Planning on taking out the SRT-8 for the first time to the drag strip at O'Reilly Raceway park in Indy, the SRT driving experience will be held there in Sept. After reading the rules on their web page, I assume the stock setup is ready to go for Open street legal night(and then some!)...but they do mention the 2007 NHRA rule book, is there anything that I am missing for cars under the 14.0 second rule? Here's their link...

http://www.oreillyracewaypark.com/apcm/templates/racedivisions.asp?articleid=5174&zoneid=95

Although I am proficient at the road courses this will be my first time at the drag strip, any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks...

800-1000 RPM tq up. Will put your head back.

Most tracks are not very strict about the sub 14 sec. cars it the 11's where you will need a rollcage, helmet, etc.

Good luck!

I have run at several different tracks and all have been very strict as far as wearing a helmet goes. I can also get away with the first run w/o helmut and with wife in the passenger seat, but as soon as they see the sub-14 sec slip out goes the wife and on goes the helmet!

make sure you have your helmet is about it.

i like to get there about an hour before racing starts so i have plenty of time to pay, go through tech inspection (go there first, it only takes a few minutes with a new vehicle if there is no line), find a good pit area (parking space not to far away from the dons jons), set up my folding chairs & cooler behind my jeep (to save my space when i'm on the track), open the hood to let the jeep cool down, and walk around a bit to check out the track & competition. don't be afraid to ask the tech inspector questions like, where do you line up when your class is called, where are the exits on the track, and anything else you aren't sure of.

most of the track announcers will annouce your class & what staging lane you're supposed to go to between races or burnouts but sometimes they can't, so you have to walk away from the track so you can hear the loud speakers.

i'm assuming it's bracket racing, so find out how many timed (practice) runs you get before eliminations start. usually it's two practice then eliminations start. after you race you will stop at the timing tower & they will give you your time slip. use these practime time slips to figure out your "dial in".

bring a bottle of white shoe polish (the kind with the foam dabbing applicator) so you can write your "dial in" on your windshield & side window. some tracks sell a bottle of white writer that wipes off with your hand (much easier). if you go with the shoe polish like me, then bring some windex & a towel so you can clean it off if you need to change your "dial in" or when your done & leaving.

try to cut good starting lights (if you see green, you left too late). during the elimination rounds, if you've got the lead as you're approaching the finish line, blip the throttle off & on or sometimes completely let off the gas & coast through the traps. you want to cross the finish first while not "breaking out" (running faster than your "dial in"). it can be a bit tricky judging the other cars speed but you want to keep an eye on your competition as your racing.

if you red light, continue to race as if you had'nt because your competition could of redlighted also and the winner is figured out at the end of the track.

if you do lose in the first round of elimination some tracks allow a one time "buy back" which gets you back into the competition. ask the tech inspector about it.

cut good lights, run as close to your dial in as you can & don't break out.

oh and have fun. thats about all i can think of right now.

Hey thank guys, I have my helmet and I plan to get out there next Tuesday!


----SRedRockT8...thanks for info!

I know that Raceway Park in NJ (not sure about other tracks, but I think this holds true for any NHRA sanctioned tracks) if a vehicle runs faster than 14.0, you need a helmet with a Snell 95 helmet or newer. 14.0 and slower, any helmet will do. Some tracks don't require helmets at all if you're slower than 14.0, which would not include you if you're running the SRT8.

...then there's also stuff such as fire jackets, gloves, 6 point bar, scatter shield, driveshaft loop.... for 11.49 and better.

Almost forgot. They also told me on any aftermarket forced induction vehicle racing (a factory naturally aspirated vehicle with nitrous, turbo or supercharger), you need a fire jacket, snell 95 or newer helmet and also gloves.