Return to 1/4 mile (1320ft.) (5 Viewers)

[Ponyhntr]

Just to add to my post above...
Back in 2009, the year after going to 1000', Funny Cars were routinely in the mid 4.0's. In fact Low ET of the Finals in Pomona was Ashley Force at a 4.05 @ 310 (she did it in Q4, if you are curious). Remember the reason for going to 1000'....

Little known fact... several of the Funny Cars running in the IHRA in 2025 were, in fact, pretty much the same combo you are asking for... single mag, small pump (~70 gallon), 5 disc clutch. One of those was Dan Hix, who probably had the best running car of that combo, and he won the second Columbus race. His best run was 4.31 and best MPH of 295. While all due respect to Dan (he is an AWESOME guy and a great racer), he has good parts, but not the BEST parts. Don't you think if someone like Jimmy Prock got ahold of that combo they could go much faster? Probably knock on the door of what they were running back in 2009. Take that to 1/4-mile, and bam, right back to the speeds and ET's that were being run 1/4 mile in 2008, before the move to 1000'.

Kinda defeats the purpose, don't you think?

 

[Just Paul]

Doesn't Dan Hix run single mag? And pump? He won IHRA race this year.

Of the 8 car field, 4 of them were not traditional "big show" set up cars. Taking nothing away from his consistency that weekend. He earned it 1000%

 

[Steve Wayne]

I believe most of the nitro combinations in Funny Car Chaos are single mag and pump, I think Jack Wyatt was running match races with a single mag and pump several years ago as well.
But no matter what you make them run, crew chiefs are gonna continue to push the combination as far as they can and eventually they will figure out a way to run 330 and blow stuff up with that combo as well. No matter how much we beat this horse, the name of the game is to beat the guy in the other lane, and we can throw around all the ideas we can come up with to slow these cars down, but a drag racer will always find a way to go faster.

 

[Sparky]

A major change in nitro drag racing needs to occur. The greatest drag racer in history, "Big Daddy" Don Garlits long ago advised a return to 1/4 (1320 ft.) nitro racing via one magneto and one spark plug per cylinder. This change would achieve what many racing fans want - 1/4 (1320 ft.) without breaking the bank. There would still be 300 mph runs but not unacceptable speeds. Don't understand why NHRA hasn't already followed his guidance. Give the teams a 2 year notice to use up current cylinder head inventory and other parts. Then prepare for the return to 1320ft racing!

When you say many fans have you taken a poll of the fans that attend a national event? I have a friend that I started taking to the Mile High's over 30 years ago, as our family's grew etc., he continued to go until the end. He didn't even realize that they were only racing 1000 ft. I bet a large amount of the attendees at a national event don't care. Yes people on this board care greatly but the average fan that attends an event didn't even notice the lack of 320 ft.

 

[luxexpress]

Well there's still nitro cars running quarter mile at Divisional Events. Doesn't seem to help attendance as they're usually lots of empty stands. Yes I know they don't have blowers but I don't think distance is the key to improving attendance.

 

[ironpony]

Wouldn't it just be easier to eliminate 2 cylinders make them V6's.....................................

 

[Burnnitro1320]

Well there's still nitro cars running quarter mile at Divisional Events. Doesn't seem to help attendance as they're usually lots of empty stands. Yes I know they don't have blowers but I don't think distance is the key to improving attendance.

National events too! And in 2026 they will be allowed to run blowers.

 

[Steve Wayne]

What I think gets overlooked in these discussions is everyone is looking at and speaking from a view of someone who is already a fan. If we want to build a larger fan base and bring more people to drag racing, we should be looking from their point of view, not our own, because they are the ones we need to attract. I can tell you first hand, my wife loves drag racing, she doesn’t understand most of the technical stuff about it and doesn’t care. All she cares about is the noise and speed and cool cars. Same with my kids. They could tell no difference between Columbus and Galot, they had no idea one was 1/8 and the other 1000 feet. All they cared about was how badass the nitro cars were and how they felt going down the track. And that’s the way it’s gonna be for someone who has never been to a race or just a casual. So the difference in 1000 and 1/4 mile probably makes absolutely zero difference to most, only the long time fans who yearn for the days of old

 

[winr]

Let me preface the following comment with this... I am a 30+yr NHRA member and racer for over 40 yrs. I was not happy when the decision to go 1000' was introduced. But here we are all these years later still bitch'n. What are we missing out on watching (as most of the complainers are) 1000' racing? The only ones I don't hear bitch'n are the owners/drivers of these mechanical marvels. Call me complacent or whatever, but I'm happy we have completive racing. Things change, especially in this sport, look where it started vs today Throughout the history of the sport, changes have been made to deal with the increased speeds...if we go back to 1/4 mi we might as well go back to open face helmets, no fire suppression systems. single hoop roll bars lets get really gritty... rant off

 

[65 Goatboy]

And....how many older tracks do we still have that are just not safe racing a 1/4 mile at 340 mph?!!!

 

[ironpony]

What I think gets overlooked in these discussions is everyone is looking at and speaking from a view of someone who is already a fan. If we want to build a larger fan base and bring more people to drag racing, we should be looking from their point of view, not our own, because they are the ones we need to attract. I can tell you first hand, my wife loves drag racing, she doesn’t understand most of the technical stuff about it and doesn’t care. All she cares about is the noise and speed and cool cars. Same with my kids. They could tell no difference between Columbus and Galot, they had no idea one was 1/8 and the other 1000 feet. All they cared about was how badass the nitro cars were and how they felt going down the track. And that’s the way it’s gonna be for someone who has never been to a race or just a casual. So the difference in 1000 and 1/4 mile probably makes absolutely zero difference to most, only the long time fans who yearn for the days of old

This is the answer and as I have stated before, kids do not even want to get drivers licenses anymore. I can see the difference between my kids in their forties and my grandkids. Grandkids have zero interest in cars or driving, what makes you think they want to watch drag racing?? I will not say it is dead yet but we are on life support based on peoples interest in cars.

 

[z28]

I can make one change that won't cost a dime: Make all nitro racing exhibition races where teams are paid a fixed amount win or lose. If you oil the track or foul out you pay a penalty. Then they become entertainers 1st and it pays them to keep their equipment in good shape. Problem is nobody wants that to happen.

 

[Nunz]

This is the answer and as I have stated before, kids do not even want to get drivers licenses anymore. I can see the difference between my kids in their forties and my grandkids. Grandkids have zero interest in cars or driving, what makes you think they want to watch drag racing?? I will not say it is dead yet but we are on life support based on peoples interest in cars.

We're not on life support. The world has changed, but there are still young people that are fans and participants in all forms of motorsports. We do need to work harder to keep attracting new blood, and I agree that teenage priorities are different than when we came up. I mean, most of us here probably lived the same life: Hot Wheels, building model cars, Stingray bike, countdown to 16 to get a license!

 

[ATC TWR]

Nice to make your acquaintance as well. I enjoy a friendly discussion or debate.

Two magneto and two spark plugs have been around for 60 ish years. Pro Stock HEMIs ran two spark plugs starting in the early 70s, before ignitions got good enough that just one was needed for gasoline or alcohol. And yes, I suppose you could mandate just one.

But the fact remains, testing a theory and racing are not the same. I was there when Dale Armstrong ran the low compression and restricted overdrive combo on a Monday in testing. He made three runs in the high 3.80s at 305-308 MPH and the only damage was one piston tightening up a ring.
So yes, it can be done. But he wasn't RACING! He was testing a theory.
I asked him point blank: "Would you run it like that if Tony Schumacher was in the other lane?"
He said: "Hell no! I would have to lean on it!"

Lee Beard remains the most honest guy I ever heard when asked years ago about the best way to slow them down. He said: "I have no idea, I spent my life trying to make them faster, and any rule that is made I will start thinking about how to overcome it." That's the racer mindset.

Alan
P.S. I know it can be done, one of two ways. But nobody would like my way of doing it.

Hey Alan
Thanks. I am very much enjoying this. Others and I would be very interested in hearing your way of doing it. I just thought that the Don Garlits suggestion was the easiest/most cost-effective way. Also, would make tech easy to verify compliance (1 magneto/1 spark plug). No matter which method would be chosen, fans like me would very much appreciate the return of 1320ft nitro racing.

 

[Nunz]

Here's a question: For all those beating the drum to return to 1/4 mile racing, why don't the stands stay full when the Top Alky classes are running? You have TADs running 5 teens to 5 thirties, and 2 different combos doing it with pretty good parity. And often at 280+ MPH. TAFCs are not far behind. And we run to 1320 ft. More often than not, the runs are full pulls to the lights. What am I missing? Are you telling me a neutered TF car running slightly faster than these numbers is going to make everyone happy?

 

[none]

There are two ways to slow the cars down, cut the power or cut the traction. (Or I guess you could do the combo platter and cut both.)
This is strictly my semi-well informed opinion.
If you decide to cut power: How much? Kenny went 300 MPH at the 1320 34 years ago. They are now doing that at the eighth. (Don't forget the rev limiter comes in at 2.7 seconds) So anybody thinking they need 500 less HP isn't mathing it out very well.
The difference between 330 MPH and 343 MPH at 1000' is close to 1500 HP So if you took away 1000 HP they would still run 330+ at 1000' and that's not enough. What you would need to do is cut 5000 HP minimum.
If you're looking to go back to 1320 and you still want to see 300 (not every run, but regularly), the easiest way to take the blower off.
An Injected Nitro Dragster has 430 ish cubic inch engines. (Unlike TF not everyone runs the exact same combo) and they are not allowed clutch management. And they have run 5.0s at better than 280. Give any of the top Injected teams 500 CI and clutch management and they would be running 4.80s at 300+ before the sun went down on day one.

But Wait! Did you know that an Injected Nitro head is not the same as a TF head? Or the pistons, crankshafts and connecting rods? Most of the other components as well. Everything these days is specialized. Randy Meyer told me that if he wanted to switch a car over to Top Fuel, the only engine part that would be the same is the mag drive. I posted some cylinder head pics here not long ago.

So, how bad do you want that extra 320' back?

Alan

 

[Nitro Bass!]

Alan, you know me, I'm just a major fan and don't know a ton about the tech part. Why can't they just use smaller fuel pumps and slow the blower down enough to take a bunch of the boost away? Can't they still use the same heads, rods, pistons etc...? Would that not slow them down and make for less dropped cylinders and lower costs and wear and tear? Would that also take about 30 miles an hour away? To the outsider it seems to me that would be a great place to start and see what happens, but I pluck strings and have no idea....

 

[aakar]

I don't want the xtra 320 ft back. I just don't want 1/8 mile Nitro

 

[Jack]

Here's a question: For all those beating the drum to return to 1/4 mile racing, why don't the stands stay full when the Top Alky classes are running? You have TADs running 5 teens to 5 thirties, and 2 different combos doing it with pretty good parity. And often at 280+ MPH. TAFCs are not far behind. And we run to 1320 ft. More often than not, the runs are full pulls to the lights. What am I missing? Are you telling me a neutered TF car running slightly faster than these numbers is going to make everyone happy?

And how much quicker / faster could you run if the rules allowed better clutch technology?

 

[PNW]

Why do we need a “one size fits all” approach? I would love to see some tracks that can handle 1/4 mile nitro as well as smaller tracks with 1/8 mile as a means for variety. I love it when we went to Bandimere and the challenges faced with running at altitude. Also, I would love to see a couple of races with night time eliminations while we’re at it!