Top Fuel

Two Top Fuel dragsters side by side

Top Fuel dragsters are the quickest accelerating racing vehicles in the world and the fastest sanctioned category of drag racers, with the fastest competitors reaching speeds of 335 miles per hour (539 km/h) and finishing the 1,000 foot (305 m) runs in 3.7 seconds.

Because of the speeds, this class almost exclusively races to only a 1,000 foot (305 m) distance, and not the traditional ¹⁄₄ mile (400 m). The rule was changed in 2008 by the National Hot Rod Association following the fatal crash of Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta during qualifying at the Sld at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey, USA. The rule has not been popular with the fans. The shortening of the distance was used in the FIA at some tracks, and as of 2012 is now the standard Top Fuel distance. The Australian National Drag Racing Association is the only internationally recognized sanctioning body that still races Top Fuel dragsters at the earlier 1,320 feet (402 m) standard distance for the majority of races for such events.

A top fuel dragster accelerates from a standstill to 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) in as little as 0.8 seconds (less than one third the time required by a production Porsche 911 Turbo to reach 60 mph (97 km/h))^[1] and can exceed 450 km/h (280 mph) in just 200 metres (660 ft). This subjects the driver to an average acceleration of about 39 m/s² (4.0 g₀) over the duration of the race and with a peak of over 5.6 g.

Top Fuel Racing

2009 NHRA Top Fuel championship trophy

Before their run, racers often perform a burnout in order to clean and heat tires. Additionally, the burnout applies a layer of fresh rubber to the track surface, which greatly improves traction during launch.

At maximum throttle and RPM, the exhaust gases escaping from a dragster's open headers produce about 4.0–4.9 kilonewtons (900–1,100 lbf) of downforce. The massive airfoil over and behind the rear wheels produces much more, peaking at around 53 kilonewtons (12,000 lbf) when the car reaches a speed of about 530 km/h (330 mph).

The engine of a Top Fuel dragster generates around 150 dB^[2] of sound at full throttle, enough to cause physical pain or even permanent damage. A sound that intense is not just heard, but also felt as pounding vibrations all over one's body, leading many to compare the experience of watching a Top Fuel dragster make a pass to 'feeling as though the entire drag strip is being bombed.' Before a run, race announcers usually advise spectators to cover or plug their ears. Ear plugs and even earmuffs are often handed out to fans at the entrance of a Top Fuel event.

Dragsters are limited to a maximum wheelbase of 760 centimetres (300 in).

Currently, the most prolific active driver in Top Fuel is Tony Schumacher, and the most successful crew chief is Alan Johnson, who was the crew chief for 6 of Schumacher's championships, the back-to-back titles won by driver Gary Scelzi and was the crew chief for his brother Blaine for his entire professional career. The first female driver in the Top Fuel category is also the most associated female in the drag racing world, Shirley Muldowney, who won three championships during her career.

The fuel

NHRA regulations limit the composition of the fuel to a maximum of 90% nitromethane (Since 2015); the remainder is largely methanol. However, this mixture is not mandatory, and less nitromethane may be used if desired.

Kenny Bernstein was the first drag racer in NHRA history to break 300 mph (480 km/h) in such a class of car on the ¹⁄₄ mi (402 m) at the Gatornationals on March 21, 1992, and Tony Schumacher the first over 310 mph (500 km/h) under the new rules established in 2008 with the shorter strip.^[3]

While nitromethane has a much lower energy density (11.2 MJ/kg) than either gasoline (44 MJ/kg) or methanol (22.7 MJ/kg), an engine burning nitromethane can produce up to 2.3 times more power than an engine burning gasoline. This is made possible by the fact that, in addition to fuel, an engine must burn oxygen in order to generate force: 14.7 kg of air (21% oxygen) is required to burn one kilogram of gasoline, compared to only 1.7 kg of air for one kilogram of nitromethane, which, unlike gasoline, already has oxygen in its molecular composition. This means that an engine can burn 8.7 times more nitromethane than gasoline.

Nitromethane also has a high latent heat of vaporization, meaning that it will absorb substantial engine heat as it vaporizes, providing an invaluable cooling mechanism. The laminar flame speed and combustion temperature are higher than gasoline at 0.5 m/s and 2400 °C respectively. Power output can be increased by using very rich air fuel mixtures. This is also something that helps prevent pre-ignition, something that is usually a problem when using nitromethane.

Due to the relatively slow burn rate of nitromethane, very rich fuel mixtures are often not fully ignited and some remaining nitromethane can escape from the exhaust pipe and ignite on contact with atmospheric oxygen, burning with a characteristic yellow flame. Additionally, after sufficient fuel has been combusted to consume all available oxygen, nitromethane can combust in the absence of atmospheric oxygen, producing hydrogen, which can often be seen burning from the exhaust pipes at night as a bright white flame. In a typical run the engine can consume between 12 US gallons (45 L) and 22.75 US gallons (86.1 L) of fuel during warmup, burnout, staging, and the quarter-mile run.^[4][5][6]

Top fuel engines

Engine of a top fuel car

Rules

Like many other motor sport formulas originating in the United States, NHRA-sanctioned drag racing favors heavy restrictions on engine configuration, sometimes to the detriment of technological development. In some regards, teams are forced to use technologies that may be decades old, resulting in cars that may seem substantially less advanced than the average family car. However, while some basic facets of engine configuration are heavily restricted, other technologies, such as fuel injection, clutch operation, ignition, and car materials and design, are under constant development.^[7]

NHRA competition rules limit the engine displacement to 8,190 cubic centimetres (500 cu in). A 106-millimetre (4.1875 in) bore with a 114-millimetre (4.5 in) stroke are customary dimensions. Larger bores have been shown to weaken the cylinder block. Compression ratio is about 6.5:1, as is common on engines with overdriven Roots-type superchargers (that is, the supercharger is driven faster than the crankshaft).

Engine

The engine used to power a Top Fuel drag racing car follows the basic layout found in the second generation Chrysler 426 Hemi "Elephant Engine" made from 1964-71. Although the Top Fuel engine is built exclusively of specialist parts, it retains the basic configuration with two valves per cylinder activated by pushrods from a centrally-placed camshaft. The engine has hemispherical combustion chambers, a 90 degree V-angle; 120 millimetres (4.8 in) bore pitch. The configuration is identical to the overhead valve, single camshaft-in-block "Hemi" V-8 engine which became available for sale to the public in selected Chrysler Corporation (Chrysler brand) automotive products in 1950 (model year 1951).

The block is machined from a piece of forged aluminum. It has press-fitted, ductile iron liners. There are no water passages in the block, which adds considerable strength and stiffness. The engine is cooled by the incoming air/fuel mixture. Like the original Hemi, the racing cylinder block has a deep skirt for strength. There are five main bearing caps, which are fastened with aircraft-standard-rated steel studs, with additional reinforcing main studs and side bolts. There are three approved suppliers of these custom blocks.

The cylinder heads are machined from aluminum billets. As such, they, too, lack water jackets and rely entirely on the incoming air/fuel mixture for their cooling. The original Chrysler design of two large valves per cylinder is used. The intake valve is made from solid titanium and the exhaust from solid Nimonic 80A or similar. Seats are of ductile iron. Beryllium-copper has been tried but its use is limited due to cost. Valve sizes are around 62.2 mm (2.45 in) for the intake and 48.9 mm (1.925 in) for the exhaust. In the ports there are integral tubes for the push rods. The heads are sealed to the block by copper gaskets and stainless steel o-rings. Securing the heads to the block is done with aircraft-rated steel studs.

The camshaft is billet steel, made from 8620 carbon or S7 through hardened tool steel or similar. It runs in five oil pressure lubricated bearing shells and is driven by gears in the front of the engine. Mechanical roller lifters ride atop the cam lobes and drive the steel push rods up into the steel rockers that actuate the valves. The rockers are of roller type on the intake and exhaust sides. The steel roller rotates on a steel roller bearing and the steel rocker arms rotate on a pair of through hardened tool steel shafts within bronze bushings. Intake and exhaust rockers are billet.. The dual valve springs are of coaxial type and made out of titanium. Valve retainers are also made of titanium, as are the rocker covers.

Billet steel crankshafts are used; they all have a cross plane a.k.a. 90 degree configuration and run in five conventional bearing shells. 180 degree crankshafts have been tried and they can offer increased power, even though the exhaust is of open type. A 180 degree crankshaft is also about 10 kg lighter than 90 degree crankshaft, but they create a lot of vibration. Such is the strength of a top fuel crankshaft that in one incident, the entire engine block was split open and blown off the car during an engine failure, and the crank, with all eight connecting rods and pistons, was left still bolted to the clutch.

Pistons are made of forged aluminum. They have three rings and aluminum buttons retain the 29.4 mm × 83.8 mm (1.156 in × 3.300 in) steel pin. The piston is anodized and Teflon coated to prevent galling during high temperature operation. The top ring is an L-shaped Dykes ring that provides a good seal during combustion but a second ring must be used to prevent oil from entering the combustion chamber during intake strokes as the Dykes-style ring offers less than optimal combustion gas sealing. The third ring is an oil scraper ring whose function is helped by the second ring. The connecting rods are of forged aluminum and do provide some shock damping, which is why aluminum is used in place of titanium, because titanium connecting rods transmit too much of the combustion impulse to the big-end rod bearings, endangering the bearings and thus the crankshaft and block. Each con rod has two bolts, shell bearings for the big end while the pin runs directly in the rod.

Superchargers

The supercharger must be a 14-71 type Roots blower. It has twisted lobes and is driven by a toothed belt. The supercharger is slightly offset to the rear to provide an even distribution of air. Absolute manifold pressure is usually 390–460 kilopascals (56–66 psi), but up to 510 kilopascals (74 psi) is possible. The manifold is fitted with a 1,400 kilopascals (200 psi) burst plate. Air is fed to the compressor from throttle butterflies with a maximum area of 419 cm² (65 sq in). At maximum pressure, it takes approximately 450 kilowatts (600 hp) to drive the supercharger.

These superchargers are in fact derivatives of General Motors scavenging-air blowers for their two-stroke diesel engines, which were adapted for automotive use in the early days of the sport. The model name of these superchargers delineates their size – the once commonly used 6-71 and 4-71 blowers were designed for General Motors diesels having six cylinders of 1,160 cm³ (71 cu in) each, and four cylinders of 1,160 cm³ (71 cu in) each, respectively. Thus, the currently used 14-71 design can be seen to be a huge increase in power delivery over the early designs, purpose-built for the GM Detroit Diesel truck powerplants.

Mandatory safety rules require a secured Kevlar-style blanket over the supercharger assembly as "blower explosions" are not uncommon, from the volatile air/fuel mixture coming from the fuel injectors being drawn directly through them. The absence of a protective blanket exposes the driver, team and spectators to shrapnel in the event that nearly any irregularity in the induction of the air/fuel mixture, the conversion of combustion into rotating crankshaft movements, or in the exhausting of spent gasses is encountered.

Note that Detroit Diesel did not produce a 14-71.

Oil and fuel systems

The oil system has a wet sump which contains 16 quarts of SAE 70 mineral or synthetic racing oil. The pan is made of titanium or aluminum. Titanium can be used to prevent oil spills in the event of a blown rod. Oil pump pressure is somewhere around 1,100–1,200 kPa (160–170 psi) during the run, 1,400 kPa (200 psi) at start up, but actual figures differ between teams.

Fuel is injected by a constant flow injection system. There is an engine driven mechanical fuel pump and about 42 fuel nozzles. The pump can flow 380 litres (100 US gal) per minute at 7500 rpm and 3,400 kPa (500 psi) fuel pressure. In general 10 injectors are placed in the injector hat above the supercharger, 16 in the intake manifold and two per cylinder in the cylinder head. Usually a race is started with a leaner mixture, then as the clutch begins to tighten as the engine speed builds, the air/fuel mixture is enriched. As the increased engine speed builds up pump pressure, the mixture is made leaner to maintain a predetermined ratio that is based on many factors, especially race track surface friction. The stoichiometry of both methanol and nitromethane is considerably greater than that of racing gasoline, as they have oxygen atoms attached to their carbon chains and gasoline does not. This means that a "fueler" engine will provide power over a very broad range from very lean to very rich mixtures. Thus, to attain maximum performance, before each race, by varying the level of fuel supplied to the engine, the mechanical crew may select power outputs barely below the limits of tire traction. Power outputs which create tire slippage will "smoke the tires" and the race is often lost.

Ignition and timing

The air/fuel mixture is ignited by two 14 mm spark plugs per cylinder. These plugs are fired by two 44-ampere magnetos. Normal ignition timing is 58-65 degrees BTDC (This is dramatically greater spark advance than in a petrol engine as "nitro" and alcohol burn far slower). Directly after launch the timing is typically decreased by about 25 degrees for a short time as this gives the tires time to reach their correct shape. The ignition system limits the engine speed to 8400 rpm. The ignition system provides initial 50,000 volts and 1.2 amperes. The long duration spark (up to 26 degrees) provides energy of 950 millijoules. The plugs are placed in such a way that they are cooled by the incoming charge. The ignition system is not allowed to respond to real time information (no computer-based spark lead adjustments), so instead a timer-based retard system is used.

Exhaust

The engine is fitted with eight individual open exhaust pipes, 69.8 mm (2.75 in) in diameter and 457 mm (18 in) long. These are made of steel and fitted with thermocouples for measuring of the exhaust gas temperature. They are called "zoomies" and exhaust gases are directed upward and backwards. Exhaust temperature is about 260 °C (500 °F) at idle and 980 °C (1,796 °F) by the end of a run. During a nighttime event, the slow-burning nitromethane can extend flames many feet out from the exhaust pipes.

The engine is warmed up for about 80 seconds. After the warm up the valve covers are taken off, oil is changed and the car is refueled. The run including tire warming is about 100 seconds which results in a "lap" of about three minutes. After each lap, the entire engine is disassembled and examined, and worn or damaged components are replaced.

Performance

Measuring the power output of a top fuel engine directly is not always feasible. Certain models use a torque sensor incorporated as part of the RacePak data system. Dynamometers that can measure the output of a Top Fuel engine exist; however, the main limitation is that a Top Fuel engine cannot be run at its maximum power output for more than 10 seconds without overheating or possibly destroying itself explosively. Making such high power levels from such relatively limited displacement is a result of using very high boost levels and running at extremely high RPMs; both of these stress the internal components to a high degree, meaning that the peak power can only safely be achieved for brief periods of time, and even then only by intentionally sacrificing components. The engine power output can also be calculated based upon the car's weight and its performance. The calculated power output of these engines is most likely somewhere between 6,340 and 7,460 kW (8,500 and 10,000 hp),^[8] which is about twice as powerful as the engines installed on some modern diesel locomotives, with a torque output of approximately 10,000 newton metres (7,400 lbf·ft)^[9] and a brake mean effective pressure of 8.0–10.0 MPa (1,160–1,450 psi).

In late 2015, tests using sensors developed by AVL Racing showed peak power of over 11,000 hp (8,200 kW).^[10]

For the purposes of comparison, a 2009 SSC Ultimate Aero TT, which at the time was among the world's most powerful production automobiles, produces 960 kW (1,287 hp) of power and 1,508 N·m (1,112 lbf·ft) of torque.

Engine weight

• Block with liners 84.8 kg (187 lb)
• Heads 18.1 kg (40 lb) each
• Crankshaft 37.0 kg (81.5 lb)
• Complete engine 225 kg (496 lb)

Mandatory safety equipment

Much of organized drag-racing is sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association. Since 1955, the Association has held regional and national events (typically organized as single elimination tournaments, with the winner of each two car race advancing) and has set rules for safety, with the more powerful cars requiring ever more safety equipment.

Typical safety equipment for contemporary top fuel dragsters: full face helmets with fitted HANS devices; multi-point, quick release safety restraint harness; full body fire suit made of Nomex or similar material, complete with face mask, gloves, socks, shoes, and outer sock-like boots, all made of fire-resistant materials; on board fire extinguishers; kevlar or other synthetic "bullet-proof" blankets around the superchargers and clutch assemblies to contain broken parts in the event of failure or explosion; damage resistant fuel tank, lines, and fittings; externally accessible fuel and ignition shut-offs (built to be accessible to rescue staff); braking parachutes; and a host of other equipment, all built to the very highest standards of manufacturing. Any breakthrough or invention that is likely to contribute to driver, staff, and spectator safety is likely to be adopted as a mandated rule for competition. The 54-year history of NHRA has provided hundreds of examples of safety upgrades.

In 2000, the NHRA mandated the maximum concentration of nitromethane in a car's fuel be no more than 90%. In the wake of a Gateway International Raceway fatality in 2004, involving racer Darrell Russell, the fuel ratio was reduced to 85%. Complaints from teams in regards to cost, however, has resulted in the rule being rescinded starting in 2008, when the fuel mixture returns to 90%, as NHRA team owners, crew chiefs, and suppliers complained about mechanical failures that can result in oildowns or more severe crashes caused by the reduced nitromethane mixture. They also mandated enclosed roll cages.^[11]

The NHRA also mandated that different rear tires be used to reduce failure, and that a titanium "shield" be attached around the back-half of the roll-cage to prevent any debris from entering the cockpit. This also was the result of the fatal crash at Gateway International Raceway. The rear tire pressure is also heavily regulated by Goodyear Tire and Rubber on behalf of the NHRA, at 7psi, the absolute minimum pressure allowed.

At present, final drive ratios higher than 3.20 (3.2 engine rotations to one rear axle rotation) are prohibited, in an effort to limit top speed potential, thus reducing the perceived level of danger.

Most NHRA Top Fuel wins

References

• "The Top Fuel V8" (009). Race Engine Technology: 60–69. 
• "Running the Army Motor" (008). Race Engine Technology: 60–69. 
• Kiewicz, John. "Top Fuel by the Numbers" (February 2005). Motor Trend. 
• Phillips, John. "Drag Racing: It's Like Plunging Your Toilet with a Claymore Mine" (August 2002). Car and Driver. 
• Szabo, Bob. "Blown Nitro Racing on a Budget" (January 2013). Szabo Publishing. 

External links

• Restored Top Fuel Dragsters from the 60s & 70s
• NHRA National Hot Rod Association Website
• WSID Website
• IHRA International Hot Rod Association Website
• Santa Pod Raceway - the home of European Drag Racing