1,000-FOOT DRAGS COMING TO IHRA?
Wed, 2008-08-20 12:29
IHRA could have multiple distances in 2009 …
The 2009 IHRA schedule hasn’t been released, yet it’s bound to create talk in the months to come.
IHRA President Aaron Polburn told CompetitionPlus.com that he’s exploring all options for next year including the implementation of 1,000-foot drag racing.
“You’ll see 1,000-foot racing soon, but not this year,” said Polburn. “It’s looking like we may have a variety of ways to go drag racing in 2009.”
Polburn told CompetitionPlus.com the IHRA has studied extensively the pros and cons of 1,000-foot drag racing. IHRA could have multiple distances in 2009 …
The 2009 IHRA schedule hasn’t been released, yet it’s bound to create talk in the months to come.
IHRA President Aaron Polburn told CompetitionPlus.com that he’s exploring all options for next year including the implementation of 1,000-foot drag racing.
“You’ll see 1,000-foot racing soon, but not this year,” said Polburn. “It’s looking like we may have a variety of ways to go drag racing in 2009.”
Polburn told CompetitionPlus.com the IHRA has studied extensively the pros and cons of 1,000-foot drag racing.
“We wanted to find out as much as we could from both the racers and the sanctioning body’s viewpoint as we could,” admitted Polburn. “It really comes down to the safety aspect and whether or not, it is less expensive to run the cars to 1,000 feet. Does it save parts? Does it really decrease the amount of downtime from oil? All three factors will weigh into our decision.
“Without telling you where, I can tell you preliminarily we do have some 1,000-foot races temporarily on our schedule.”
Polburn is tight-lipped as to which races will be 1,000-feet in 2009.
“We are playing around with various ideas but our schedule hasn’t been released yet,” Polburn admitted. “I can tell you we aren’t afraid to try it because in the past, we’ve staged eighth-mile races.”
Polburn has yet to attend an NHRA event since the switch was made to a shorter race course following the death of Funny Car racer Scott Kalitta. The NHRA cites 1,000-foot drag racing is a temporary fix until a sufficient way to slow the nitro burners is attained.
The IHRA, if they decide to shorten up at certain races to 1,000-feet, will make the distance mandatory for all vehicles, both professional and sportsman.
“I swear to you that on television I can’t tell the difference,” Polburn said. “Obviously, you don’t see any night versus day look to it and the NHRA isn’t selling any less tickets. I think it has a lot of advantages to it.”
The IHRA President has stated many times in articles with various entities that he’d prefer a schedule with all three distances on it, quarter-mile, eighth-mile and now thousand-foot. Next season may provide that opportunity.
Polburn confirmed there will be new venues coming onto the schedule for 2009 but could not say what they were at this time. Sources have indicated the new stops on the IHRA tour could include a new facility outside of Dallas, Tex., and the famed State Capitol Dragway located in Baton Rouge, La.
The IHRA plans to release their 2009 schedule in October during the IHRA World Finals in Rockingham, NC., but Polburn adds the sanctioning body is ahead of schedule currently. A track operator’s meeting at the end of September should solidify many of the loose ends which exist today. Polburn would not elaborate on the loose ends.
“My guess is that by the time Rockingham rolls around that we should have our ducks in a row,” Polburn said.
The 2009 IHRA schedule hasn’t been released, yet it’s bound to create talk in the months to come.
IHRA President Aaron Polburn told CompetitionPlus.com that he’s exploring all options for next year including the implementation of 1,000-foot drag racing.
“You’ll see 1,000-foot racing soon, but not this year,” said Polburn. “It’s looking like we may have a variety of ways to go drag racing in 2009.”
Polburn told CompetitionPlus.com the IHRA has studied extensively the pros and cons of 1,000-foot drag racing. IHRA could have multiple distances in 2009 …
The 2009 IHRA schedule hasn’t been released, yet it’s bound to create talk in the months to come.
IHRA President Aaron Polburn told CompetitionPlus.com that he’s exploring all options for next year including the implementation of 1,000-foot drag racing.
“You’ll see 1,000-foot racing soon, but not this year,” said Polburn. “It’s looking like we may have a variety of ways to go drag racing in 2009.”
Polburn told CompetitionPlus.com the IHRA has studied extensively the pros and cons of 1,000-foot drag racing.
“We wanted to find out as much as we could from both the racers and the sanctioning body’s viewpoint as we could,” admitted Polburn. “It really comes down to the safety aspect and whether or not, it is less expensive to run the cars to 1,000 feet. Does it save parts? Does it really decrease the amount of downtime from oil? All three factors will weigh into our decision.
“Without telling you where, I can tell you preliminarily we do have some 1,000-foot races temporarily on our schedule.”
Polburn is tight-lipped as to which races will be 1,000-feet in 2009.
“We are playing around with various ideas but our schedule hasn’t been released yet,” Polburn admitted. “I can tell you we aren’t afraid to try it because in the past, we’ve staged eighth-mile races.”
Polburn has yet to attend an NHRA event since the switch was made to a shorter race course following the death of Funny Car racer Scott Kalitta. The NHRA cites 1,000-foot drag racing is a temporary fix until a sufficient way to slow the nitro burners is attained.
The IHRA, if they decide to shorten up at certain races to 1,000-feet, will make the distance mandatory for all vehicles, both professional and sportsman.
“I swear to you that on television I can’t tell the difference,” Polburn said. “Obviously, you don’t see any night versus day look to it and the NHRA isn’t selling any less tickets. I think it has a lot of advantages to it.”
The IHRA President has stated many times in articles with various entities that he’d prefer a schedule with all three distances on it, quarter-mile, eighth-mile and now thousand-foot. Next season may provide that opportunity.
Polburn confirmed there will be new venues coming onto the schedule for 2009 but could not say what they were at this time. Sources have indicated the new stops on the IHRA tour could include a new facility outside of Dallas, Tex., and the famed State Capitol Dragway located in Baton Rouge, La.
The IHRA plans to release their 2009 schedule in October during the IHRA World Finals in Rockingham, NC., but Polburn adds the sanctioning body is ahead of schedule currently. A track operator’s meeting at the end of September should solidify many of the loose ends which exist today. Polburn would not elaborate on the loose ends.
“My guess is that by the time Rockingham rolls around that we should have our ducks in a row,” Polburn said.
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