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New Top End Safety System at O'Reilly Raceway Park
NHRA announced today that it has modified the top-end at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis where the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals will be contested this weekend.
The changes at the top-end were made by NHRA after consultation with the racing community and taking into account the layout of O’Reilly Raceway Park to assist in keeping race vehicles at the top end of the race track within the confines of the drag strip. The system includes four foot-high concrete walls on each side of the sand trap, replacing two foot-high steel Armco guardrails.
Atop the concrete walls is an eight-foot high catch fence on both sides of the track, making the total height from the ground to the top of the fence a distance of 12 feet. The catch fences on the sides and at the end of the track are similar to what is used in speedway ovals in stock car and open wheel racing.
The entire trap measures 240 feet and is filled with small pea gravel. A six-foot high net is placed 190-feet into the sand trap, followed by a 12-foot high net at 215 feet. The distance from the second net to the catch fence adds an additional 25 feet. The catch fence at the end of the sand trap is 19-feet high.
These changes are part of NHRA’s ongoing effort to investigate ways to continue to improve safety.
In addition, experts from the University of Nebraska, creators of the SAFER wall barriers currently used in stock car and open wheel racing, will join NHRA officials and members of the racing community this weekend to engage in discussions on additional recommendations on improving safety.
Images are available upon request.
Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., the NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 24 events through its NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The NHRA has 80,000 members and 140 member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Series and the NHRA Street Legal Drags presented by AAA. The NHRA also offers the O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 8 to 17.
