Nhra Street Legal Rules

Well, if you look at your unsafe Fox-Body Mustang with a massive turbocharger, that doesn`t exactly apply to you. These rules apply to 2014 and newer stock cars, as the name suggests. Vehicles like the Dodge Demon, Tesla`s Model S and X Plaid, Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500 and perhaps other Hellcat badges or supercar competitors may have been too fast to legally compete in NHRA-sanctioned drag races, depending on the driver`s skill and determination. “At NHRA, we strongly support their commitment to performance and recognize that there is still a very large market for performance cars,” Lonnie Grim, NHRA national technical director, said in a statement. “At the same time, we recognize that the NHRA needs to keep up with current trends, which is why we announced these rule adjustments. Since its inception in 1951, the National Hot Rod Association has worked tirelessly to combat and eliminate the dangerous and illegal practice of street racing. To date, this is the main task of the association. One of the most effective tools in the fight against illegal street racing is the establishment of legal street events that take place regularly at NHRA member tracks across North America. That`s because the NHRA just announced new adjustments to the Street Legal program`s rulebook to introduce a larger selection of performance vehicles of recent models. Here are the highlights: The Street Legal category is reserved for foreign and domestic OEM production vehicles and trucks. Although the use of spare parts is accepted, all vehicles must be driven on the road and drivers must carry government-issued proof of registration and valid insurance information.

All vehicles must also have a valid license plate. The rules state that the vehicle`s factory safety equipment must be installed and operational, including brakes and airbags, and that DOT-approved tires must be fitted. Drivers must have the appropriate competition license to race, and convertibles and cars with T-tops have different regulations. Stickers to celebrate race successes are available. The Grudge Racing element allows participants to choose their competition instead of participating in an organized eliminator. Win or lose, a resentful rider can return to the staging tracks for more time trials or more grudge races. Losing a race at a legal street event usually doesn`t mean it`s time to go home. Street Legal events provide a legal and controlled environment where racers of all skill levels enjoy the sport of NHRA drag racing. Vehicles participating in Street Legal events must be able to meet all road safety requirements of the state where the vehicle is registered and maintain all OEM safety features. Only legal street machines are allowed to participate in Street Legal`s designated events. Although the competitive structure may vary from track to track, the focus is on fun and a welcoming environment is provided for new riders.

Many legal street events only offer open time trials and grudge races, which usually give each participant the opportunity to make as many passes as possible on the drag track. “Every year, automakers push the boundaries of performance by building production vehicles that are faster and faster than the previous year`s models,” said Lonnie Grim, NHRA national technical director. At NHRA, we strongly support their commitment to performance and recognize that there is still a very large market for performance cars. At the same time, we recognize that the NHRA needs to keep up with current trends, which is why we announced these rule adjustments. “The update and enhancement of the Street Legal program couldn`t have come at a more critical time for our industry and our sport,” said Matt DeYoung, Tucson Dragway`s track director. “We continue to see manufacturers making vehicles available faster directly from the showroom while expanding features that can no longer be overlooked. NHRA, with the help and input of NHRA member tracks across the country, has worked to enhance and expand the experience and sustainability of this program for our Street Legal clients. We believe our racers will embrace these changes, and it will strengthen our resentment and street rights racing program, while helping to keep faster OEM cars off the road. Previously, National Hot Rod Association rules required any car that could travel the quarter-mile in less than 10 seconds to have a rollover cage.

This means a sturdy set of metal pipes welded together to support inside a vehicle, making it safer in the event of a major accident. However, as of today, this rule has been changed to allow for faster cars on the road. OEM anti-lock braking systems, OEM airbag functions, OEM/monocoque bearing chassis design, including OEM floors and firewall, and all other OEM safety systems must operate in accordance with the manufacturer`s specifications. The tires used can be non-OEM, but they must be DOT approved. Convertibles faster than 13.49 (8.25) and T-tops faster than 11.49 (7.35) must meet Summit Racing Series roll bar and roll cage requirements. An NHRA Level 6 license is required for drivers driving over 10.00 (*6.39) or over 135 mph. A Level 7 competition license is also available for runners whose deadlines exceed 10.00/6.40. This website uses Akismet to reduce spam. Find out how your comment data is handled.

Ultimately, that means you might see more Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1s, Ford Mustang Shelby GT500s and more on your local NHRA-sanctioned track. These cars will drive harder than in the past to circumvent safety restrictions. The body and frame of the car must be standard, but convertibles running under 13.49 seconds and T-top cars running under 11.49 seconds in the quarter mile must meet the same roll-bar/roll bar requirements as in the Summit Racing series. NHRA`s Street Legal program is designed to encourage drag racing in a safe and structured environment. And now it`s possible to bring even more cars to an NHRA-sanctioned street event. This means that these cars require all the safety equipment installed in the factory. These include airbags, anti-lock brakes and factory sheets. This means you can`t change the floors, firewall, or underbody structure. “I want to emphasize that these restrictions are not limited with respect to the use of aftermarket complementary products and other modifications,” said Mr. Grim.

“It simply indicates that vehicles driving under Street Legal guidelines must meet OEM safety system requirements as stated.” Well, Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, owners of Tesla Model S Plaid and everyone else: times are literally changing. The NHRA lowered the barrier from 9.9 seconds to 9.0 seconds, targeting the absurdly fast cars coming out of the factories today. The NHRA will reward runners on an NHRA member track for their performance on the track with unique Street Legal stickers. Street Legal stickers will be available to runners in a quarter-mile facility that exceeds the 13-, 12-, 11- and 10-second marks, and in an eighth-mile facility that exceeds the 9-, 8-, 7- and 6-second marks. An NHRA Level 6 license is required for drivers driving more than 10.00 seconds or over 135 mph within the quarter mile. A Level 7 competition license is also available for runners whose elapsed time exceeds 10.00 seconds per quarter. “Under these new guidelines, owners of the Shelby GT 500, Corvette ZR-1, Dodge Demon, Tesla Plaid or other high-performance vehicles will have the opportunity to participate and enjoy NHRA Street Legal racing events without having to make significant modifications to their cars.” Ten seconds. That was the limit. If you ran faster than 9.9 seconds on the quarter mile, you needed extra safety equipment to meet NHRA safety standards, or you were actually kicked off the track. Learn more about the NHRA`s Street Legal program here, and you can take a closer look at the rule changes here.

Click here to find an NHRA membership course near you. Cars must retain OEM airbags, ABS and other safety systems equipped by the manufacturer. Do you think that number will eventually go down again? How fast do production cars arrive before they are too dangerous for the drag track? Let us know your thoughts below. Changes to the Street Legal program will allow riders equipped with 2014 and newer OEM production vehicles to ride as fast as 9.00 seconds and/or 150 mph (5.65 eighth mile). In addition, racers with OEM model year cars built in 2008-2013 are still allowed to drive as fast as 10.00 seconds and/or 135 mph (6.40 eighth mile). Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with a *Well, that`s not good news. Drivers who plan to go faster than 10.0 seconds will need an NHRA Level 6 license. Even if you need a new NHRA license, you don`t need to install an expensive and harmful safety cage. As part of its ongoing efforts to keep pace with current trends in the high-performance automotive industry, NHRA announced several enhancements to the Street Legal program.

The program will allow participants to have a wider and more diverse range of vehicles and recognize their performance on the track. For those who follow drag racing or the ever-increasing performance values of production cars, this change is probably not the biggest news. But that means you`ll be able to drive your Tesla Model S Plaid or Dodge Challenger SRT Demon down the asphalt driveway without fear of being knocked down off the track. Faster production cars have caused the problem, and the NHRA is letting them work. The NHRA says you can change the tires, but it still has to be DOT approved rubber.