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88-520: The champion of each category is determined by a point system where points are given according to finishing placement and qualifying effort. The season is divided into two segments. After the first 18 races, the Top 10 of each pro category are locked in and compete in the last six races with the difference in points greatly minimized. The series has four main professional classes: Top Fuel Dragster , Funny Car , Pro Stock , and Pro Stock Motorcycle . Top Fuel

176-420: A "fueler" engine will provide power over a very broad range from very lean to very rich mixtures. Thus, to attain maximum performance, before each race, by varying the level of fuel supplied to the engine, the mechanical crew may select power outputs barely below the limits of tire traction. Power outputs which create tire slippage will "smoke the tires" and as a result the race is often lost. The air/fuel mixture

264-503: A car owner who often runs NHRA races in the United States. Before their run, racers often perform a burnout to clean and heat tires. The burnout also applies a layer of fresh rubber to the track surface, improving traction during launch. At maximum throttle and RPM, the exhaust gases escaping from a dragster's open headers produce about 900–1,100 pounds-force (4.0–4.9 kN) of downforce . The massive airfoil over and behind

352-701: A condensed package to air until the finals began. In 2001, the NHRA entered into an agreement with ESPN for it to become the exclusive broadcaster of NHRA events, shortly after MTV Networks had effectively shut down the CBS motorsport operations after its acquisition of CBS Cable, and the demise of TNN. During its 14-year stint as rightsholder, ESPN faced criticism for the structure and scheduling of its coverage. Due to scheduling conflicts with other sports properties to which it held rights, ESPN typically broadcast its NHRA coverage in inconsistent and otherwise undesirable timeslots. In

440-501: A fixed margin, with first place receiving bonus points. The drivers then compete for the championship over the final races of the season. The NHRA suspended the format for the 2020 season after originally rewarding all teams that attempted to make two qualifying passes per race during the regular season a bonus of automatic qualification as a reward for making all races when the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in five races being removed from

528-556: A lead-in), and increased promotion of the event broadcasts as part of FS1 and FS2's programming, as having helped build their audience. The NHRA renewed its contract with Fox in 2021, and while expanding network television coverage, the contract involves more tape-delayed races during the Fox half of the NASCAR season to not conflict with NASCAR Cup Series events, designed to air after the conclusion of such events from February until June), and

616-517: A major purse, the Cragar - Weld Top Fuel Classic and "Big Daddy" Don Garlits returned to Top Fuel full-time. By 1987, NHRA Top Fuel Funny Car was drawing twice as many entrants as positions available. In 2012 enclosed cockpits were allowed to be used regularly used in top fuel by the NHRA. Winston (cigarette) Winston is an American brand of cigarettes , currently owned and manufactured by ITG Brands , subsidiary of Imperial Tobacco in

704-408: A much lower energy density (11.2 MJ/kg (1.21 Mcal th /lb)) than either gasoline (44 MJ/kg (4.8 Mcal th /lb)) or methanol (22.7 MJ/kg (2.46 Mcal th /lb)), an engine burning nitromethane can produce up to 2.4 times as much power as an engine burning gasoline. This is made possible by the fact that, in addition to fuel, an engine needs oxygen in order to generate force:

792-464: A new "My NHRA" marketing campaign that plays upon the logo to feature drivers and other personalities discussing what the NHRA means to them. On September 20, 2020, Coca-Cola announced that, even though their most recent agreement with the NHRA was in effect until 2023, they would be immediately pulling their sponsorship from the sport. The NHRA responded by filing a lawsuit as it looked for a new title sponsor for its premier series. On October 4, 2020,

880-399: A number of engine explosions at or near 300 mph resulting in driver injuries and death). Currently, driver and spectator safety has been enhanced even while top speeds often approach and exceed 300 mph. Some of the popular racers to come through the series include "Big Daddy" Don Garlits , Don "The Snake" Prudhomme , and Shirley Muldowney . Those three gained much attention from

968-878: A period of 3.8 seconds. Much of organized drag-racing is sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association. Since 1955, the association has held regional and national events (typically organized as single elimination tournaments, with the winner of each two car race advancing) and has set rules for safety, with the more powerful cars requiring ever more safety equipment. Typical safety equipment for contemporary top fuel dragsters: full face helmets with fitted HANS devices ; multi-point, quick release safety restraint harness; full body fire suit made of Nomex or similar material, complete with face mask, gloves, socks, shoes, and outer sock-like boots, all made of fire-resistant materials; on board fire extinguishers; kevlar or other synthetic "bullet-proof" blankets around

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1056-678: A qualifying session at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey . The shortening of the distance was used by the FIA at some tracks, and as of 2012 is now the standard Top Fuel distance defined by the FIA. The International Hot Rod Association , which at the time sanctioned Top Fuel in Australia, dropped the 1/4-mile distance in September 2017 after a campaign by Santo Rapisarda,

1144-534: A safer cigarette. In 1999, R.J. Reynolds was spun off from RJR Nabisco and subsequently sold its non-U.S. operations to Japan Tobacco. On July 15, 2014, Reynolds American (R.J. Reynolds parent company) agreed to purchase the Lorillard Tobacco Company for $ 27.4 billion and as a result, (to alleviate antitrust concerns) Winston, along with the Kool , Maverick , and Salem cigarette brands,

1232-481: A split broadcast race that airs at live at 2 PM ET or delayed at 5 PM depending on market during the NFL season on a Fox NFL single-game weekend. Top Fuel Top Fuel is a type of drag racing whose dragsters are the quickest accelerating racing cars in the world and the fastest sanctioned category of drag racing, with the fastest competitors reaching speeds of 341.68 miles per hour (549.9 km/h) and finishing

1320-463: A timer-based retard system is used. The engine is fitted with eight individual open exhaust pipes, 2.75 in (69.85 mm) in diameter and 18 in (457.20 mm) long. These are made of steel and fitted with thermocouples for measuring of the exhaust gas temperature . They are called "zoomies" and exhaust gases are directed upward and backwards. Exhaust temperature is about 500 °F (260 °C) at idle and 1,796 °F (980 °C) by

1408-536: A way to gain leverage on NHRA, so Nix could use nitro himself). These cars ran in NHRA's S/FX class, variously defined as "Super Factory Experimental" or "Supercharged Factory Experimental". They were shortly turning in E.T.s in the low 11s and trap speeds of over 140 mph (225.3 km/h); at Long Beach on 21 March, an 11.49 pass at 141.66 mph (228.0 km/h) was recorded. Bob Sullivan's Pandemonium (a '65 Plymouth Barracuda ) joined about six other nitro-fuelled early funny cars facing fuel dragsters in

1496-428: Is a result of using very high boost levels and running at extremely high RPMs; both of these stress the internal components to a high degree, meaning that the peak power can only safely be achieved for brief periods of time, and even then only by intentionally sacrificing components. The engine power output can also be calculated based upon the car's weight and its performance. The calculated power output of these engines

1584-447: Is about 10 kg (22 lb) lighter than 90 degree crankshaft, but they create a lot of vibration. Such is the strength of a top fuel crankshaft that in one incident, the entire engine block was split open and blown off the car during an engine failure, and the crank, with all eight connecting rods and pistons, was left still bolted to the clutch. Pistons are made of forged aluminum. They have three rings and aluminum buttons retain

1672-422: Is an engine driven mechanical fuel pump and about 42 fuel nozzles. The pump can flow 100 US gallons (380 L) per minute at 7500 rpm and 500 psi (3,450 kPa) fuel pressure. In general 10 injectors are placed in the injector hat above the supercharger, 16 in the intake manifold and two per cylinder in the cylinder head. Usually a race is started with a leaner mixture, then as the clutch begins to tighten as

1760-447: Is built exclusively of specialized parts. It retains the basic configuration with two valves per cylinder activated by pushrods from a centrally-placed camshaft. The engine has hemispherical combustion chambers , a 58-degree in. to ex. valve stem angle; 4.8 inches (121.92 mm) bore pitch. The block is machined from a piece of forged aluminum. It features press-fitted, ductile iron cylinder liners. There are no water passages in

1848-624: Is disassembled and examined, and worn or damaged components are replaced. Measuring the power output of a top fuel engine directly is not always feasible. Certain models use a torque sensor incorporated as part of the RacePak data system. Dynamometers that can measure the output of a Top Fuel engine exist; however, the main limitation is that a Top Fuel engine cannot be run at its maximum power output for more than 10 seconds without overheating or possibly destroying itself explosively. Making such high power levels from such relatively limited displacement

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1936-620: Is driven by gears in the front of the engine. Mechanical roller lifters ( cam followers ) ride atop the cam lobes and drive the steel push rods up into the steel rocker arms that actuate the valves. The rockers are of roller tip type on the intake and exhaust sides. Like the cam follower rollers, the steel tip roller rotates on a steel roller bearing and the steel rocker arms rotate on a pair of through-hardened tool steel shafts within bronze bushings. Intake and exhaust rockers are billet. The dual valve springs are of coaxial type and made out of titanium. Valve retainers are also made of titanium, as are

2024-464: Is fitted with a 200 pounds per square inch (1,379 kPa) burst plate . Air is fed to the compressor from throttle butterflies with a maximum area of 65 sq in (41,935 mm ). At maximum pressure, it takes approximately 1,000 horsepower (750 kW) to drive the supercharger. These superchargers are in fact derivatives of General Motors scavenging-air blowers for their two-stroke diesel engines , which were adapted for automotive use in

2112-463: Is ignited by two 14 mm (0.55 in) spark plugs per cylinder. These plugs are fired by two 44- ampere magnetos . Normal ignition timing is 58-65 degrees BTDC (This is dramatically greater spark advance than in a petrol engine as "nitro" and alcohol burn far slower). Directly after launch the timing is typically decreased by about 25 degrees for a short time as this gives the tires time to reach their correct shape. The ignition system limits

2200-456: Is likely to be adopted as a mandated rule for competition. The 54-year history of NHRA has provided hundreds of examples of safety upgrades. In 2000, the NHRA mandated the maximum concentration of nitromethane in a car's fuel be no more than 90%. In the wake of a Gateway International Raceway fatality in 2004, involving racer Darrell Russell , the fuel ratio was reduced to 85%. Complaints from teams in regards to cost, however, has resulted in

2288-472: Is most likely somewhere between 8,500 and 10,000 hp (6,340 and 7,460 kW), which is about twice as powerful as the engines installed on some modern diesel locomotives , with a torque output of approximately 7,400 pound force-feet (10,030  N⋅m ) and a brake mean effective pressure of 1,160–1,450 psi (8–10 MPa). In late 2015, tests using sensors developed by AVL Racing showed peak power of over 11,000 hp (8,200 kW). For

2376-649: Is now known as the NASCAR Cup Series . From 1975 to 2001, Winston was also the sponsor of the NHRA drag racing series , which is currently sponsored by Camping World . Winston sponsored the Ten Kate Racing team in 2005 and 2006. In countries where tobacco advertising was prohibited, the acronym "WinWin" was used instead. Winston was a sponsor of the 1982 FIFA World Cup . Sailing Winston sponsored Dennis Connor's 1993/94 Whitbread 60 in

2464-430: Is often a problem when using nitromethane. Because of the relatively slow burn rate of nitromethane, very rich fuel mixtures are often not fully ignited, and some remaining nitromethane can escape from the exhaust pipe and ignite on contact with atmospheric oxygen, burning with a characteristic yellow flame . Additionally, after sufficient fuel has been combusted to consume all available oxygen, nitromethane can combust in

2552-527: The Marlboro man . In 1988, he publicly denounced the tobacco industry and joined the emerging anti-smoking movement after suffering health issues related to smoking. He has spent more than 20 years working in schools as a public speaker, encouraging kids not to start smoking. In September 2015, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned ITG Brands, the makers of Winston cigarettes, that labeling

2640-437: The engine displacement to 500 cubic inches (8.19 L). A 4.1875-inch (106.36 mm) bore with a 4.5-inch (114.30 mm) stroke are customary dimensions. Larger bores have been shown to weaken the cylinder block. Compression ratio is about 6.5:1, as is common on engines with overdriven Roots-type superchargers . The engine used to power a Top Fuel drag racing car is based on a second generation Chrysler RB Hemi, but

2728-462: The 1,000 foot (304.8 m) runs in 3.62 seconds. A top fuel dragster accelerates from a standstill to 100 mph (160.9 km/h) in as little as 0.8 seconds (less than one third the time required by a production Porsche 911 Turbo to reach 60 mph (96.6 km/h)) and can exceed 297 mph (478.0 km/h) in just 660 feet (201.2 m). This subjects the driver to an average acceleration of about 4.0  g 0 (39  m/s ) over

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series - Misplaced Pages Continue

2816-424: The 1.156 in × 3.300 in (29.36 mm × 83.82 mm) steel wrist pin. The piston is anodized and Teflon coated to prevent galling during the high thrust load operation encountered. The top ring is an L-shaped section "Dykes" ring that provides the best seal during combustion, but a second ring must be used to prevent excessive oil from entering the combustion chamber during intake strokes, as

2904-487: The 1960s through 1970s with their speed and personalities, a combination rarely achieved today through the political correctness of sponsorship in today's drivers. Nonetheless, there are still colorful characters today, such as 16-time Funny Car world champion John Force . His daughter, 2007 Rookie of the Year Ashley Force Hood has made appearances on Good Morning America and The Tonight Show and

2992-644: The 1965 season. In 1971, Don Garlits introduced the Swamp Rat XIV , a rear-engined Top Fuel dragster. While others had been developed in the previous decade, it was the first successful one, winning the 1971 NHRA Winternationals . In 1984, Top Fuel was at a low point. It was having trouble attracting full sixteen-car fields, leading to cutting back to eight-car rosters, while the International Hot Rod Association dropped Top Fuel entirely. The same year, Joe Hrudka offered

3080-477: The 1990s, events were split between ESPN , NBC , and The Nashville Network , all produced by Diamond P Sports. TNN also broadcast a weekly highlight program, NHRA Today . Due to logistical and scheduling issues, including the possibility of long turnaround times between heats, weather delays, and other factors, events were typically broadcast in a condensed form via tape delay . From 1992 until 2000, TNN carried live coverage of selected final rounds, typically with

3168-578: The 2016 season. Coverage primarily airs on the FS1 and FS2 cable channels, while 4 events per-season are aired on the Fox broadcast network (including the flagship U.S. Nationals). Fox committed to televising live Sunday coverage from at least 16 of the 23 events per-season, two-hour qualification broadcasts and encores (including the condensed highlights program NHRA in 30 ), and coverage of selected Sportsman Series events. NHRA president Peter Clifford explained that

3256-529: The 6.4-6.7 second range and the Pro Stock Motorcycles usually run at 190+ mph (310 km/h), with times in the low 7- to high 6-second range. Top Fuel (class designation: AA/D top fuel dragster) and Fuel Funny Car (class designation: AA/FC top fuel coupe) have recently been limited to a 1,000-foot (300 m) track, instead of the historic 1/4 mile [1,320 feet (402 m)], as a means to limit top speeds and increase safety (there had been

3344-496: The Dykes-style ring offers less than optimal reverse gas/oil sealing. The third ring is an oil scraper ring whose function is to scrape the majority of the oil film off the cylinder wall as the piston descends from top dead center (TDC), to prevent oil being exposed to combustion heat and contaminating the upcoming round of fuel/air. This "oil scraping" also provides a key heat removal step for the cylinder walls and piston skirts,

3432-453: The NHRA announced a new sponsorship deal with Camping World . In early 2023, an NHRA representative confirmed that Camping World would not be renewing their agreement with the NHRA after the conclusion of the 2024 season, and that the NHRA was seeking a new title sponsor for the series. Gruma S.A.B. de C.V., through their Mission Foods brand, was announced as the newest title sponsor for the 2024 season on October 25, 2023. Camping World and

3520-587: The NHRA renegotiated terms of their agreement which allowed Mission Foods to replace them as the title sponsor for the 2024 season, and will keep Camping World on as a "premier partner" of the NHRA through 2026. Before 1974, the season champion was determined by the winner of the World Finals event. The Professional categories contain the divisions of Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock (Automobile), and Pro Stock Motorcycle. NHRA events have been broadcast on television, with such efforts dating back as far as 1983. By

3608-456: The Top Fuel category is also the most associated female in the drag racing world, Shirley Muldowney , who won three championships during her career. Since 2015, NHRA regulations limit the composition of the fuel to a maximum of 90% nitromethane ; the remainder is largely methanol . However, this mixture is not mandatory, and less nitromethane may be used if desired. While nitromethane has

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series - Misplaced Pages Continue

3696-569: The U.S. while the American version of the brand has faced steadily declining sales, dropping to sixth place by 2005 in the last national survey. The American version of Winston is also known for its more recent claim of becoming additive-free in the late 1990s. This in turn led to a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission requiring Winston to clarify subsequent advertisements that the lack of additives did not result in

3784-610: The United States and by Japan Tobacco outside the U.S. The brand is named after the town where R. J. Reynolds started his business which is Winston-Salem, North Carolina . As of 2017 , Winston has the seventh-highest U.S. market share (2 percent) of all cigarette brands, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Maxwell Report. This market share has been falling since 2003, when it peaked at 3.92 percent, although Winston has consistently been in

3872-621: The Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race. Connors sailed 2 legs of the race with Winston finishing 6th overall & 4th in the Whitbread 60 class Winston was one of the original sponsors of The Flintstones , from 1960 to 1962. In the commercials, Flintstones characters Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble were seen promoting Winston, and every episode ended with Fred lighting a Winston for his wife Wilma while singing

3960-607: The Winston branding as last used in 2003). Following a four-year legal battle against ITG Brands, which argued that the sale of Winston brand from R.J. Reynolds in 2015 meant that the history of the Winston Cup Series belonged to them, the museum closed in July 2023 as part of an injunction before permanently closing on December 18, 2023, following a brief reopening in September. Winston cigarettes were or still are sold in

4048-495: The absence of atmospheric oxygen, producing hydrogen , which can often be seen burning from the exhaust pipes at night as a bright white flame. In a typical run the engine can consume between 12 US gallons (45.42 L) and 22.75 US gallons (86.12 L) of fuel during warmup, burnout, staging, and the quarter-mile run. Like many other motor sport formulas originating in the United States, NHRA -sanctioned drag racing favors heavy restrictions on engine configuration, sometimes to

4136-724: The agency shipped out in August 2015 to cigarette companies whose products were labeled "additive-free", "natural" or both. Winston had been previously settled with the FTC (when tobacco advertising was under their purview) regarding similar claims in 1999. After Winston relinquished their sponsorship of the NASCAR Cup Series in 2004, a museum honoring the Winston Cup era opened in 2005, operated independently of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company or NASCAR themselves (but otherwise using

4224-499: The back-half of the roll-cage to prevent any debris from entering the cockpit. This also was the result of the fatal crash at Gateway International Raceway. The rear tire pressure is also heavily regulated by Goodyear Tire and Rubber on behalf of the NHRA, at 7 psi (48 kPa), the absolute minimum pressure allowed. At present, final drive ratios higher than 3.20 (3.2 engine rotations to one rear axle rotation) are prohibited, in an effort to limit top speed potential, thus reducing

4312-420: The big end while the pin runs directly in the rod. The supercharger must be a 14-71 type Roots blower . It has twisted lobes and is driven by a toothed belt . The supercharger is slightly offset to the rear to provide an even distribution of air. Absolute manifold pressure is usually 56–66 pounds per square inch (386–455 kPa), but up to 74 pounds per square inch (510 kPa) is possible. The manifold

4400-616: The block, which adds considerable strength and stiffness. The engine is cooled by the incoming air/fuel mixture and the lubricating oil. Like the original Hemi, the racing cylinder block has a deep skirt for strength. There are five main bearing caps, which are fastened with aircraft-standard-rated steel studs, with additional reinforcing main studs and side bolts (" cross-bolting "). There are three approved suppliers of these custom blocks; Keith Black , Brad Anderson, and Alan Johnson. The cylinder heads are machined from aluminum billets . As such, they, too, lack water jackets and rely entirely on

4488-610: The deal would be a "game-changer" for the association, citing Fox's history of motorsports coverage (such as NASCAR ), as well as its commitment to increased coverage of NHRA events, including live network television coverage. During the first two years of the contract, Fox had achieved an average viewership of 600,000 viewers—a major increase over ESPN's broadcasts. Some events had attracted an audience of over 1 million. The association's chief content officer Ken Adelson cited favorable scheduling practices (including better time slots and additional encores, as well as using NASCAR broadcasts as

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4576-461: The detriment of technological development. In some cases, teams are required to use technologies that may be decades old, resulting in cars that may seem substantially less advanced than the average family car. However, while some basic facets of engine configuration are heavily restricted, other technologies, such as fuel injection , clutch operation, ignition, and car materials and design, are under constant development. NHRA competition rules limit

4664-485: The duration of the race and with a peak of over 5.6  g 0 (55  m/s ). Because of the speeds, this class races a 1,000 foot (304.8 m) distance, not the traditional drag-race length of one-fourth of a statute mile, or 1,320 feet (402.3 m). The rule was introduced in 2008 by the National Hot Rod Association after the fatal crash of Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta during

4752-415: The early days of the sport. The model name of these superchargers delineates their size – the once commonly used 6-71 and 4-71 blowers were designed for General Motors diesels having six cylinders of 71 cu in (1.16 L) each, and four cylinders of 71 cu in (1.16 L) each, respectively. Thus, the currently used 14-71 design can be seen to be a huge increase in power delivery over

4840-475: The early designs, purpose-built for the GM Detroit Diesel truck powerplants. Mandatory safety rules require a secured Kevlar-style blanket over the supercharger assembly as "blower explosions" are not uncommon, from the volatile air/fuel mixture coming from the fuel injectors being drawn directly through them. The absence of a protective blanket exposes the driver, team and spectators to shrapnel in

4928-416: The end of a run. During a nighttime event, the slow-burning nitromethane can be seen to extend flames many feet out from the exhaust pipes. The engine is warmed up for about 80 seconds. After the warm up the valve covers are taken off, oil is changed and the car is refueled. The run including tire warming is about 100 seconds which results in a "lap" of about three minutes. After each lap, the entire engine

5016-454: The engine speed builds, the air/fuel mixture is enriched. As the increased engine speed builds up pump pressure, the mixture is made leaner to maintain a predetermined ratio that is based on many factors, especially race track surface friction. The stoichiometry of both methanol and nitromethane is considerably greater than that of racing gasoline, as they have oxygen atoms attached to their carbon chains and gasoline does not. This means that

5104-405: The engine speed to 8400 rpm. The ignition system provides initial 60,000 volts and 1.2 amperes. The long duration spark (up to 26 degrees) provides energy of 950 millijoules (0.23 cal th ). The plugs are placed in such a way that they are cooled by the incoming charge. The ignition system is not allowed to respond to real time information (no computer-based spark lead adjustments), so instead

5192-445: The entrance of a Top Fuel event. Dragsters are limited to a wheelbase of 300 inches (7.6 m). The most prolific active driver in Top Fuel is Tony Schumacher and the most successful crew chief is Alan Johnson, who was the crew chief for six of Schumacher's championships, the back-to-back titles won by driver Gary Scelzi and was the crew chief for his brother Blaine for his entire professional career. The first female driver in

5280-424: The event of a blown rod. Teams are fined and points are lost if oil is spilled on the track surface, so all teams make provision for absorbent blankets/diapers below the engine. Oil pump pressure is somewhere around 160–170 psi (1,100–1,170 kPa) during the run, 200 psi (1,380 kPa) at start up, but actual figures differ between teams. Fuel is injected by a constant flow injection system. There

5368-404: The event that nearly any irregularity in the induction of the air/fuel mixture, the conversion of combustion into rotating crankshaft movements, or in the exhausting of spent gasses is encountered. The oil system has a wet sump which contains 16 US quarts (15.1 L) of SAE 70 mineral or synthetic racing oil. The pan is made of titanium or aluminum. Titanium can be used to prevent oil spills in

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5456-428: The fans, the distance remains at 1,000 feet today at the request of the teams as a cost-saving measure, with no indication by NHRA officials of any intent of returning to the full quarter-mile format any time soon. By late 2012, 1,000 foot racing became globally recognized as the 2012 FIA European title in Top Fuel became 1,000-foot championships, as Santa Pod and Hockenheim (the last two quarter-mile nitro strips) made

5544-493: The final years of the contract, the NHRA attempted to structure selected events so that they could be televised live; by the 2015 season, at least six events were broadcast live using the TNN model from 1992 to 2000. In July 2015, ESPN and the NHRA agreed to end their contract one year early, with the association citing ESPN's scheduling issues as a concern. In turn, the NHRA announced a new television deal with Fox Sports beginning in

5632-606: The first U.S. Fuel and Gas Championship at Famoso Raceway in March 1959. Bob Hansen won Top Fuel Eliminator (TFE) in his A/HR, with a speed of 136 mph (218.9 km/h). Jimmy Nix , who previously ran a Top Gas dragster; Jim Johnson , who ran a Dodge Polara stocker , and who had won the B/SA title in 1963; Jim Nelson ; and Dode Martin pioneered TF/FC. (Nix tried to persuade Chrisman to get Mercury Racing Director Fran Hernandez to allow him to run his Comet's 427 on nitro, as

5720-417: The first segment is complete, the drivers in each class at or above the cutoff point in the standings (8th place up to 2007 and 10th place thereafter) become eligible for the championship, while the drivers below the cutoff point are eliminated from championship contention, though they still participate in the remaining race events. The points for the advancing drivers are readjusted so that they are separated by

5808-869: The following countries: Iran , Canada , United States , Mexico , Chile , Peru , Argentina , Brazil , United Kingdom , Sweden , Denmark , Finland , Luxembourg , Belgium , the Netherlands , Germany , France , Switzerland , Austria , Portugal , Spain , Italy , Poland , Hungary , Iceland , Romania , Moldova , Croatia , Czech Republic , Slovakia , Slovenia , Serbia , Albania , Greece , Turkey , Armenia , Azerbaijan , Georgia , Estonia , Lithuania , Latvia , Belarus , Ukraine , Russia , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Uzbekistan , Tunesia , South Africa , Israel , Lebanon , Jordan , Kuwait , Kosovo , Morocco , Myanmar , Vietnam , Egypt , Indonesia , Malaysia , Nepal , Norway , Cyprus , Singapore , Hong Kong , Japan , Taiwan , North Macedonia ,

5896-501: The growing incomes of African Americans (called at the time the "emerging Negro market") gave the tobacco companies what was sometimes called an "export market at home". Additionally, a new kind of media started to appear after the war when several glossy monthly magazines including Negro Digest (1942, renamed Black World ), Ebony (1945) and Negro Achievements (1947, renamed Sepia ) began to be published. These relatively expensively produced magazines were far more attractive to

5984-402: The incoming air/fuel mixture and lubricating oil for their cooling. The original Chrysler design of two large valves per cylinder is used. The intake valve is made from solid titanium and the exhaust from solid Nimonic 80A or similar. Seats are of ductile iron . Beryllium-copper has been tried but its use is limited due to its toxicity. Valve sizes are around 2.45 in (62.23 mm) for

6072-450: The intake and 1.925 in (48.90 mm) for the exhaust. In the ports there are integral tubes for the push rods. The heads are sealed to the block by copper gaskets and stainless steel o-rings . Securing the heads to the block is done with aircraft-rated steel studs and stud nuts. The camshaft is billet steel, made from 8620 carbon or S7 through-hardened tool steel or similar. It runs in five oil pressure lubricated bearing shells and

6160-500: The level of danger. In 1958, NHRA banned nitro in all categories; the American Hot Rod Association (AHRA) still allowed it, and Fuel Dragsters (FD), Hot Roadsters (HR), and Fuel Coupés (FC): this led to Fuel Altereds (AA/FAs), Factory Experimentals (A/FXs), and (ultimately) Funny Cars (TF/FCs). Independent drag strips, not NHRA sanctioned, offered venues for the fuel racers. Smokers Car Club hosted

6248-505: The number one cigarette sold in the world by 1966, a position it held until 1972 when Marlboro overtook the brand. In the 1980s, Winston was the most favored brand in Puerto Rico, thanks to their advertising slogan "Winston y Puerto Rico: No hay nada mejor" ( Winston and Puerto Rico: There is nothing better ). Winston then became the #2 cigarette, a position it continues to maintain today under ownership of Japan Tobacco outside of

6336-441: The oil film is renewed as the piston moves upward after reaching bottom dead center (BDC). The connecting rods are of forged aluminum and do provide some shock damping, which is why aluminum is used in place of titanium, because titanium connecting rods transmit too much of the combustion impulse to the big-end rod bearings, endangering the bearings and thus the crankshaft and block. Each con rod has two bolts, shell bearings for

6424-453: The product as "additive-free" violated federal law because the claim implied that the cigarettes were safer than other brands. The August warning letter to ITG marked the first time the FDA had used its authority under a 2009 tobacco-control law to take action against a company for making "additive-free" ("No Bull" ad campaign) claims on product packaging. It was one of three warning letters that

6512-498: The product's jingle. By the third season, however, the show's ads became more oriented towards children and Winston was replaced by Welch's . In the 1970s, Winston specifically targeted the Afro-American minority, similar to what Kool and Newport did during the time. After World War II had ended, American tobacco companies started to explore new markets to maintain their prosperity. The growth in urban migration and

6600-513: The purposes of comparison, a 2009 SSC Ultimate Aero TT , which at the time was among the world's most powerful production automobiles, produces 1,287 hp (960 kW) of power and 1,112 lbf⋅ft (1,508 N⋅m) of torque. From start to finish the engine will turn 240 revolutions. Including start up, burnout, staging and the race, the engine must survive just 500 revolutions before being rebuilt. This calculation assumes an average racing engine speed of roughly 3,800 revolutions per minute over

6688-441: The rear wheels produces much more, peaking at around 12,000 pounds-force (53.4 kN) when the car reaches about 330 mph (531.1 km/h). The engine of a Top Fuel dragster generates around 150 dB of sound at full throttle, enough to cause physical pain or even permanent damage. Before a run, race announcers usually advise spectators to cover or plug their ears. Ear plugs and even earmuffs are often handed out to fans at

6776-477: The rocker covers. Billet steel crankshafts are used; they all have a cross plane a.k.a. 90 degree configuration and run in five conventional bearing shells. 180 degree crankshafts have been tried. Due to ease of laying out an exhaust system with even pulsation, the 180 degree crankshaft can offer increased power in engines with interacting exhaust. However this does not concern Top Fuel engines with separate exhaust pipes for each cylinder. A 180 degree crankshaft

6864-427: The rule being rescinded starting in 2008, when the fuel mixture returns to 90%, as NHRA team owners, crew chiefs, and suppliers complained about mechanical failures that can result in oildowns or more severe crashes caused by the reduced nitromethane mixture. They also mandated enclosed roll cages. The NHRA also mandated that different rear tires be used to reduce failure, and that a titanium "shield" be attached around

6952-635: The schedule. The format returned for the following season. Winston cigarettes was the title sponsor of the series from 1975 until 2001, when a condition of the Master Settlement Agreement required Winston to drop either its sponsorship of the NHRA, or the NASCAR Winston Cup Series ; Winston chose to retain its NASCAR sponsorship. Winston ended their sponsorship with NASCAR two years later. The Coca-Cola Company took over title sponsorship in 2002. Until 2008,

7040-481: The series was branded with the company's Powerade sports drink brand. In 2009 the company changed the branding to promote its Full Throttle energy drink brand. In 2013, following Coca-Cola's most recent extension of its sponsorship, the title sponsor was changed to its citrus soda brand Mello Yello . With Mello Yello having introduced a new logo, the NHRA unveiled a new logo for the series in January 2016, as well as

7128-725: The stoichiometric ratio of petrol is 14.7:1 air to petrol, and 1.7:1 air to nitromethane, which, unlike gasoline, already has oxygen in its molecular composition. For a given amount of air consumed, this means that an engine can burn 7.6 times more nitromethane than gasoline. Nitromethane also has a high latent heat of vaporization , meaning that it will absorb substantial engine heat as it vaporizes, providing an invaluable cooling mechanism. The laminar flame speed and combustion temperature are higher than gasoline's at 0.5 m/s (1.6 ft/s) and 2,400 °C (4,350 °F) respectively. Power output can be increased by using very rich air-fuel mixtures. This also helps prevent pre-ignition , which

7216-450: The superchargers and clutch assemblies to contain broken parts in the event of failure or explosion; damage resistant fuel tank, lines, and fittings; externally accessible fuel and ignition shut-offs (built to be accessible to rescue staff); braking parachutes; and a host of other equipment, all built to the very highest standards of manufacturing. Any breakthrough or invention that is likely to contribute to driver, staff, and spectator safety

7304-462: The switch, and Australian nitro racing switched to the 1,000-foot distance only for selected tracks. Since 2007, the NHRA implements a playoff system to determine the champion in each class, billed as the Countdown to The Championship . Each season is divided into two segments of races, with the bulk of the races making up the first segment, and the final events making up the second segment. After

7392-448: The tobacco advertisers than the cheap "Negro" daily newspapers of the pre-war era, with glossy pages and a far wider national distribution. The magazines meant for a purely African-American audience also meant that advertisers could produce adverts aimed at and featuring African Americans away from the eyes of white consumers. Between 1982 and 1988, David Goerlitz was the "Winston Man", appearing in 42 billboard advertisements – more than

7480-465: The top 10 cigarette brands by U.S. market share since 2001, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 's National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. Winston was introduced in 1954 by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and quickly became one of the top-selling cigarette brands, using the slogan " Winston tastes good like a cigarette should ". It became

7568-537: Was sold to Imperial Tobacco for $ 7.1 billion. On June 12, 2015, Reynolds American and Lorillard completed their merger and Winston officially fell under ownership of Imperial tobacco spinoff ITG brands. Beginning in 1971, Winston was the sponsor of the highest title of the NASCAR series, known as the Winston Cup Series . R. J. Reynolds ended Winston's association with the series in 2003. The series

7656-448: Was the first category, with Funny Cars added in 1966, Pro Stock four years later and Pro Stock Motorcycles in 1987. Both Top Fuel and Funny Cars regularly see top speeds in excess of 300 miles per hour (480 km/h) today, and one thousand foot times anywhere from 3.70 to 4 seconds. Both these cars burn fuel consisting of 90% nitromethane and 10% methanol . The Pro Stock record is 214 miles per hour (344 km/h), with times often in

7744-461: Was voted AOL's Hottest Female Athlete in 2007. On July 2, 2008, following the death of Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta , the NHRA announced that race distances for Top Fuel and Funny Car classes would temporarily be reduced to 1,000 ft from the traditional 1/4 mile (1320 ft). The measure was intended to be temporary while safety solutions were explored; however, the races have remained at 1000 feet since Kalitta's death. Although unpopular with

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