NHRA debuts shorter track in Top Fuel, Funny Car

MORRISON, Colo. -- John Force was searching for a sign telling him he'd reached the finish line at 1,000 feet.

The Funny Car driver is so accustomed to running a quarter-mile that he's not used to throwing out the parachutes and slamming on the brakes some 320 feet early.

Still, Force fully supports the National Hot Rod Association's decision to trim the track.

In the wake of Scott Kalitta's recent death in a racing accident, the NHRA took an interim step, reducing the length of Top Fuel and Funny Car races to 1,000 feet. The change kicked in Friday night at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.

"We've got to stop the bleeding," Force said. "I don't want to see no more of this. Something had to be done. I've become a big fan of NHRA over this -- for making a decision that quick. They made a decision and didn't play around with all that stuff we do politically."

It's the first time the NHRA has conducted racing at any distance other than a quarter-mile at a national event since the first one was held in 1955.

NHRA national event announcer Bob Frey thought the switch to the 1,000-foot track went well -- except for a couple of oil downs on the strip, briefly pausing the action.

"Certainly different," said Frey, who's been calling quarter-mile races since 1966. "I thought it was cool."

Cory McClenathan had the fastest time in Top Fuel after two qualifying rounds Friday night, and Tony Pedregon turned in the best run in Funny Car.

Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson and Steve Johnson in Pro Stock Motorcycle head their classes. Both of those events continue to be run at a quarter-mile.

Before the competition, Pedregon drove near the track on a scooter to try to get a feel for the new distance. He said he's still getting used to the timing.

"We've conditioned ourselves for years and years and years to be full throttle for an x-amount of time, to listen to the car rev up," Pedregon said. "We have to adjust to that. I'm still not comfortable doing it. It's going to take me more runs."

The shorter track simply added another variable the drivers and their crew have to navigate at tricky Bandimere Speedway.