Up to 2015 inclusive, in order to clean your time or speed at the finish became the official national record, it was not enough just to make the fastest race in the history of the class. It was necessary to «confirm» his achievement at the same event, demonstrating the result that differs from the record no more than 1%.
If you can improve your performance during the «confirm», then these numbers and go down in history. Until the pile newly holder of record received a bonus of twenty points, the equivalent of one race victory in the knockout. On the one hand, it is a tribute to the traditions of those glorious times, when the measuring technique was perfect, on the other hand, dozens if not hundreds of pilots did not become champions, simply because it summed up the iron or abruptly changed weather conditions. Just before the start of the new season regulations has undergone a number of changes: the procedure of «confirmation», as well as remuneration for overcoming existing barriers were abolished.
«If we are talking about the abolition of mandatory confirmation of the record, then you must also give up dvadtsatiochkovogo bonus, — says the reigning champion in the Pro Stock class Erica Enders Stephens, which account for five of the best indicators of the time in his division at the moment. — Otherwise, change the nature of competition. And especially it becomes clear in the Countdown To The Championship, where the riders throughout the six stages are literally fighting for every point. And as long as someone is steadily demolishing their opponents in the races Shootout, another can easily recoup the next weekend, repeatedly rewriting the record. Still, drag racing is a competitive discipline, rather than struggle with a stopwatch. »
«It's quite unexpected and interesting move — said Richie Krempton, whose best time of the passage of thousands of feet is the third in the class Top Fuel. — I fully support the decision NHRA, as I personally faced with a situation where the record has not been included simply because I had only two attempts in one event to meet this infamous one percent. »
«I do not participate in decisions regarding the competition rules. They changed the rules? I'll be racing under the new rules — John Force's position as always straightforward as the Ultimate and forged nails. — Records were never an end in itself for me, unlike my daughters. »
We can say with certainty that there will be more national records. How will the new regulations on the competitive component? I am inclined to think that way, because conditions for all participants will continue to be the same.
Photo: open source
