SHORTER TRACKS MAY BE SAFER
This morning I read about the incident involving Eric Medlen. To repeat myself, please let’s shorten the official length of the drag strip to 1000 feet. Not only will situations like the above be cut way down, we will also be extending the shut down by 300 feet.
Terry McHardy
Kelowna, B.C. Canada
DON’T LOOK, DON’T TELL
Take those God awful pictures of Medlen’s car off the website. Have some class and show a little respect.
Tim Jackson
Indianapolis, IN
Tim, we debated about running the photos, but decided that since we run photos of crashed cars on a regular basis, to not do so now would be inconsistent with our policy. We did not run any photos showing Eric because that would not be appropriate. We hope that running photos of the car and tires will help determine what happened so that steps can be taken to ensure it won’t happen again.
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TOO FAST
I’ve been a fan of NHRA drag racing since I was 7 yrs old and now that I am approaching 50 reality is getting clearer. In the ever pursuit of low ET and faster speeds there has to be a break point. This past Monday at Gainesville is that mark.
No I don't know the cause of Eric's accident - blown tire? If this is the case and we saw what has been happening in Top Fuel IT'S TIME to back them down!
It really appears we have hit the furthest point in technology in these vehicles that there is a weak link.
What is it going to take for NHRA or any other drag racing sanctioning body to say enough is enough?
Let's ALL pray for Eric for recovery BUT also pray for the sanctioning to gain and exhibit wisdom!
Harry T. Garland III
CHANGE THE RETAINING WALLS
After watching the Gatornationals and seeing Cruz Pedregon, Ashley Force and Eric Medlen hit the cement retaining wall during eliminations Sunday and then Medlen being critically injured in a testing accident Monday makes me feel like it’s time that the NHRA should mandate all national event tracks should have energy absorbing retaining walls similar to what NASCAR has to absorb the some of the energy of an errant race car.
Dropping the nitro percentage to 80% or 75% or changing the rev limiter is not going to help a driver when their car is trying to almost go headfirst into the wall or whips the back end into the wall. These cement walls will not give in an inch.
I think, however, the track owners will balk at this idea saying that it is too expensive, that is until the NHRA loses a name driver or rising star.
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