NHRA Addresses Fuel Cooling

During a recent NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series event the question arose as to whether or not it was permissible to cool the Nitromethane and Methanol fuel concoction that is used by the Nostalgia Top Fuel Dragsters.

The question wasn’t whether you could throw a fender cover or wet rags over the fuel tank to keep the sun off of it, a practice that has been widely used for the past half century, but whether the fuel itself could be artificially cooled before or after going into the tank to reduce the temperature down to levels well below the ambient temperature.

A pool of those in attendance produced a mixed bag of opinions. A few thought that it was allowable, some thought that is was not, and the rest weren’t sure. Unfortunately, at that time and place, no one had a copy of the rulebook in hand so the question went unanswered for the moment.

Following the race the subject of fuel cooling grew into a hot topic. A number of active teams expressed concern that if it were allowed the methods of cooling the fuel could escalate to the point where it would require expensive equipment and/or reconfiguring of the cars to remain competitive. Cooling rigs that cost in excess of five thousand dollars, and insulated fuel tanks, were used as an example. That was a situation that no one wanted. A reference to the artificial cooling of fuel was found in the General Regulations of the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series Rules Supplement (Page 60, Article 1.5, Fuel Systems, Fuel/Air) which seemed to prohibit the practice, but confusion still remained as some felt it applied to the Nostalgia Top Fuel cars, while others did not.

After polling a majority of the NTF teams as to their interpretation and desire, Bob McLennan, the President of All American Fuel Dragsters association, took the question to the people who write the rules, the NHRA Competition Committee. On behalf of the NTF teams McLennan requested a clarification statement about cooling the fuel. He asked for an answer in advance of the next Heritage Series race which was scheduled for Sacramento in September. Glen Gray, Vice President-Technical Operations of National Hot Rod Association, fielded McLennan’s question and promised to put it before the rules committee and respond before the end of August.

On August 29th Gray sent McLennan the following reply; “We have voted to have the wording as present in the Top Fuel and Funny Car section of the NHRA Rulebook added to the Heritage Rulebook. I will put out a rule amendment next week after we complete the US Nationals in Indy.”

Although Glen Gray’s reply did not specifically answer whether the General Rule in the Heritage Series Rules Supplement precluded the cooling of fuel, it appears the intention was there, and that the new amendment will now be aimed at removing any doubt to the question. As is often the case, those who write the rules work long and hard in trying to cover all the bases, but in time resourceful people, such as racers, push the envelope into areas unforeseen when the rules are first proposed. As it has done in this case, amendments are then required.

For the record, the rule, as written in the 2011 NHRA Rulebook for the Full Throttle Series Top Fuel cars (Section 18, Top Fuel Dragsters, Page 3, Fuel Systems) contains the following; “Artificial cooling and/or heating of fuel prohibited”, so it is assumed that that will be the line that will be incorporated into the Heritage rules. The complete paragraph outlining Fuel Systems requirements for the big show cars wouldn’t be used as it contains restrictions (i.e., maximum 90% Nitro content) that do not apply to the NTF cars.

The official amendment from NHRA has not been posted on their website at the time that this article is being written, but the All American Fuel Dragster association felt it important to get the above information out to the Nostalgia Top Fuel competitors as quickly as possible. Please check the NHRA website to read the actual wording when the amendment is posted.

The AAFD association also wanted to salute the NHRA Technical Committee on applying common sense and swift action in this case.