Following an accident in the Top Alcohol Dragster category on Saturday Night at Englishtown Raceway Park involving Monroe Guest and Brandon Greco, NHRA made a shocking announcement that resounded a very clear message. Everyone involved in a race car is responsible for safety. Guest, car owner, Todd Odom, and crew chief, Joe Monden, have all been suspended from NHRA participation for a year for running tires that, per the manufacturer, were not to be used for that application.

The incident began late in the run of round one eliminations when Guest’s car had a right rear tire failure followed quickly by a left rear tire failure. Guest’s car careened from the left lane to the right lane where Greco’s blown alcohol dragster hit the midsection of Guests’ dragster.

After the incident, it came to NHRA’s attention that Hoosier Racing Tires had posted a product bulleting warning drivers against using the tires for competition on A/Fuel vehicles as well as Top Fuel Funny Cars and Dragsters.

The report, issued May 18, 2011 reads:

“It is important to know that all Hoosier Racing Tires are designed for a specific purpose, fitment, and application and effective immediately Hoosier Racing Tires are not recommended or to be used on Nitro injected A/Fuel Dragsters, Pro Fuel Dragsters, Fuel Funny Cars , or Top Fuel Dragsters. We are developing tires for some of these applications and notice will be given when these tires are available for sale. Never utilize a tire for a purpose it was not intended. Utilizing Hoosier Tires in any form outside of their intended use constitutes misuse of the product and can cause SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.”

The product bulletin was posted just days after a tire failure was responsible for a testing accident of another A/Fuel Mike Manners. Manners A/Fuel dragster was also running on Hoosier tires at the time of the incident.

According to NHRA.com, those persons suspended will be prohibited from, “driving, working on the crew, and/or being a full or partial owner of any vehicle that competes.” The suspension was in response to the danger that the team put “everyone on the scene, including participants, spectators and emergency responders, at risk.”