to see what kind of participation this brings in.

New supercharged nitro combination for TAD, TAFC set for 2026 debut

NHRA’s Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car classes will become even more diversified and interesting in the 2026 NHRA season with the addition of a new engine/fuel combination set to be introduced.

www.nhra.com

 

[Chili]

Oh man, if you thought the A/Fuel funny car deal ruffled some feathers, wait until you see this.

I 100% LOVE it. Can't wait to see what kind of participation this brings in.

New supercharged nitro combination for TAD, TAFC set for 2026 debut

NHRA’s Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car classes will become even more diversified and interesting in the 2026 NHRA season with the addition of a new engine/fuel combination set to be introduced.

www.nhra.com

View attachment 15727

While it may help increase some car counts. I’m afraid we will end up losing the few hardcore alcohol cars remaining. I wonder how similar this new combination is compared to current nostalgia FC rules.

 

[aakar]

Injection is nice, but blown is always more fun

 

[mick]

the theory for parts sure makes sense

 

[Cliff]

Would be interesting to see some current nostalgia T/F run this new class. Add a wing to the roll cage, but would be cool to see that. Hope this new rule takes off.

 

[Ponyhntr]

 

[TSK]

What about fuel pumps?
Any restrictions there?

 

[Mike]

Cliff, N/TF wouldnt legal..

 

[sutton]

This will be fun to watch. not the racing but the changes on a weekly or hourly basis. just like the injected fuel cars. blown fuel 85% first race or test sessions then 80%, no lets make it 75, no 71 what ever. No we made a mistake I think you might think about a Pro Stock Truck,. Just try to explain to a potential sponsor, what is the class. well it is called top alcohol funny cars sponsored by BURGER KING just mix and match with what ever shows up that day, Pick 2 of this and 1 of that or you can Super size by cheating. GOOD LUCK NHRA
Larry Sutton---

 

[tb]

Time to rename the class

any suggestions

Mine
Pro Comp Dragster / Pro Comp Funny Car

 

[Rich D]

I have a love/hate reaction to this change. I have such a strong attachment to the high-winding alcohol engines that I grew up with. Blown nitro is the boss, but it still gets my blood going to hear a pair of alcohol cars staging. However, the class has been languishing and it clearly isn't just about alcohol cars anymore. It is a very good point that potential sponsors/fans are confused about the name of the class and that it needs new "branding". It is also valid that it should be more of a stepping stone, technology-wise, to the nitro ranks. Sad to see the change but think it is needed.

 

[mike]

Oh man, if you thought the A/Fuel funny car deal ruffled some feathers, wait until you see this.

I 100% LOVE it. Can't wait to see what kind of participation this brings in.

New supercharged nitro combination for TAD, TAFC set for 2026 debut

NHRA’s Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car classes will become even more diversified and interesting in the 2026 NHRA season with the addition of a new engine/fuel combination set to be introduced.

www.nhra.com

View attachment 15727

So now you try to obsolete parts that are expensively purchased so some can use old parts to race? Bringing new combos is what hurt the class to begin with-Like Larry Morgan said you can't fix STUPID-READ NHRA

 

[none]

If any one decides to build one that is 100% serious they’re not going to buy old used big show parts. First stop for me would be to one of the blower guys that work on the low overdrive blower’s like the pro mod guys use and have one built for this application. And they are not cheap $$$. Unfortunately I see some of the hardcore blown alcohol guys saying “that’s it I’m done”. Hope I’m wrong though.

 

[aakar]

Time to rename the class

any suggestions

Mine
Pro Comp Dragster / Pro Comp Funny Car

Keep it simple. A/Fuel or A/Nitro ( the word Nitro is familiar to the casual fan and is associated with everything badass)?

 

[Ponyhntr]

If any one decides to build one that is 100% serious they’re not going to buy old used big show parts. First stop for me would be to one of the blower guys that work on the low overdrive blower’s like the pro mod guys use and have one built for this application. And they are not cheap $$$. Unfortunately I see some of the hardcore blown alcohol guys saying “that’s it I’m done”. Hope I’m wrong though.

They can’t use specialty blowers. They have to use the approved big show blowers, and they cannot be modified. This new combination is simply a de-tuned big show car. They can’t develop specialty parts for them unless given approval from NHRA.

 

[Marchboom]

Has anyone done a survey of the alcohol guys to see how many would change over to this new class? If there is a problem with the number of cars in the alcohol ranks, how about doing what it takes to correct the problem.

 

[twostep]

Well.....everyone's been talking for years and years about how to slow the current 340mph AA/FCs and Top Fuel cars along with a possible return to quarter mile racing. NHRA just gave us their answer. They're just lumping it in with Top Alcohol which seems a bit ridiculous. Too many combinations in one class. It'd be like allowing 350-inch/nitrous and ProCharged engines in Pro Stock just to spice up the interest.

I'd rather see this become the new Top Fuel/AAFC categories. They'll still look exactly like they do today, they'll still be loud as hell, everybody can still smell the nitro, they'll still cackle, the racing should be closer (a lot less smoke fests) and quarter-mile purists will jump for joy. Time will tell if they'll be cheaper to campaign and by how much. I see several upsides in that scenario with the only downside being they'll be a little slower and fans will become acclimated to that in short order. NASCAR chopped about 250hp from their engines resulting in 195-200mph superspeedway speeds instead of 220 and it worked out fine for them.

 

[twostep]

Keep it simple. A/Fuel or A/Nitro ( the word Nitro is familiar to the casual fan and is associated with everything badass)?

Indeed. Many fans today still don't understand why a nitro car is running in an alcohol class. Whatever they decide, I just hope it doesn't force the true blown alcohol cars out of the business.

 

[Just Paul]

So now you try to obsolete parts that are expensively purchased so some can use old parts to race? Bringing new combos is what hurt the class to begin with-Like Larry Morgan said you can't fix STUPID-READ NHRA

Well….
Gainesville- The premier east coast kick off race had 6 alcohol fueled funny cars. 6!

Pomona- The big west coast kick off had 8.

If they had full fields, and were messing around with the rules, that’s one thing. However , they needed to do something to get car counts up.

Just my opinion.

 

[twostep]

Well….
Gainesville- The premier east coast kick off race had 6 alcohol fueled funny cars. 6!

Pomona- The big west coast kick off had 8.

If they had full fields, and were messing around with the rules, that’s one thing. However , they needed to do something to get car counts up.

Just my opinion.

I think short fields are not as much due to a lack of diversity as they the tremendous expense involved in relation to what the teams are paid. Only well-heeled, highly experienced racers who live and breathe drag racing compete in this class. NHRA doesn't pay the winner enough money to cover the transporter fuel to get the car to the track and sponsors aren't lined up to bankroll Top Alcohol, either. Pay these incredible racers the money they deserve and you might see more of them coming out.