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12-13-04, 01:18 PM
NHRA Classes Overview
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Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock are just three of the more than 200 classes of vehicles featured in NHRA competition. Those classes are grouped into 12 categories, or eliminators, each strictly governed by NHRA rule makers. Class eligibility is based on various requirements and specifications, including type of vehicle, engine size, vehicle weight, allowable modifications, and aerodynamics.
The four Professional categories are Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Bike. They, along with Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car and the three "Super" classes - Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street - feature a single class of vehicle in heads-up competition. The remaining categories - Competition, Super Stock and Stock - are made up of a variety of classes and use a handicap starting system to equalize competition.
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Top Fuel
Top Fuel dragsters must weigh at least 2,150 pounds, including the driver, and have a wheelbase of 180 to 300 inches. From the front of the car to a point 12 inches behind the centerline of the front axle, the cars must maintain a minimum ground clearance of three inches. The rest of the car must have a two-inch clearance. The top of the rear wing may not be more than 90 inches from the ground, and the wings are not permitted to move during the run.
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Funny Cars
Funny Cars must weigh at least 2,325 pounds, driver included, and have a wheelbase of 100 to 125 inches. From the front of the car to a point 12 inches behind the centerline of the front axle, the minimum ground clearance is three inches. The rest of the car must have a two-inch clearance with the exception of the oil pan and exhaust headers. The front overhang may not exceed 40 inches, measured from the centerline of the front axle. The underside of the body, including the roof area, must have a flame-retardant covering or coating.
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Pro Stock
Pro Stock cars must weigh at least 2,350 pounds, including the driver. The cars must be no more than five years old and be a two-door coupe or two-door sedan (domestic or foreign). The rear spoilers cannot be longer than 14 inches from the point of attachment to the end of the piece. Headlights and parking lights must be stock-appearing.
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Pro Stock Bikes
Pro Stock Bikes must weigh no less than 600 pounds (550 for Harley-Davidson and 575 for Suzuki) with the rider aboard and have a maximum wheelbase of 70 inches. Bikes must be 1993 or later models and retain their stock appearance, including a front fender, simulated headlight and taillight, and manufacturer identification on both sides. The engine and body make must be the same. All motorcycles must pass NHRA body inspection prior to competition.
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Top Alcohol Dragster
Top Alcohol Dragsters bear a striking resemblance to Top Fuelers, but most burn methanol. They compete based on a weight-to-cubic-inch formula, and nonsupercharged nitro-burning entries are permitted. Engines are limited to between 470 and 531 cid, depending on the type. They can cover the quarter-mile in less than 5.5 seconds at speeds in excess of 250 mph.
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Top Alcohol Funny Car
Top Alcohol Funny Cars also look like their fuel-burning counterparts, but instead of nitromethane, they must burn methanol. They compete on a weight-to-cubic-inch formula, and engines are limited to 565 cid. They must weigh at least 2,000 pounds and have a wheelbase from 100 to 125 inches. Performance marks approach the mid-five-second range at 250 mph.
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Competition
Competition, which boasts 42 classes, showcases a variety of gas-burning dragsters, altereds, street roadsters, coupes, and sedans powered by engines ranging from tiny four-cylinder screamers to powerful V-8s. Some are supercharged, others turbocharged, but most are carbureted. A handicap starting system equalizes competition.
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Super Stock
Super Stock features an array of stock-appearing foreign and domestic factory automobiles and sports cars with limited modifications. Eighty-three classes of cars and trucks, from late-model sedans and passenger vehicles to vintage muscle cars from the 1960s and 1970s, are showcased. A handicap starting system equalizes competition, and breakout rules apply.
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Stock
Stock encompasses a variety of foreign and domestic production vehicles. Everything from late-model passenger cars and trucks to the popular vehicles of the 1960s and 1970s can participate in any one of Stock’s 80 classes. Few modifications or alterations are allowed. As in Super Stock, a handicap starting system is used, and breakout rules are enforced.
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Super Comp
Super Comp features one class of vehicle and is the quickest of the three Super classes. Made up mostly of gas-burning dragsters, though full-bodied production vehicles and roadsters are eligible, Super Comp features heads-up competition on an 8.90-second index. Engine modification is virtually unlimited, but racers are held to the 8.90-second class index.
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Super Gas
Super Gas features mostly full-bodied production vehicles with full fenders, hoods, grilles, tops, windshields, and functional doors. Left-hand-steering street roadsters are allowed, but dragsters are not. The class is governed by the same rules as Super Comp; only the index is different. A heads-up start is used, but racers may not run quicker than the 9.90-second index.
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Super Street
Super Street, designed as an entry-level category, is not contested at all national events. It is reserved for full-bodied production vehicles, including sports cars, vans, and panel trucks with full fenders, hoods, grilles, tops, windshields, and functional doors. As in Super Comp and Super Gas, racers leave the starting line together; they compete on a 10.90-second index.
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Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock are just three of the more than 200 classes of vehicles featured in NHRA competition. Those classes are grouped into 12 categories, or eliminators, each strictly governed by NHRA rule makers. Class eligibility is based on various requirements and specifications, including type of vehicle, engine size, vehicle weight, allowable modifications, and aerodynamics.
The four Professional categories are Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Bike. They, along with Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car and the three "Super" classes - Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street - feature a single class of vehicle in heads-up competition. The remaining categories - Competition, Super Stock and Stock - are made up of a variety of classes and use a handicap starting system to equalize competition.
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Top Fuel
Top Fuel dragsters must weigh at least 2,150 pounds, including the driver, and have a wheelbase of 180 to 300 inches. From the front of the car to a point 12 inches behind the centerline of the front axle, the cars must maintain a minimum ground clearance of three inches. The rest of the car must have a two-inch clearance. The top of the rear wing may not be more than 90 inches from the ground, and the wings are not permitted to move during the run.
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Funny Cars
Funny Cars must weigh at least 2,325 pounds, driver included, and have a wheelbase of 100 to 125 inches. From the front of the car to a point 12 inches behind the centerline of the front axle, the minimum ground clearance is three inches. The rest of the car must have a two-inch clearance with the exception of the oil pan and exhaust headers. The front overhang may not exceed 40 inches, measured from the centerline of the front axle. The underside of the body, including the roof area, must have a flame-retardant covering or coating.
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Pro Stock
Pro Stock cars must weigh at least 2,350 pounds, including the driver. The cars must be no more than five years old and be a two-door coupe or two-door sedan (domestic or foreign). The rear spoilers cannot be longer than 14 inches from the point of attachment to the end of the piece. Headlights and parking lights must be stock-appearing.
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Pro Stock Bikes
Pro Stock Bikes must weigh no less than 600 pounds (550 for Harley-Davidson and 575 for Suzuki) with the rider aboard and have a maximum wheelbase of 70 inches. Bikes must be 1993 or later models and retain their stock appearance, including a front fender, simulated headlight and taillight, and manufacturer identification on both sides. The engine and body make must be the same. All motorcycles must pass NHRA body inspection prior to competition.
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Top Alcohol Dragster
Top Alcohol Dragsters bear a striking resemblance to Top Fuelers, but most burn methanol. They compete based on a weight-to-cubic-inch formula, and nonsupercharged nitro-burning entries are permitted. Engines are limited to between 470 and 531 cid, depending on the type. They can cover the quarter-mile in less than 5.5 seconds at speeds in excess of 250 mph.
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Top Alcohol Funny Car
Top Alcohol Funny Cars also look like their fuel-burning counterparts, but instead of nitromethane, they must burn methanol. They compete on a weight-to-cubic-inch formula, and engines are limited to 565 cid. They must weigh at least 2,000 pounds and have a wheelbase from 100 to 125 inches. Performance marks approach the mid-five-second range at 250 mph.
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Competition
Competition, which boasts 42 classes, showcases a variety of gas-burning dragsters, altereds, street roadsters, coupes, and sedans powered by engines ranging from tiny four-cylinder screamers to powerful V-8s. Some are supercharged, others turbocharged, but most are carbureted. A handicap starting system equalizes competition.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Super Stock
Super Stock features an array of stock-appearing foreign and domestic factory automobiles and sports cars with limited modifications. Eighty-three classes of cars and trucks, from late-model sedans and passenger vehicles to vintage muscle cars from the 1960s and 1970s, are showcased. A handicap starting system equalizes competition, and breakout rules apply.
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Stock
Stock encompasses a variety of foreign and domestic production vehicles. Everything from late-model passenger cars and trucks to the popular vehicles of the 1960s and 1970s can participate in any one of Stock’s 80 classes. Few modifications or alterations are allowed. As in Super Stock, a handicap starting system is used, and breakout rules are enforced.
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Super Comp
Super Comp features one class of vehicle and is the quickest of the three Super classes. Made up mostly of gas-burning dragsters, though full-bodied production vehicles and roadsters are eligible, Super Comp features heads-up competition on an 8.90-second index. Engine modification is virtually unlimited, but racers are held to the 8.90-second class index.
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Super Gas
Super Gas features mostly full-bodied production vehicles with full fenders, hoods, grilles, tops, windshields, and functional doors. Left-hand-steering street roadsters are allowed, but dragsters are not. The class is governed by the same rules as Super Comp; only the index is different. A heads-up start is used, but racers may not run quicker than the 9.90-second index.
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Super Street
Super Street, designed as an entry-level category, is not contested at all national events. It is reserved for full-bodied production vehicles, including sports cars, vans, and panel trucks with full fenders, hoods, grilles, tops, windshields, and functional doors. As in Super Comp and Super Gas, racers leave the starting line together; they compete on a 10.90-second index.