Challenging track conditions for NHRA PS

As a rule of thumb, I try not to favor one sport or topic, but what happened in NHRA on Sunday merits extra attention. Unlike the two nitro categories, the pro stock (PS) class cars reach 200 mph in the top end with very little down force. Consequently, if the track lacks the normal traction, meaning not enough traction compound has been sprayed onto the track, the car will skate around considerably. In the past, ex-champions have complained to the race officials about this, but to no avail. That is until last Sunday.

At the zMAX race in Charlotte, NC, PS driver Larry Morgan said he had the steering wheel turned a quarter turn in his first round race. Morgan, a veteran driver of 20 years, said he's never made this much of a drastic turn in his PS racing career.

Furthermore, this years' hottest driver Erica Enders, with three event wins in 2012, admitted she threw in the towel early on what could have been a winning round run because she felt the car do the same as when she crashed in testing a couple of years back.

"Nine times out of ten, it straightens up", explained Enders. "It's hard to say but I will tell you that's the loosest I've been in a race car in eight years."

Unfortunately, things only got worse once the second round eliminations got underway. Second generation PS driver, Shane Gray got the ride of his life when he lost traction in the top end, the same problem area.

Below, I have posted the pictures of the most spectacular PS crash I have ever seen. These pictures are courtesy of professional sports photographer Mark Rebilas, who acknowledged: "...the car flying through the air on fire is most likely a pro stock crash shot I will never top for the rest of my career."

Luckily, the driver walked away uninjured. NHRA usually doesn't share crash footage on YouTube, but this time they did. Below you can see NHRA's footage of the crash.



Larry Morgan, one of the drivers who had spoken out regarding track prep in years past, believed that this time around, the traction compound wouldn't adhere to the track. "[when] you have moisture in between [the track surface] and there's nothing you can do," explained Morgan.

Let's hope that going forward, both event as track officials are going to pay more attention to the top end traction situation for the PS class. Hopefully, we won't have to witness such a terrible crash again.

Thanks for reading.

Source: Competition Plus
Video Credit: NHRA
Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas