NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES

National Hot Rod Association History The Full Throttle Series makes 24 stops in 22 cities over the course of nine months. Founded by Wally Parks in 1951, NHRA has been dedicated to safety while providing millions of racing fans with the fastest and most spectacular form of entertainment on wheels. Second to only NASCAR in terms of attendance, fan appeal, and sponsorship commitment, NHRA is moving quickly into mainstream America.

Top Fuel

Among the fastest-accelerating machines in the world, the 7,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragsters are often referred to as the “kings of the sport.” Capable of covering a quarter-mile in 4.4 seconds at more than 330 mph, these “rails” are powered by a supercharged and fuel-injected 500-cubic-inch adaptation of the famed Chrysler Hemi engine. Top Fuel dragsters can burn up to 15 gallons of nitromethane fuel during a single quarter-mile run. Constructed of chromoly steel tubing and carbon-fiber composite, Top Fuel cars are 25 feet long and weigh 2,250 pounds in race-ready trim.

Nitro Funny Car

Similar to their Top Fuel counterparts but with a shorter wheelbase and a carbon-fiber body that loosely resembles a production-based automobile, Funny Cars routinely run in the 4.7-second range and are capable of speeds in excess of 330 mph. Funny Cars are powered by the same supercharged and fuel-injected 500-inch engines as Top Fuel dragsters. Funny Cars are also similar to Top Fuel dragsters in that they do not use a transmission but rather transmit power to the huge rear tires through a multistage clutch assembly that is activated by timers.