Traction Talk

By Darr Hawthorne
DRO file photos by Jeff Burk
8/15/03

After DRO editor, Jeff Burk, started the discussion about traction control in drag racing, we decided to ask some racers about the subject. Here, in no particular order, are what a few of them had to say.

BRUCE ALLEN
Driver of the Speedco Reher-Morrison Racing Pontiac Grand Am

DRO: What do you think about traction control in Pro Stock?

BA: I think it's illegal and I don't think anybody should have it.

DRO: Do you think anybody's doing it?

BA: I don't know if anybody is or not. I don't think it's up to the racers to enforce; I think it's up to NHRA and our tech department to find out if anybody does. Whatever it takes to get your car to get taken apart, whatever it takes to verify you do or you don't. I think it's gone on too long -- the speculation, if somebody does or doesn't. If somebody knows somebody does, then they should go to NHRA and say this guy's got it, this is what it is and here's

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how it works. You know, prove it or forget it. It wouldn't matter if it weren't illegal. I mean the rules say you can't have it. If they wanted to make it where the rules say you can have it, then there'd be some benefits.

DRO: So, do a NASCAR-style confiscation, take the suspected car away and take it apart?

BA: If that's what it takes. There's a lot of speculation on what people have got and how they're doing it. A lot of people have looked into it; I have and I don't personally know, but if people are that sure and that adamant about it, then they should point it out -- Here's what they're doing, here's how they're doing it, now go find it and whatever it takes.

There's several ways you can do it. You can police the ignition as a Winston Cup restrictor plate, for example, where the only thing you can have in your car is what NHRA supplies you. They give you a coil and ignition, a little two-step and crank trigger pick up and a wire; everybody runs the same one.

That's one way of policing it and I don't know if that would totally eliminate anybody's -- you can't think of all the variables, but it would be like what we did with gas; everybody gets gas out of the same drum at the staging lanes and so you're pretty confident that everybody's playing off a level field.

HURLEY BLAKENEY
Team owner of the NitroFish-sponsored 2003 Ford Escort ZX

DRO: What do you think of traction control in Pro Stock?

HB: What do I think of it? I've never even thought about it, but they think people are using it. If we're not smart enough to catch them, then they should legalize it and let us all use it.

DRO: Do you think it would help much?

HB: There's the theory that it will. Once the tires break loose or start shaking, it would momentarily close the motor down, let it catch back up.

DRO: Do you think NHRA should go to an "off the shelf box" that they Hand out, the way NASCAR does?

HB: They could do that - they could hide it, they know supposedly where it is. It's just a little tiny chip, so, I don't know who's using it, or if anyone's using it.

DRO: Just a good rumor I guess.

HB: Yeah.