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NHRA Tech: Donnie Bender explains RacePak data acquisition

Veteran crew chief Donnie Bender explains how the RacePak computer is used for data acquisition and how that leads to quicker and more consistent runs.
08 Nov 2022
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Racing Technology
RacePak Data
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Crew chief Donnie Bender explains the finer points of a nitro clutch

A nitro clutch seems like a complex piece of machinery but veteran crew chief Donnie Bender helps us get a better understanding of how NHRA racers harness 11,000 horsepower in this week's Tech Tip.
29 Aug 2022
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Racing Technology
Donnie Bender
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NHRA Tech: Donnie Bender explains the evolution of the nitro fuel system

Longtime nitro tuner Donnie Bender recently took some time to explain the evolution of the fuel system used by NHRA's nitro team including the latest all-in-one valve.
21 Jun 2022
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Racing Technology
Donnie Bender
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Fuel System 101: The basics of how to keep your beast fed a healthy diet

Fueling your engine is one of the most critical processes in racing. From idle to wide-open throttle, the range of ideal fuel-delivery scenarios requires a fuel map that can cope with every possible running condition.
08 Jun 2021
Evan J. Smith, National Dragster Contributor
Racing Technology
Fuel System 101
Fueling your engine is one of the most critical processes in racing. From idle to wide-open throttle, the range of ideal fuel-delivery scenarios requires a fuel map that can cope with every possible running condition. And for those who drive on the…
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Prepare for success: Tips for getting ready to start your racing season

No matter your class of racing, winning comes from hard work, a little “racer luck,” and meticulous preparation. This story is about preparing to win.
08 Feb 2021
Evan J. Smith, National Dragster Contributor
Racing Technology
Racing Technology
With every new racing season comes dreams of winning rounds and taking home Wallys. NHRA drag racers have contested for this coveted piece of hardware for decades across a variety of classes. Hoisting a Wally means you’ve been successful competing…
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Racing Technology: Donnie Bender explains barrel valves and flow meters (part 2)

In the second installment of our Racing Technology series, veteran crew chief Donnie Bender provides an in-depth explanation of barrel valves and flow meters.
04 Jan 2021
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Racing Technology
Bender2
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Racing Technology: Donnie Bender explains the inner workings of a nitro fuel system

In the first of a two-part Racing Technology series, crew chief Donnie Bender explains how a modern nitro engine can burn 18 gallons of fuel on a single pass down the dragstrip.
22 Dec 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Racing Technology
bender
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How the supercharger lubrication system helps nitro teams save parts

Donnie Bender, crew chief on Paul Lee's Global Electronic Technologies Funny Car, explains how the blower lubrication system saves teams parts and money.
14 Dec 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Racing Technology
bender
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Reinhart Reveals: Alan Reinhart explains the inner workings of torque converters

Torque converter technology has come a long way in the last few years. Alan Reinhart explains how they work in this week's edition of Reinhart Reveals.
19 Nov 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Racing Technology
reinhart
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NHRA Expertise: The mechanical advantage leveraged in Pro Stock clutch tuning

NHRA on FOX's Bruno Massel (and a part-time Pro Stock racer himself) was in the pits at the 2020 Dodge NHRA Finals presented by Pennzoil with Elite Motorsports Rickie Jones talking Pro Stock car clutch setup.
03 Nov 2020
David Kennedy
Racing Technology
The mechanical advantage leveraged in Pro Stock clutch tuning
Bruno Massel In the world of Pro Stock, often the margin of victory comes down to thousands of a second. So a lot of pressure goes onto the driver and how fast they're able to react. But Crew Chief Rickie Jones came up with,…
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NHRA Expertise: The valvetrain secrets of a nitro-burning Hemi

The Hemi engines drag racers know and love get their name from the hemispherical (half of a sphere) combustion chamber that positions their valves 180 degrees from one another. Those monstrous valves are held in place by titanium retainers and steel keepers.
03 Nov 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News, Racing Technology
NHRA Expertise: The valvetrain secrets of a nitro-burning Hemi
From the NHRA Rulebook For Nitro Funny Car engines: Only one cylinder-head design is acceptable: Intake valve angle of 35 degrees, + or - 1 degree Intake…
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The modern drag racing helmet

Part safety, part personality: NHRA on FOX’s Tony Pedregon talks about the one product every racer installs before they strap into their drag car
12 Oct 2020
David Kennedy
Racing Technology
Leah Pruett and the The modern drag racing helmet
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NHRA 101: Turbochargers in drag racing

In this UTI NHRA 101, Bruno Massel gives a walkaround of the twin-turbo’d 2JZ engine in his Comp eliminator car. Check out the pair of 58mm inducer (inlet) Garrett turbos breathing through an air-to-water intercooler
09 Oct 2020
David Kennedy
Racing Technology
Bruno Massel's Twin-turbo 2JZ engine with Garrett turbos running in NHRA Comp Eliminator B
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When it comes to nitro clutch discs, it's all about matching their personalities

Accoridng to Amalie Top Fuel crew chief Rob Wendland, all clutch discs have personality. "Some are just angrier than others. Others just want to go along for the ride. Too many angry guys and you have a mob and all they want to do is smoke the tires." Getting them to work together is key.
24 Sep 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Racing Technology
Clutch discs
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Rebuilding a nitro supercharger, Part 2

Superchargers produce the boost that allow today;s nitro-burning engines to produce 11,000 horsepower, but like every other part, they need servicing. Paul Lee Racin'g Donnie Bender walks us through the steps.
23 Sep 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Racing Technology
Superchargers
  Rebuilding a nitro supercharger, Part 1
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Rebuilding a nitro supercharger, Part 1

Superchargers produce the boost that allow today;s nitro-burning engines to produce 11,000 horsepower, but like every other part, they need servicing. Paul Lee Racin'g Donnie Bender walks us through the steps. First of two parts.
20 Sep 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Racing Technology
Racing Technology
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Tech Talk Tuesday: A close look at the iron cylinder liners in a nitromethane engine

The are eight torture chambers that contain the 11,000-horsepower in a nitromethane engine—each one is a ductile-iron liner slid into a single CNC-aluminum block. Check them out!
08 Sep 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Racing Technology
The iron liners in an NHRA Nitro engine
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Weld Racing's drag racing wheels—explained

To learn more about modern racing wheels, we turned to Josh Hamming, Technical Sales Specialist—Drag Race & Street/Strip at Weld Racing.
26 Aug 2020
Evan J. Smith, National Dragster Contributor
Racing Technology
Weld Racing's drag racing wheels—explained
Drag racers are forever experimenting with ways to accelerate a vehicle from a standing start and cover the distance of the track in the most efficient manner. Over time, racers have asked many questions, created new theories, and ultimately found…
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The Toyota “Hemi” you never knew about—until now!

In the 1960s, V-8 engines with hemispherical “Hemi” cylinder heads were the symbol of factory-engineered horsepower.
11 Aug 2020
David Kennedy
Racing Technology
4
In the muscle car era, it seemed every manufacture was working on a hemispherical-combustion-chamber "Hemi" engine with centrally located spark plugs. From Pontiac to…
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What is the Chevy DRCE Pro Stock engine?

Chevrolet’s top-secret Pro Stock race engine has been shrouded in mystery for decades. It’s known as the Drag Race Competition Engine (DRCE), and its architecture has been massaged into a nearly 10,000-rpm, fuel-injected, 500-cid race mill that actually began life with the Oldsmobile brand.
31 Jul 2020
David Kennedy
Racing Technology
DRCE 3 Engine
The Drag Race Competition Engine (DRCE) is a series of purpose-built drag racing cylinder heads and engine block castings that are based on the big-block Chevy, but originally branded as an Oldsmobile. There are four generations of DRCE aluminum…
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NHRA Expertise: Inside Top Fuel beadlock wheels

A close-up look at the fastest wheels in all of racing
24 Jul 2020
David Kennedy
Racing Technology
NHRA Top Fuel Weld Beadlock Delta-1 TF Wheel
Brutality. It’s the only treatment components in a nitro-powered Top Fuel dragster or Funny Car experience. With tuners now extracting more than 11,000 hp from their 500-cid supercharged engines, every part beneath the decals on the valve covers is…
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ProCharger to participate in NHRA Contingency program in Top Alcohol, Top Dragster, and Pro Mod in 2020

26 Jun 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Racing Technology
ProCharger Superchargers now in NHRA Contingency Program for 2020
In addition to its sponsorship of the Pro Mod class at the 2020 NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis this year, ProCharger has stepped up and joined NHRA’s contingency program. Winners and runners-up in the Pro Mod class are now eligible for $500 (…
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Pro Stock engine builder profile: Joey Grose

We're taking you inside the minds of the engine builders who create the most powerful naturally aspirated 500-cid race engines on earth
19 Jun 2020
David Kennedy
Racing Technology
Pro Stock engine builder profile: Joey Grose
Pro Stock engine builders have a legendary reputation for dedication and persistence that goes beyond maniacal. Their work ethic and ability to bring concepts into reality has been something to behold in NHRA pits for more than 50 years. To…
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Pro Stock engine builder profile: Frank Iaconio

We're taking you inside the minds of the engine builders who create the most powerful naturally aspirated 500-cid race engines on earth
16 Jun 2020
David Kennedy
Racing Technology
Frank Iaconio Pro Stock
Pro Stock engine builders have a legendary reputation for dedication and persistence that goes beyond maniacal. Their work ethic and ability to bring concepts into reality has been something to behold in NHRA pits for more than 50 years. To…
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Pro Stock engine builder profile: Warren Johnson

We're taking you inside the minds of the engine builders who create the most powerful naturally aspirated 500-cid race engines on earth
15 Jun 2020
David Kennedy
Racing Technology
Warren Johnson Pro Stock Engine Builder
The top-secret technology of Pro Stock that has been hidden away like the Holy Grail for the last 50 years isn’t what you might think. It’s not an exotic piston or connecting rod. It’s not a featherweight valvetrain. It’s not even a billet-…
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Engine Wars! F1 vs IndyCar vs Pro Stock vs NASCAR vs Top Fuel

Ever wonder how NHRA drag racing engines stack up against the world? Spoiler alert: We overpower every other motorsport on earth!
19 May 2020
David Kennedy
Racing Technology
NHRA vs NASCAR vs IndyCar vs F1
Racing engines have always been shrouded in secrecy because power promises the ultimate advantage. Drivers inherently want enough horses to break the tires lose everywhere on the track. Have too much power? Use less throttle. The motorsport with the…
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Tech Specs: Inside Chevy’s NHRA Pro Stock engine—The 500-cid DRCE

Shrouded in secrecy, Chevrolet’s Pro Stock Drag Race Competition Engine (DRCE) evolved the big-block Chevy into a 1,400-hp, 10,000-rpm, naturally aspirated motorsport weapon one race weekend at a time.
09 May 2020
David Kennedy
Gallery, Racing Technology
10
Tracing its roots to the Chevy Mark IV Rat Motor, the Chevrolet Performance Drag Racing Competition Engine (DRCE) delivers more than 1,400 electronically fuel-injected horsepower to a pair of Goodyears for a 6-second ride down the quarter-mile in an…
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NHRA Expertise: Torque wrench life hack for hard-to-reach bolts

Can’t fit a torque wrench between your engine’s oil pan and flexplate? Use a box-end wrench to extend the reach of your torque wrench.
07 May 2020
David Kennedy
Racing Technology
Torque wrench life hack
Here’s what you need: 3/8-inch drive torque wrench 12-point combination wrench with ½-inch wrench on one side and 7/16-inch wrench on the other This formula: M1 = M2 x L1 / L2 This…
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NHRA Expertise: Build a custom transmission dipstick for any car using AN fittings

Another use for AN fittings that you'll kick yourself for not thinking of sooner.
06 May 2020
David Kennedy
Racing Technology
Custom dipstick fix
Transmission dipsticks are one of the hassles of race cars. In factory applications their steel tubes snake up past the drivetrain and firewall to put the dipstick right where you need it. But in a one-off combination? Forget it. About the only…
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Show us what you’re working on!

This is project time, a season when social distancing means the safest place to be—is alone with your race car project. Send us photos of what you're working on.
05 May 2020
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Racing Technology
NHRA Projects TIG Welding
There are two places races are won, on the track, and in the garage. So what are you doing with this time to make your race car quicker? We want to see. Send us photos and videos of your car being prepped, your engine being built, your new cage…
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