The Full Throttle NHRA Pit Crew Championship offers prize money in excess of $250,000 during the 2007 season, making it one of the largest monetary award programs in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series and the first season points championship for NHRA’s Professional pit crewmembers.
Based on a points system, the program will award event payouts to the team in each class with the top-performing pit crew. In addition, results will be tabulated throughout the season to determine a championship crew in each class, which will earn a sizable year-end bonus.
| Class |
Event Prizes |
Year-End Prizes |
| Top Fuel |
$3,000 |
$25,000 |
| Funny Car |
$3,000 |
$25,000 |
| Pro Stock |
$1,500 |
$15,000 |
| Pro Stock Motorcycle |
$750 |
$5,000 |
“Coca-Cola North America’s decision to utilize NHRA POWERade Drag Racing as a platform to assist in the launch of the Full Throttle brand speaks volumes to the return on investment and value synonymous with the sport,” said Tom Compton, NHRA president. "Full Throttle’s sponsorship will have an immediate impact on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, beginning with the launch of a two-year program to reward some of the unsung heroes in our sport.”
“The crew plays such a vital role on the race teams, and the Full Throttle NHRA Pit Crew Championship bonus program is designed to not only offer crewmembers a monetary incentive, but also the exposure and recognition they deserve,” said Acevedo.
The points system used to determine event winners, as well as the year-end champion, will feature a simple formula, which will reward teams for performance and consistency during qualifying runs while deducting points for quarter-mile passes that result in oil on the racetrack. To be eligible, each event teams must complete four qualifying runs, unless weather or other circumstances shorten qualifying. The formula will be based on the following:
- Average elapsed time during qualifying – The team with the top average elapsed time will receive 16 points, descending to one point for the 16th-place team.
- Consistency during qualifying – The variance between qualifying runs will be measured to showcase consistency, with points again awarded from 16 to one.
- Final qualifying position – The top qualifier will receive 16 points, descending to one point for the 16th-place team.
- Oildowns – A 10-point deduction will be levied for each oildown incident.
Note: The crew with the highest cumulative score at season’s end will win the annual championship.
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