Junior Dragster
The Junior Dragster is a half-scaled version of the top fuel dragster. Also known as the jr dragster, it reaches speeds of up to 85 mph. The cars were created in New Zealand and first raced there in 1988. There is a league called the JDRL (Junior Dragster Racing League).[1] The JDRL is a division of the NHRA. Junior drag racers may choose to participate in programs run by the NHRA, IHRA, or at an unsanctioned facility. Drivers may be male or female between the ages of 8 and 17, though racers can run through the end of the year that they turn 18. The track is 1/8 of a mile, and contested as a bracket race on a 5-tenths sportsman tree. Racers E.T (Elapsed Time) is determined by age. Drivers age 8-9 can go no faster than 12.90, 10-12 year olds are limited to 8.90 and 13-17 year olds can go up to 7.90 at 85 mph.
Jr.Dragsters also compete in a different class of racing. This different class is called Outlaw. This class is run to the 330 ft cone of the racing surface. The class runs heads-up on a 4-tenths pro tree. Usually this class is a qualified field, so the teams have to give it all they can just to make the field. While different series rules vary, the main principle is the same. The different series restrict engine combinations and weight packages so that the cars do not exceed the 4.10 time NHRA says is the fastest junior dragsters can run to the 330 ft. legally. The current record of 4.162 was set by Brianna Leigh Blinzler (Wicked West Coast 330s Series) on May 1, 2010 at Sacramento Raceway in Sacramento, California with a total package weight of 403.5#.(http://www.jrdrags.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6202)
Racers compete most every weekend, running in points series at their home tracks, or in various specialty events with big prizes. During the course of the year, racers could also attend various division events, or Nationals. In the NHRA, racers choose between attending the Eastern Conference Finals, presented by Viperizer Racing ( http://Viperizer.com ) and the Western Conference Finals. In the UK there are over thirty racers and still growing. Though Bracket racing is still the main factor of Jr. drag racing, varieties of heads up racing are also a growing part of this sport. The next step up for Jr. racing is super comp dragsters.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- NHRA Junior Dragster Racing League
- IHRA Junior Dragsters
- NHRA Official website
- IHRA Official website
- Jr Race Car, manufacturer of quality, consistent Junior Dragster Parts
- Official NHRA Drag Racing Podcasts
- Drag Race Central The Latest NHRA News and Analysis
- [1] Worlds largest Junior Dragster parts and accessories distributor
