Carbon Fiber Brake Components Mandated by NHRA

The NHRA has reacted quickly to enhance safety requirements, following a pair of fatal incidents in June and July. The changes take effect next week and make the use of carbon fiber brake pads and rotors mandatory in several classes.

Effective July 21st, the organization has mandated that Top Fuel Dragsters, Funny Cars, Top Alcohol Dragsters and Top Alcohol Funny Cars make use of the carbon fiber components in rear brakes. By August 11th, carbon fiber front brakes become mandatory for all race cars in the Funny Car and Top Alcohol Funny Car classes.

A statement issued Wednesday by the NHRA notes that “The vast majority of vehicles in these classes already use this equipment.”

A vehicle shutdown device, already in use by Top Fuel and Funny Car drivers, will become required equipment for the Top Alcohol classes, beginning next season. The RF-activated device would shut down the fuel supply, cut ignition and release the parachutes when the car crosses the finish line, if they were not already.

Beyond this, the organization reports that it is working with manufacturers on a backup device or method to prevent detachment of the car’s parachutes. Top Fuel, Funny Car, Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car classes will be required to implement the results, once complete.

The current initiatives build on a number of other safety improvements already put in place earlier this year for the Top Fuel and Top Alcohol classes. Racer Mark Niver died last Sunday in a Top Alcohol Dragster crash at the Northwest Nationals, near Seattle, WA. In June, Neal Parker died in a Top Alcohol Funny Car crash at the Supernationals in Englishtown, NJ.

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