Now THAT's A Tight Race

[GentleBen]

Top Fuel Racing at Atlanta with the margin of win less than .0001. OMG

Doug Kalitta vs J.R Todd - Atlanta Top Fuel Final - 2016 NHRA Drag Racing Series - YouTube

[NeedSpeed]

I have trouble believing their equipment is that accurate.

Amazing finish though.

[Black94lt1]

Great win by Doug and Jim O, but regardless it would have been a win for Team Kalitta

[Iron Chef]

I used to go to the drags all the time, but I think they kinda pussified them when they started racing 1/8 of a mile.

[Black94lt1]

I used to go to the drags all the time, but I think they kinda pussified them when they started racing 1/8 of a mile.

1000 ft officially. While I agree and am not sure what difference an extra 320' of shutdown makes, losing Scott Kalitta was a very sad day, Connie lost his only son to the sport that they both loved.

I think the safety enhancements since - automatic chutes when the blower pops, better catch fences, etc have made the sport way safer than a shorter track has. Places like Englishtown with the short shutdown area maybe jet need to go away.

[Steve Austin]

I used to go to the drags all the time, but I think they kinda pussified them when they started racing 1/8 of a mile.

At the national event, the fuel cars run 1000 feet, all the othe classes still go the 1320. If not for the numbers on the scoreboards, spectators cant tell the difference.
A lot of the tracks, not hosting national events have gone to 1/8 mile. A couple reasons are property values and insurance. Many racetracks have been turned into condos and strip malls and its easier to make $$$$$$ selling out than running a 1/4 mile track. !/4 mile tracks have to be a minimum 1/2 mile long. Thats a lot of land to develop. The operating insurance is crazy expensive also.
As a driver, 1/8 mile racing is still good competition and a bit easier on the equiptment. The rounds go quicker and the spectators like to see that.:cert::cert:

[MrPeabody]

1000 ft officially. While I agree and am not sure what difference an extra 320' of shutdown makes, losing Scott Kalitta was a very sad day, Connie lost his only son to the sport that they both loved.

I think the safety enhancements since - automatic chutes when the blower pops, better catch fences, etc have made the sport way safer than a shorter track has. Places like Englishtown with the short shutdown area maybe jet need to go away.

I agree about the shorter tracks. But the problem is Pomona is one of those tracks with the short shut down area, and no real estate available to extend it. Two of the premier events are held there, the Winternationals and the final event of the year, and the NHRA holds the rights to those events and they are a big money maker for them.

They aren't real vocal about it, but the racers, crew chiefs and the money people behind the teams like it at 1,000 feet because it's easier on the equipment and saves money at a time when it has become ridiculously expensive to field a car in the fuel classes.