What Is Funny Car Racing?

Funny Cars are a class of drag-racing cars regulated by the National Hotrod Association and the International Hotrod Association. Funny Cars are similar in design to Top Fuel dragsters, the fastest of the professional drag racing classes, but differences in the design of Funny Cars make them slightly slower than their Top Fuel cousins.

  1. Engines

    • NHRA Nitro Funny Cars use the same 7,000-hp nitromethane-powered engines as NHRA Top Fuel dragsters. These engines are based on the Chrysler Hemi engine; they displace 500 cubic inches and are supercharged. Top speeds for Funny Cars can exceed 300 mph, and the dragsters can travel a quarter mile in approximately 4.7 seconds. Funny Cars do not use a transmission, but rather transmit power to the wheels via a timer-controlled clutch.

    Body and Chassis

    • Funny Cars are characterized by their carbon fiber bodies. Inspired by production car exteriors, Funny Car body dimensions and designs are strictly controlled by NHRA and IHRA regulations. The width of the body must vary no more than six inches from front to back, and the overall width of the body can be no more than 60 inches. No wings or airfoils are allowed, but a rear spoiler is permitted.

    Safety Systems

    • In addition to the risk of a crash, the danger of fire is a significant concern in Funny Car racing. The Funny Car body must feature a roof escape hatch, and the hatch must adhere to size and design regulations. A fire extinguisher system must be present and functional in the car, and the driver must wear a fire resistant suit, gloves and boots. The driver must also wear a helmet and utilize a head and neck restraint system.

    Alcohol Funny Cars

    • The Top Alcohol Funny Car class of dragsters uses a car that looks much like the nitro-powered Funny Car class. The cars utilize the same chassis, and the body styles are similar, but the Top Alcohol cars utilize a methanol-powered engine that produces less power than the nitromethane engines. Alcohol Funny Cars cover the quarter mile in approximately 5.5 seconds, and their top speed is in the vicinity of 260 mph. Alcohol Funny Cars use a transmission in their drivetrain.