BACK-UP RUN CERTIFICATION NO LONGER REQUIRED FOR NHRA NATIONAL RECORDS

GLENDORA, Calif. (RIS) – NHRA’s competition committee announced today that the longstanding 1-percent back-up policy to certify national record performances in the NHRA Mello Yello Series, J&A Service Pro Mod Series, and Lucas Oil Series Alcohol categories will no longer be required at NHRA Drag Racing Series events starting in 2016.

Under this new policy, NHRA teams who post performances for elapsed time and speed that are quicker or faster than the existing national records at any time during any national event, will be eligible for the national record. The driver holding the record at the conclusion of the race will be credited with the record. As is currently the case with all national speed records and Alcohol elapsed time records, points will no longer be awarded for elapsed time national records.

“The one-percent policy was adopted during the early development stages of the timing system and wasn’t as reliable as the technology that we are fortunate to have in race control today,” said Graham Light, NHRA senior vice president of racing operations. “We will still examine every national record run to make sure the incremental numbers support the performance, in addition to inspecting every vehicle for compliance with class requirements.”

Below are the current national records for each NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series category:

Top Fuel

E.T.:  3.680 sec. by Antron Brown, Aug. '15, Brainerd, Minn.

Speed: 332.75 mph by Spencer Massey, Aug. ’15, Brainerd, Minn.

Funny Car

E.T.:  3.884 sec. by Jack Beckman, Nov. '15, Pomona, Calif.

Speed:  331.45 mph by Matt Hagan, Nov. ’15, Pomona, Calif.

Pro Stock

E.T.:  6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March '15, Charlotte, N.C.

Speed:  215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May ‘14, Englishtown N.J.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

E.T.:  6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. '12, Mohnton, Pa.

Speed:  199.88 mph by Hector Arana Jr., March '15, Charlotte, N.C.

The 24-race 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series opens Feb. 11-14 with the Circle K NHRA Winternationals at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. The tradition-rich event will be televised on Fox Sports 1 (FS1) with a three-hour Sunday finals show starting at 5 p.m. (ET).  For ticket information, call (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or purchase your tickets online at www.nhra.com/tickets.   

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 24 national events featuring the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers NHRA Jr. Street program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 5 to 17. In addition, NHRA owns and operates five racing facilities: Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; Gainesville Raceway in Florida; National Trail Raceway in Ohio; Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.