With the death of Top Alcohol Dragster driver Mark Niver July 11 during eliminations at the NHRA Northwest Nationals in Kent, Wash., the effectiveness of sand traps and run-off areas has been scrutinized by NHRA owners, drivers and crew chiefs.

On Sunday, Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Redell Harris went into the gravel trap after his first-round loss to Michael Phillips. Phillips clocked a 7.310 seconds and Harris had a 7.536-second effort at 175.78 seconds.

Harris was uninjured, but had plenty of excitement at the end of his ride.

“I had no rear brakes,” Harris said. “We loosened the rear brakes up to try and get more wheel speed. That’s why we loosened the brakes up, and by the time I realized the brakes were real loose, I was so close to the end, I shut my motor off, so we wouldn’t hurt the motor and get rocks in the motor. I went about five feet into the sand (traps), and the bike just sunk down. I’m glad the trap was there and we have an uphill climb here, so that slows you down a lot. I probably was going 60 mph when I went into the traps. Had I seen I didn’t have brakes and touched my brakes a little earlier, I probably could have dragged the motor out and get it stopped. But, I didn’t realized I had no rear brakes.”

With the death of Top Alcohol Dragster driver Mark Niver July 11 during eliminations at the NHRA Northwest Nationals in Kent, Wash., the effectiveness of sand traps and run-off areas has been scrutinized by NHRA owners, drivers and crew chiefs.

On Sunday, Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Redell Harris went into the gravel trap after his first-round loss to Michael Phillips. Phillips clocked a 7.310 seconds and Harris had a 7.536-second effort at 175.78 seconds.

Harris was uninjured, but had plenty of excitement at the end of his ride.

“I had no rear brakes,” Harris said. “We loosened the rear brakes up to try and get more wheel speed. That’s why we loosened the brakes up, and by the time I realized the brakes were real loose, I was so close to the end, I shut my motor off, so we wouldn’t hurt the motor and get rocks in the motor. I went about five feet into the sand (traps), and the bike just sunk down. I’m glad the trap was there and we have an uphill climb here, so that slows you down a lot. I probably was going 60 mph when I went into the traps. Had I seen I didn’t have brakes and touched my brakes a little earlier, I probably could have dragged the motor out and get it stopped. But, I didn’t realized I had no rear brakes.”

Harris says his motorcycle wasn’t damaged. It just got dirty from the pea gravel. Harris himself just got a scratch on his left shin.

Sand traps aside, Harris used the interview time to mention Pro Manufacturing (Pro MFG) out of San Dimas, Calif., came on board at the Mile-High Nationals.

“They’re supposed to come back with me the rest of the races this year and next year,” Harris said.