NHRA News: NHRA announces major rule changes for 2005 (11/01/2004)

NHRA announces major rule changes for 2005

11/01/2004

Prior to releasing the 2005 NHRA Rulebook, NHRA is announcing a summary of notable changes for 2005. NHRA members are scheduled to receive a complimentary copy of the 2005 NHRA Rulebook with one of 2004's final issues of National DRAGSTER.

Adjustment to E.T. requirements
In a move designed to encourage more street vehicles to compete on the quarter-mile, NHRA has revised its requirements for roll bars, SFI Spec clutches, driveshaft loops, driver restraints, and certain protective clothing.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2005, a roll bar and an SFI 16.1 driver-restraint system will be mandatory on any vehicle running 11.49 or quicker and for convertibles running 13.49 or quicker. An SFI 3.2A/1 jacket will be mandatory for all drivers in vehicles running between 10.00 to 11.49 seconds. On any car running 11.49 or quicker, a flywheel and clutch meeting SFI Spec 1.1 or 1.2 and a flywheel shield meeting SFI Spec 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, or 9.1 will be mandatory. A driveshaft loop will be required on all cars running 13.99 or quicker and utilizing slicks, except vehicles equipped with street tires running 11.49 or slower.

Chassis Specs
Full-bodied cars, altereds, and Funny Cars running 8.49 or quicker and all dragsters must meet applicable SFI Chassis Specifications. For 2005, NHRA will adopt five new SFI Chassis Specifications for full-bodied cars (SFI Spec 25.2, 25.4, and 25.5) and altereds (10.2 and 10.3). For these new specifications, effective Jan. 1, 2005, all first-time certification must meet the applicable SFI Spec. Beginning Jan. 1, 2006, all current chassis must meet the applicable SFI Spec at the next scheduled recertification.

The new SFI Specs will affect vehicles that compete in E.T., Advanced E.T., and Comp, which will include vehicles in the following classes: Altered and Street Roadster, AA/A, BB/A, A/AA, AA/AT, B/AA, BB/AT, A/AP, A/A, B/AP, B/A, AA/AM, C/A through K/A, C/AA through K/AA; Altered Truck, B/T, B/TA, C/T, and C/TA; Econo Altered, A/EA through F/EA; and Super Modified, A/SM through C/SM and A/SMA through C/SMA.

Condensing Super Stock
A major change in Super Stock is the reclassification of Modified Compact into Modified Stock. For 2005, Modified Stock will increase by three classes (SS/ES, SS/FS, and SS/GS) to accept the crossover cars from Modified Compact. The new classes will have the following weight breaks: ES, 15.50 pounds per cubic inch with a maximum displacement of 165 cubic inches; FS, 16.50 pounds per cubic inch with a maximum displacement of 155 cubic inches; and GS, 18.00 pounds per cubic inch, front-wheel-drive only, with a maximum displacement of 230 cubic inches.

Driver's licenses and NHRA membership
Drivers of cars that run 10.00 or slower in the quarter-mile and 6.40 or slower in the eighth-mile must have a valid state- or government-issued driver's license beyond a learner's permit. This requirement affects drivers in the E.T. categories, Super Street, Stock, and Super Stock.

In addition, current NHRA membership will be required for participation in any NHRA divisional or national event, which includes the POWERade Drag Racing Series, Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, and Summit Racing Series Finals. Racers must hold a current NHRA membership to obtain a new permanent competition number or renew a permanent competition number and obtain a new competition license or renew an existing competition license.

Supercharger dimensions
NHRA has expanded its explanation of the acceptable dimension for a Roots-type supercharger for use in E.T., Advanced E.T., Comp (Altered and Pro Modified), Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Funny Car, and Top Fuel. The maximum size of an acceptable supercharger is a GM 14-71 with a 22 1/4-inch case length, 11 1/4-inch case width, and 19-inch rotor length. The maximum rotor diameter is 5.840 inches, including the fixed stripping. The case must be one piece with removable front and rear bearing end plates, and the rotor must be contained within the one-piece case. The inlet and outlet cavity in the front bearing plate is restricted to a maximum of one inch deep, measuring from the face of the bearing plate to the back of the cavity. The maximum overdrive limit has been decreased to 1.50 for the Roots-type supercharger.

Other rule changes by category:

E.T. brackets
Recognizing a growing number of trucks competing at the local level, NHRA has adjusted the height guidelines to reflect these vehicles. The maximum height of the crankshaft centerline on any truck is 36 inches. Trucks that measure more than 31 inches are limited to running 12.00 seconds or slower. Trucks running from 10.00 to 11.99 seconds cannot measure more than 31 inches, and trucks running 9.99 or quicker must measure 24 inches or lower.

In 2005, data recorders will be allowed in Super Pro and Advanced E.T. vehicles. In all other E.T. categories, data recorders of any type will be prohibited.

For Advanced E.T., the wording for protective clothing has been expanded to require a jacket and pants meeting SFI Spec 3.2A/20 and gloves and boots or shoes meeting SFI Spec 3.3/15 for any driver of a front-engine, open-bodied car equipped with nitrous oxide. Also, drivers of full-bodied cars equipped with nitrous oxide and a full .024-inch steel firewall will be required to wear an SFI Spec 3.2A/5 jacket and pants and SFI Spec 3.2A/1 gloves.

Super categories
No changes for 2005.

Stock
A new class has been added to the front-wheel-drive designations. AF/S will be set on a weight break of 13.00 to 15.99 pounds per NHRA-factored horsepower. This weight break has been added to accommodate some of the new front-wheel-drive vehicles being produced. With the addition, the other four classes will change designations to the following: BF: 16.00 to 17.49; CF: 17.50 to 18.99; DF: 19.00 to 24.99; EF: 25.00 or more.

For all Stock vehicles, a full-size stock radiator must be for the year and body type used. The radiator must be the same year or model as the vehicle when it was produced at the factory. Also, the use of data recorders will be permitted in all Stock classes.

Super Stock
Within several Super Stock classes, vehicles will be required to use an SFI Spec 29.1 flexplate and SFI Spec 30.1 flexplate shield. Affected classes in Modified Stock: AS, BS, CS; Modified Truck: TA, TB, TC; all Modified; and Super Stock MX: AX, BX, DX.

Truck engines will be prohibited in Super Stock GT. In Modified, the minimum wheelbase has been decreased to 96 inches to allow many newer body designs to compete. Engine combinations that compete in Super Stock Modified must retain the OEM bore-center spacing.

Comp
In Street Roadster, Econo Dragster, Econo Altered, and Super Modified, the engine must retain the OEM bore-center spacing. For full-bodied cars in Altered and Econo Altered, the maximum front-end overhang is 45 inches or stock overhang +/- one inch for all 2001 and newer cars or previously accepted NHRA Pro Stock bodies. All 2000 and older cars must retain stock overhang +/- one inch.

A new class has been added to Econo Altered. The H/EA designation will be based on a break of 8.25 or more pounds per cubic inch with a 1,100-pound minimum and will be open to inline four-cylinder engines with four valves only.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2006, a fire-extinguishing system meeting SFI Spec 17.1 will be mandatory in all Altered Truck classes.

Top Alcohol
Beginning Jan. 1, 2005, a fire-extinguishing system meeting SFI Spec 17.1 will be mandatory on all Top Alcohol Funny Cars and on Top Alcohol Dragsters where the driver sits behind the engine or on those that have an enclosed cockpit. For Top Alcohol Dragsters and Top Alcohol Funny Cars that compete at national events, all flexible-pressure oil lines must use a factory-crimped connection and be pressure-tested and labeled. All testing must be done hydrostatically for a minimum of 30 seconds at 750psi and be labeled to indicate date of test and tester identification.

An engine-oil retention pan is mandatory in Top Alcohol Dragster. It must be constructed of minimum material, .050-inch aluminum or .040-inch carbon fiber/Kevlar. The design must extend one inch forward of the lower pulley and must extend past the crossmember under the pinion flange. The pan may be no wider than the outside edge of the bottom framerails and must extend to the top of the upper framerails. The pan can be either a one-piece design or constructed as to be sealed to retain oil. It must have a minimum four-inch bulkhead in both front and rear. Both applications must be coved toward the oil pan to assist oil in staying within the confines of the bulkheads.

For Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car, a transmission consisting of an aftermarket torque converter and an aftermarket planetary transmission, with a three-speed maximum, and an electric-only transbrake is permitted. The unit must be NHRA accepted and is required to use an aftermarket SFI Spec 29.1 flexplate or a solid-steel converter driveplate, an SFI 6.1, 6.2, or 6.3 titanium flywheel shield, and an aftermarket SFI 4.1 one-piece transmission shield.

Pro Stock Bike
Beginning in 2005, all moving engine components are restricted to aluminum, steel, iron, titanium, or other conventional alloys. Carbon fiber, Kevlar, ceramics, composites, beryllium, and other exotic materials are prohibited.

Pro Stock

As of Jan. 1, 2005, the fire-extinguishing system must meet SFI Spec 17.1 requirements. Also, the driveshaft tube must be a minimum three-inch diameter and must be one piece or welded together; bolt-together construction is prohibited. The driveshaft tube must be constructed of minimum .083-inch-wall-thickness 4130 steel material for a three-inch diameter; a four-inch driveshaft tube must be constructed of minimum .125-inch-wall-thickness 6061 T-6 aluminum material.

Top Fuel and Funny Car
The use of cast engine blocks will be prohibited in both Top Fuel and Funny Car, and all flexible oil-pressure lines must use a factory-crimped connection. Top Fuel and Funny Car will also be limited to a maximum of six clutch discs.

For Funny Car, the front and rear wheelwell must maintain an OEM radius and contour and be accepted by NHRA at the time of body approval. The parachute mounting box must also be accepted by NHRA prior to competition.

To help assist the NHRA Safety Safari, for 2005, Funny Car bodies must be removable from a rear-release mechanism that must be accessible in the taillight panel area. For acceptable design, operation, and installation, contact NHRA Technical Services.

Top Fuel will be required to a have a steel front-spindle assembly made of minimum 4130 steel. The two-piece deflector plate must be attached using a minimum of four 5/16-inch Grade 8 bolts. The rear roll-cage shroud must be constructed from minimum .080-inch titanium and attached using three 5/16-inch Grade 8 bolts per side and to the rear bars with a minimum two 5/16-inch Grade 8 bolts. All bolt heads must be 1/2-inch hex-style head.

General Regulations
Spraying of the intake with any artificial spray or coolant is not allowed. Hood scoops must have only one opening in the Professional categories, Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp, and Super Stock. In all other classes, multiple-scoop openings are permitted. When a radio is mounted in the driver's compartment, some type of strap or device must secure it in a holder when the car is moving.

Under Flywheel Shield, new wording has been added concerning opening measurements in the motorplate. Under General Guidelines, cars equipped with an SFI 7.1 lower engine ballistic/restraint device, a maximum of two holes, each no larger than two inches in diameter or 3.14 square inches equivalent area are permitted. The holes must be located entirely below the horizontal centerline of the crankshaft and must be at least 1/2-inch from any bellhousing bolt hole and separated by at least two inches. In Top Fuel and Funny Car, the opening in the motorplate to accommodate the crankshaft flange cannot exceed 7.000 inches. In Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car, the opening in the motorplate for the crankshaft flywheel flange may not exceed the crankshaft diameter by more than one inch.

The Credentials section includes the minimum e.t. and mph standards needed for license applicants in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Bike, Top Alcohol Dragster, and Top Alcohol Funny Car.

Under Race Procedures, as a clarification, a contestant cannot drive more than one car in the same category at the same event, nor can one vehicle be used for multiple entries at NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, and Summit Racing Series Finals events. This multiple-driver restriction can be modified or eliminated for E.T. classes at NHRA member track events at each track's sole discretion.

2004 News Archive
Return to the Home Page