Top Dragster!

[The Counterfeiter]

Denny Hills is the first car out of the box in the first ever Top Dragster National Event and runs 6.07. Then backs it up with a 6.04! Crew Chief Bruce Williams is cuttin' this a little close – 5.99 and you're DQed -

And yes, I know it's very difficult to maintain this pace and win in this class.
But . . . these guys have gotta be having a lot of fun. Go get em Sunday!!!

 

[HEMI6point1]

Forgive me for being ignorant but why is going faster than 5.99 a DQ in TD?

 

[Wayne]

Denny Hills is the first car out of the box in the first ever Top Dragster National Event and runs 6.07. Then backs it up with a 6.04! Crew Chief Bruce Williams is cuttin' this a little close – 5.99 and you're DQed -

And yes, I know it's very difficult to maintain this pace and win in this class.
But . . . these guys have gotta be having a lot of fun. Go get em Sunday!!!

WOW!!!

 

[none]

In Top Sportsman anyone running 5.99 or quicker or 240 MPH or faster must have an "aftemarket full floating or live axle assembly".
But I don't see that rule in Top Dragster.......

 

[The Counterfeiter]

Forgive me for being ignorant but why is going faster than 5.99 a DQ in TD?

I THOUGHT that the 6.00 breakout was stated in an earlier T/D thread. Can't find it in the Rulebook pdf. I believe that since he has a TAD license, Denny can run in the 5's if it's legal. Any clarification would be appreciated.

 

[Badcocrewman]

Jay Erschen is Tuning Denny Hills. He is the man Behind the Power. If they run a 5 the run would merely be thrown out.

 

[MoparBilly]

As Lyle said, a 5.99 will only get you DQed if you heven't upgraded to a Alky license, or don't meet safety specs for sub 6.0.
Denny's car was very impressive yesterday..6.07, 6.04, sounded great, and went right down broadway, has the field covered by 6 tenths, and 15 mph, he'll be tough to beat if he can stay on the tree.
The t-dragster guys were really leaning on thier stuff last night, trying to get under that 7.14 bump, very entertaining!!

 

[Jeff]

From what I've heard (albeit last year) is that 5.99 or quicker just gets all of your prior qualifying rounds thrown out.

I've heard some talk of concern for the safety of the racer in the other lane who doesn't have equipment rated for those speeds, but clearly that would not be a qualifying concern where the fast car would always be out in front, but in a race I could understand given the overtaking speed of a TAD.

It would be interesting to hear the rules they are applying to TD, last year in D7 you had to dial within some fraction (2/1oths is what I recall) of your personall fastest qualifying time . . . I think all of the other Divisions based the dial in maximum off of the slowest qualifying car's time (say within 1/10th of the slowest car in the field).

 

[The Counterfeiter]

Jay Erschen is Tuning Denny Hills. He is the man Behind the Power. If they run a 5 the run would merely be thrown out.

Thanks Lyle. I didn't mean that a competitor running a 5 would be DQed from the race, only that the run would be disallowed. Sorry.

 

[Draw 3D]

NHRA's version of TD is based on Advanced ET, a bracket class, thus most rules come from Advanced ET including the 6.00 minimum ET.

I think one of the reasons for the 6.00 min is to help control costs, to run in the 5's is pretty damn expensive specially for basically a bracket car.

In last years rulebook, it referred to the Advanced ET rules with exceptions, the ET not being an exception.

I guess this years rulebook forgot it so they issued an amendment stating 6.00 - 7.70 requirement, use this LINK then scroll down to page 7, SECTION 4D – TOP DRAGSTER.

 

[Jenn]

Forgive me for being ignorant but why is going faster than 5.99 a DQ in TD?

Drawing the line perhaps? Safety concerns, cost concerns, etc. You get people qaulifying at 5.99 and at the top spot, somebody is going to want to go 5.98 to get the top spot back again.

There are several TD cars that are just a few parts from being a TAD to begin with.

Top Dragster, is very similar to Comp in the price department and the engine size. It's not uncommon to find blown small blocks or 855 CI bad boy engines. You are also finding everything from Alky fuel, racing fuel, NOS, Q16etc.

 

[Draw 3D]

Drawing the line perhaps? Safety concerns, cost concerns, etc. You get people qaulifying at 5.99 and at the top spot, somebody is going to want to go 5.98 to get the top spot back again.

There are several TD cars that are just a few parts from being a TAD to begin with.

Top Dragster, is very similar to Comp in the price department and the engine size. It's not uncommon to find blown small blocks or 855 CI bad boy engines. You are also finding everything from Alky fuel, racing fuel, NOS, Q16etc.

As my wife says, EXACTLY!!!

IHRA has no minimum and the record was set recently at 5.80@238 or so. That's TAD car numbers, and, more importantly, TAD price to run.

 

[DG]

It's not looking good for the planned third qualifying and/or Round One sessions today.

Q3 was scheduled to run right before the Pro's and Round One right after the second Pro Session. SC will not likely get their time trial and E1 passes either.

We have been down since 9:20am local time and it's still sprinking.

 

[DG]

The final qualifying session has been cancelled and the field set, based on Q2 times.

The Pro's will likely start at 1:30PM for just one more sesssion, followed by Sportsman eliminations, weather permitting.

 

[JB3]

The final qualifying session has been cancelled and the field set, based on Q2 times.

The Pro's will likely start at 1:30PM for just one more sesssion, followed by Sportsman eliminations, weather permitting.

Yup ... officially just announced.

Only 1 Pro session today. Hopefully 2 round of elims for all sportsman classes except Top Dragster (They will only do Rd. 1).

 

[J.C.]

You go, Denny!

 

[Tim5636sc]

Hey, does anybody know what National Events are doing the Top Dragster thing this year? Are there any scheduled for any stops on the Western Swing Vegas 2 or Pomona 2?

 

[DG]

Currently, only other Div. 7 track will be Sonoma, running Top Sportsman. I don't belive that Div. 6 will get either one!

This is an evaluation year for the two classes. Maybe next year more will be added, like PSB or Pro-Mod currently are, but it more likely that they will be added to The sportsman "rotation" { No SST at Pomona, no Comp at Phoenix, etc.}.

Just my opinion.

DG

 

[Tim5636sc]

Currently, only other Div. 7 track will be Sonoma, running Top Sportsman. I don't belive that Div. 6 will get either one!

This is an evaluation year for the two classes. Maybe next year more will be added, like PSB or Pro-Mod currently are, but it more likely that they will be added to The sportsman "rotation" { No SST at Pomona, no Comp at Phoenix, etc.}.

Just my opinion.

DG

so, Top Sportsman at Sonoma? But No Top Dragster at Denver, Sonoma or Seattle?

 

[DG]

Here is the link to the current 2010 Sportsman calendar:

2010 Sportsman Class Schedule

Subject to change...