National Hot Rod Association NHRA
200px
Sport	Drag racing
Area of jurisdiction	North America
Formation date	1951
Headquarters	Glendora, CA
President	Tom Compton
Chairman	Dallas Gardner
Official website
www.nhra.com

The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and host events all over the United States and Canada. With over 80,000 drivers in its rosters, the NHRA is considered one of the largest motorsports sanctioning bodies in the world.

The association was founded by Wally Parks in 1951 in the State of California to provide a governing body to organize and promote the sport of drag racing. The first nationwide NHRA sponsored event was held in 1955, in Great Bend, Kansas. (Typical for the era, this race was held on a World War II-constructed training air field.) The "Nationals", which now comprise 22 events each year, are the premier events in drag racing that bring together the best cars and drivers from across North America. The Mac Tools U.S. Nationals are now held at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Clermont, Indiana and are officially called the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. Winners of national events are awarded a trophy statue in honor of founder Wally Parks. The trophy is commonly referred to by its nickname, a “Wally”.

Series[link]

2009 Top Fuel trophy

• NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series - The Top Division of the NHRA. It consists of four classes.

1. Top Fuel Dragster
2. Funny Car
3. Pro Stock
4. Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Sportsman classes[link]

There are more than a dozen Sportsman Classes. The classes contested at NHRA Divisional races include Snowmobile, Motorcycle Classes, Super Street, Super Gas, Stock Eliminator, Super Stock, Competition Eliminator, Super Comp, Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car and Top Alcohol Dragster. All classes except Snowmobile and some Sportsman Motorcycle classes are regularly contested at NHRA National Events. NHRA promotes mainly the Professional Classes at National Events, however, the majority of its participants are Sportsman Racers. Sportsman Class Racers must be dues-paying members of NHRA before they are allowed to enter and participate in any NHRA event. NHRA claims to have 80,000 members, of which 95% are non-professional. NHRA uses this figure of 80,000 members on promotional materials and on its website to market its services. Indeed Sportsman Classes fueled the birth of NHRA in 1951 and continue to be the backbone of Drag Racing.^{[citation needed]} As per the official NHRA Rulebook, NHRA.com, HD Partners documentation, PSTA vs. NHRA documents. Included in these sportsman events are the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, The Summit Racing Equipment Racing Series and the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League.

Champions[link]

Safety[link]

The NHRA mandates several different safety devices in the cars run in sanctioned events. First is the five point safety harness that all vehicles must have, which holds the driver secure in the seat, and is equipped with a quick release latch which can be released in less than a second should the driver need to leave the car due to fire or explosions.

Second are the fire suits, or "Simpson Suits", that all drivers must wear. These suits are full body coveralls and made with seven layers of Nomex fabric, which makes them resistant to fire. The term Simpson Suit refers to the main manufacturer of the suit, Simpson Performance Products. The predecessor to the Simpson Suit actually came to the NHRA from NASCAR in the mid-1960s after the death of NASCAR legend Edward Glenn "Fireball" Roberts, who burned to death in a fiery car crash.

Another NASCAR transplant, which was brought into use after the death of Roberts, was the fuel cell. This bladder is placed into the fuel tanks of all non-nitromethane fueled vehicles to prevent fuel leaks, and explosions.

Third is the use of the HANS device, a requirement for any driver in any category. This device limits the movement of the head and neck in the event of an impact and has been a mandatory device within the NHRA since 2004. The device was an option that started in 1996 after Top Fuel driver Blaine Johnson was killed during qualifying at the MAC Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Since the death of 2003 Rookie of the Year Darrell Russell at the Craftsman Nationals, the device has been a mandatory part of the safety gear that must be worn at all times.

Fourth is the titanium shield that must be placed behind the head of all Top Fuel drivers. This is to prevent any debris from entering the cockpit and becoming a missile hazard to the driver. Only the Top Fuel division has this as a mandatory device, since only Top Fuel cars have the engines mounted behind the driver. However, several team owners in the Funny Car division have adopted it as well.^{[citation needed]}

Fifth is the on board fire extinguishing system that all cars must be equipped with. These systems are directed onto the engine itself and are activated instantly when the engine catches fire, reducing the chance for the car to completely catch fire and endanger the driver. The driver also has a manual activation control available. This has been in place on all cars since 1983, when an engine explosion and fire came very close to killing then-Funny Car driver Mike Dunn.

Sixth is the roof escape hatch that is in place on all Funny Cars since the founding of the division in the early 1970s. This device allows Funny Car drivers a safe means of exit during an engine fire rather than falling out of the car between the frame and fiberglass body, and possibly running the risk of being run over by the rear tires.

Seventh are the long bars at the end of all cars, also known as "wheelie bars". These long struts prevent the car from flipping over during the launch phase. Prior to the 2006 season, the only division that did not use wheelie bars was the Top Fuel Division, but the constant threat of blowovers caused the NHRA to make wheelie bars mandatory on Top Fuel cars as well.

The rear tires of the car, which are called slicks due to the fact that there is no tread on them, are specified with safety considerations in mind. These tires are made from a much harder compound than in previous years so that the tire is resistant to disintegration. This also came about after the death of Russell. The tires are not allowed to be inflated under 7 pounds per square inch (48 kPa) for any race at any time.

A safety requirement peculiar to the Funny Car class is the fireproof engine blanket which surrounds the engine block and contains debris in case of an engine explosion.

In the wake of Eric Medlen's 2007 death, the roll bars in a Funny Car must be padded. They are padded with thick insulation and coated with seven layers of Nomex to prevent the padding from catching fire during an engine explosion.

Another often overlooked safety device is the large sand pit at the end of the track past an area of the track known as "the shutdown area". This 40-foot-long (12 m) sand pit, also known as a "sand trap", has been placed to either slow or completely stop a car to keep it from running off track. In the wake of Scott Kalitta's death at Englishtown, NJ in 2008, the sand traps have been made longer and deeper, going from three feet deep to six feet deep and from 40 feet (12 m) long to 80 feet (24 m) long.

Some of the newest safety features deal with the tracks themselves. In the wake of Kalitta's death, there are now heavily padded retaining walls at the end of the sand traps. These walls are able to withstand the impact of a vehicle traveling at well over the usual speed of any division within the NHRA's professional category, the fastest (Top Fuel) being in excess of 330 miles per hour (530 km/h). These retaining walls take the place of the old rubber polymer safety nets that were once held up with concrete posts.

Prior to the late 1980s, fans could station themselves up to the guardrails so they could be closer to the action. However, in the wake of several rather dramatic accidents on track, where spectators have been injured or killed, fans are no longer allowed within 75 feet (23 m) of the guardrail, and there are now 10-foot-high (3.0 m) fences in place to keep on-track debris from finding its way into the stands.^{[citation needed][clarification needed]}

A major safety rule in place states that nitrous oxide in any form or in any type of delivery system is not tolerated. Mixing nitrous oxide with nitromethane can sometimes result in massive explosions, and in the Pro Stock division, it is considered an unfair advantage. The last suspension due to nitrous oxide was in 1997, when Pro Stock driver Jerry Eckman was ejected and suspended for two years for using nitrous oxide during a race (Although Eckman was in the pits when the bottle exploded in his dry sump oil delivery system and the car had not been run or been through tech yet he was still deemed guilty of having a pressurized device with illegal fuel on his car or in his pit area which is illegal by NHRA rules.)

One of the newest safety requirements came after a near fatal crash at Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas, when 14-time Funny Car Champion John Force's car experienced a severe case of tire shake which, coupled with the release of his parachutes, ripped his car cleanly in two directly behind the engine. This rule now states that chrome moly tubing can no longer be used when building the framework for any Top Fuel or Funny Car.

Another safety modification that was placed was a direct result of Kalitta's death. The NHRA began installing a sensor that constantly checks the car's engine, and should the car backfire at anytime during the race, or if the burst panel (on a Funny Car) be blown off by an engine explosion, the fuel pump shuts off and the parachutes are deployed automatically. Although several drivers in the Top Fuel and Funny Car divisions have stated their dislike for the new sensor, they do admit that it should cut down on any fatal crashes similar to Kalitta's. This device was developed by Funny Car driver Kenny Bernstein, 14 time Funny Car Champion John Force, and six time Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher, along with NHRA racing development, and NHRA track safety. It was implemented at the start of the 2009 season. The sensor is used only within the Funny Car, and Top Fuel divisions, Pro Stock doesn't use nitromethane in their engines, and are, therefore, at less of a risk of the massive explosions that are most often seen in the nitromethane-fueled cars.

The 2010 season brought a new safety device to Top Fuel and Funny Car classes. Should the driver be rendered unable to perform the normal shutdown sequence at the conclusion of a run, a pair of redundant transmitters, placed 400 feet (120 m) and 600 feet (180 m) past the finish line, will signal an on-board receiver to automatically shut off ignition power and fuel to the engine and deploy the parachutes. The transmitters are designed and placed so as to avoid inadvertent triggering of the automated shutoffs.^[6] These transmitters and the receivers that are placed on all cars were designed by NHRA's Track Safety Committee and constructed by Electrimotion, and are a direct result of Kalitta's death.

Safety Safari[link]

Within the safety requirements, there is also a full crew of safety personnel, called the Safety Safari, whose job is to attend to any fires, clean up the track of debris after an accident on the track, and attend to the drivers prior to the arrival of any medical personnel. The Safety Safari has been in place since the late 1960s, after a rash of on track accidents caused several promising drivers to retire early. Since that time the chance of fatal injuries has been decreased but not eliminated. There is also a full staff of EMTs on hand at any event on the schedule at any given time. These EMTs are usually from the city or county the track is located in, and are compensated by the NHRA for their time and efforts. Aeromedical services are also on hand at the track for airlifting severely injured persons to local hospitals or trauma centers if necessary.^{[citation needed]}

The original 'Drag Safari' began their tour across America in 1954. Included were four original members: Bud Coons, Bud Evans, Eric Rickman and Chic Cannon.

Recent Fatalities[link]

Although there are several safety procedures in place to prevent fatal accidents, no amount of safety can completely prevent fatalities on the track.

See also[link]

	Book: Auto racing in North America
Wikipedia books are collections of articles that can be downloaded or ordered in print.

	Book: Motorcycle sport in North America
Wikipedia books are collections of articles that can be downloaded or ordered in print.

• American Hot Rod Association
• International Hot Rod Association
• National Electric Drag Racing Association
• United States Hot Rod Association

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Official NHRA Drag Racing Podcasts
• Drag Race Central The Latest NHRA News and Analysis

Tony Schumacher
Tony Schumacher (center) and crew with 2009 Top Fuel championship trophy
Nationality	American
Born	(1969-12-25)December 25, 1969 California
Related to	Don Schumacher
Top Fuel
Years active	1996-Present
Teams	US Army
Wins	66
Poles	61
Best finish	1st (7 times) in 1999, 2004-2009

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (July 2010)

Tony Schumacher (born December 25, 1969 in California), is an American drag racer who is a seven-time NHRA Champion and also the son of NHRA legend Don Schumacher.

Racing career[link]

Tony is currently competing in the NHRA Top Fuel class, of which he is a seven-time champion (breaking a record set by fellow drag racer Joe Amato), winning the last six years consecutively (2004–2009).^[1][2] In 1999 he was the first driver to exceed 330 mph in competition.^[3] He also has the world record for fastest 1/4 mile top fuel run: 337.58 mph, earned in 2005 at Brainerd, Minnesota.^[4] On September 14, 2008 at the inaugural NHRA Carolinas Nationals in Concord, North Carolina, Schumacher surpassed Joe Amato as the winningest driver in NHRA Top Fuel history with his 53rd career victory.^[5] On April 15, 2012, at zMax Dragway, Schumacher was the first top fuel driver to reach the 330 m.p.h mark in the 1,000 foot NHRA era. However Schumacher would not keep the record long as Spencer Massey would break the record the same day going 332.18 m.p.h.

Schumacher is the son of former funny car driver Don Schumacher and drives for his father's multi-team organization.^[6] He has been sponsored for several years by the U.S. Army and his intense personality and buzzcut hairstyle has earned him the nickname "Sarge."

1999 dragster

At the end of the 2008 season, he parted ways with longtime crew chief Alan Johnson, who went on to form his own team, Al-Anabi Racing. Al-Anabi Racing consists of Top Fuel drives Del Worsham and the driver Schumacher considers his biggest rival, Larry Dixon. Many fans and media members felt Schumacher would not see the success he had in previous years as Johnson was the Army Top Fuel team's tuner during his run of five consecutive titles. Schumacher met Dixon and Johnson in the semi-final round early in 2009 at The Strip in Las Vegas, beating his former crew chief's new driver. Schumacher went on to win the event and won the following race in Houston.

He enjoys playing guitar. He also co-owns and operates a home brewing and winemaking supply business called Perfect Brewing Supply.

The very first race Schumacher qualified for in his career was in 1996, at the MAC Tools U.S. Nationals, qualifying 16th. However, during that event, tragedy struck during qualifying when then points leader Blaine Johnson was killed in an accident. Schumacher would've raced Blaine the following day, he honored the fallen driver, as he idled down the track. He would make it all the way to the finals, before losing to his former DSR teammate, Cory McClenethan. In 2007, Schumacher joined Michael Anthony (ex Van Halen Bassist) on stage at the Chicago Theater.

2000 dragster

In 2008, along with 15 time Funny Car Champion John Force, and former champion Funny Car, and retired 4 time Funny Car champ and 2 time Top Fuel world champ Kenny Bernstein, in concert with NHRA's track safety programs, Schumacher helped develop a sensor that detects any engine backfire in a nitromethane engine, and takes corrective steps to protect the driver, shutting down the fuel pump, and deploying the parachutes. This experiment was as a direct result of the death of Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta, and according to several drivers should dramatically cut down on the number of accidents caused by engine explosions.

In 2006, Doug Kalitta had a dominant year all year long, but Tony came into the last race on his heels. Doug qualified number 1 and Tony number 2. Tony would need to go 2 rounds further than Doug as well as set a national record in order to cinch the title. Doug would meet Tony's teammate, Melanie Troxel, in round 3 and would lose on a hole shot. That opened the door for Schumacher, who had to beat almost all odds to win the championship. Tony made it to the final where he had to run a new Top Fuel national record. He won the race and championship, defining everyone.

The 2007 season was another championship year for "the sarge", though he somewhat struggled with round 1. He had 12 first round losses that year. In the last race, Rod Fuller was in first place, Larry Dixon was 2nd, Brandon Berenstien was 3rd, and Tony was in 4th place. Rod Fuller lost in round 1, but his title hopes were still alive. Dixon lost 2nd round, and his championship hopes were done. Tony and Brandon both advanced to the semi-finals and had to face each other. If Brandon won the round, he would be the championship. If Tony won the round, he would have to win the race to be the champ. Tony won the round, the race over Bob Vandergriff, and the championship by 19 points over Rod Fuller.

In 2008, Tony had the most dominant season in Top Fuel ever. He won 15 events, 7 in a row, and visited 18 final rounds. He won at least 1 round at every race that year. He passed Joe Amato for most championships with six, and most race wins, with 53 after winning in Charlotte, NC.

Schumacher won the 2009 Top Fuel championship in dramatic fashion. He was in contention coming into the last race of the season it Pomona, California. His longtime and biggest rival, Larry Dixon and Tony were tied for 1st. 3rd place was held by Tony's teammate, Cory McClenathan. 4th place was held by Tony's other teammate, Antron Brown. 5th place was Brandon Berenstien. By the end of qualifying, round 1, Larry was in front by 1 point. At the end of the qualifying, round 2, Larry was leading by 2 points. At the end of qualifying, round 3, Larry was leading by 1 point. At the end of qualifying, round 4, Tony was leading by 2 points. Tony got ahead by running the second quickest rin in history, a 3.772. Brandon Berenstien was eliminated from the title in qualifying. Antron Brown was eliminated in the 1st round when Tony Schumacher got his round win. Antron was still in contention for the race win, though, and went to the semi-finals to face Tony. Larry Dixon and Cory McClenathan squared of in round 2, with the loser being eliminated from the championship. Ultimently, Larry advanced to the semis to race strong rookie driver Spencer Massey. Spencer defeated Larry, which gave Tony the championship. Antron beat Tony in the semi-finals, though, and went on to win the race over Spencer Massey.

In 2010, Schumacher was a factor all year long but couldn't win the championship over longtime rival Larry Dixon. The Schumacher team as a whole finished 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in Top Fuel respectively. Currently, Cory McClenathan isn't driving for the team. Instead, 2009 rookie of the year Spencer Massey took over McClenathan's spot at the request of DSR team sponsor Honeywell. On Sunday April 17, Tony Schumacher raced with some of the late photographer Chris Radok ashes in his dragster. Radok was murdered in Charlotte N.C. on January 10 2011.

References[link]

External links[link]

• NHRA profile
• Perfect Brewing Supply website