Should backup cars be allowed during eliminations?

[z28]

The fans come to see races, not singles. Each round is a new race. As long as the car meets tech it should be able to run. With the shorted turnaround times today a replacement makes even more sense when needed. Would you disqualify Hagan if he crossed the center line after 1000' when he couldn't see even if he didn't hit anything? Backup cars make sense that's why the rule was changed.

 

[Sparky]

Nascar=oranges NHRA=apples they are not the same.

 

[Marchboom]

To my knowledge crew chiefs don't bring out a back-up car when the current car is still in race-ready condition. They know how the current car has performed. It can be a crap shoot with a back-up car. They are sometimes taking a chance with a car that hasn't been down THAT TRACK, on THAT DAY, before. I say let them use a back-up car if the other one can't be fixed in time for the next round.

 

[Randy]

In the not so old days if you did hit something or did some major damage NHRA tech would pull the certification sticker off your funny car body and make you go through tech again with it after you fixed it before you were allowed to run again and make it count. I'm not sure if they are still doing that today.

Here's Billy Meyer unknowingly making the case for car swaps. His car looked pretty beat up even without the body on it.

 

[stitcherbob]

Other than "fresh from the chassis shop" I would imagine that every backup car has seen track time, and has likewise been teched. In some cases it may just be last year's car, next year's car, or a teammate's car.

Jordan Vandergriff asked when was Doug's back up car last run and was told "never". It was a brand new car, warmed up only twice, and was to be tested in Brainerd but it rained out. Out of the box untested it ran 3.81 @ 335mph

 

[twostep]

Something that happens much more often than what happened Sunday is a team looks at the damage and says: "We can fix this, but it would be better and safer to bring out the back-up car." Then the damaged car can go back to the jig, be inspected thoroughly and repaired properly.

Alan

Right there is the answer as to whether or not to run the damaged car. Let the team decide whether or not the car's safe. If deemed unsafe to make the next round, allow the backup.

Just an opinion from one sitting up in the nosebleeds.

 

[twostep]

In the not so old days if you did hit something or did some major damage NHRA tech would pull the certification sticker off your funny car body and make you go through tech again with it after you fixed it before you were allowed to run again and make it count. I'm not sure if they are still doing that today.

Here's Billy Meyer unknowingly making the case for car swaps. His car looked pretty beat up even without the body on it.

Don't think a body tether would have done much good in this instance...

Competing for the Mother Of All Explosions was Mark Oswald's boomer at the Texas Motorplex. You may have competed at that race. Happened right in front of where I was standing. How he walked from that one remains a testimony to the safety built into these cars - even 30 years ago.

 

[TF CREW]

I understand in qualifying. Indycar and NASCAR allow this. Other racing series do also.

However, once the race has started, no other racing series allows the racer to use a backup car that I'm aware of. Why does NHRA allow this?

Before 2017 you weren't allowed to run a car that you had not qualified with.

 

[Litefoot]

Bowlers change balls during a match............

One ball for fist part of frame, 2nd for spares

 

[none]

Before 2017 you weren't allowed to run a car that you had not qualified with.

1997. That's when Eddie qualified #1 at Sonoma and crashed on the run. The car was unrepairable, and even though he had a brand new car, he was not allowed to run it Sunday. 1st round, he and Ercie were on the starting line and put a foot in the beams.

After that NHRA made the rule that you could pull out a back-up car for eliminations if the primary was damaged. The rule was expanded when live TV became prevalent. Teams were concerned that the quick turn around for TV could create an issue if a car was damaged either physically or by fire and it would be a safer option to change cars during eliminations. I don't remember exactly when that change was implemented, but it was about 10 years ago.

Alan

 

[Randy]

Don't think a body tether would have done much good in this instance...

Competing for the Mother Of All Explosions was Mark Oswald's boomer at the Texas Motorplex. You may have competed at that race. Happened right in front of where I was standing. How he walked from that one remains a testimony to the safety built into these cars - even 30 years ago.

LOL, I did. The only reason I remember that race is because I tried something during qualifying that made my car shake so hard it knocked a crown out of my mouth, broke the tooth next to it, broke the front motor plate, and broke the windshield.

 

[Randy]

One ball for fist part of frame, 2nd for spares

Two lanes can have two different oil patterns. I watched E.J. Tacket use one ball for the right lane and another ball (urethane) for the left lane, followed by a third ball for spares (plastic cover).

 

[twostep]

LOL, I did. The only reason I remember that race is because I tried something during qualifying that made my car shake so hard it knocked a crown out of my mouth, broke the tooth next to it, broke the front motor plate, and broke the windshield.

Ouch..... Ever figure out what it was?

 

[GumbyWVU]

In the not so old days if you did hit something or did some major damage NHRA tech would pull the certification sticker off your funny car body and make you go through tech again with it after you fixed it before you were allowed to run again and make it count. I'm not sure if they are still doing that today.

Here's Billy Meyer unknowingly making the case for car swaps. His car looked pretty beat up even without the body on it.

How extensive body repairs can be made before a body is disallowed by tech? From what Alan posted, chassis repairs are somewhat subjective.

 

[Bruno]

Here is another way of looking at it. The points go with the driver, not the car, correct? If the driver can make it back for next round then what difference does it make if a different car is pulled out?

 

[none]

I assume everyone here knows this but the rule does state that the replacement car can not have been run at this event. So for instance, Doug would not be allowed to use Shawn's car even though he was out of competetion by the Semis.

Alan

 

[z28]

I assume everyone here knows this but the rule does state that the replacement car can not have been run at this event. So for instance, Doug would not be allowed to use Shawn's car even though he was out of competetion by the Semis.

Alan

Agree. Can you explain to me why Jack Beckman has #2 on his car this year? If the points go to the driver all points earned by Beckman last year belong to John. Therefore, Jack should have his regular competition # on the car even though the car finished 2nd last year.

 

[mick]

doug would also have not been allowed to use shawn's backup car, or anyone else's backup car. only doug's own backup car.
but a funny car can use someone else's body, but not someone else's chassis, only their own backup chassis.
does this all sound correct?

 

[none]

They ask for permission and it was granted. Same reason Gary Scelzi ran the #5 in his first year. The team certainly earned it, and he wasn't taking it away from someone else so they allow him to run that number.

Alan

 

[none]

doug would also have not been allowed to use shawn's backup car, or anyone else's backup car. only doug's own backup car.
but a funny car can use someone else's body, but not someone else's chassis, only their own backup chassis.
does this all sound correct?

Not correct, any car that had not been run that weekend would have been allowed. If he didn't have one, he could borrow one from anybody.

Alan