Jr. Comp Class in the works for Jr. Dragster Racers

Jr Dragsters Articles

NHRA O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League, NHRA is offering a Jr. Comp category for driver’s age 14 and older. The class is designed to assist Jr. races in moving into other NHRA categories.
NHRA has had several inquires over the past few years, and have had a group build a car specifically for the category. The car received a lot of attention in Pomona, California.
JR. comp cars differ from traditional Jr. Dragsters in their ability to double as E.T. bracket cars. By making minor gearing and jetting modifications to the car, drivers 16 or older with a valid state or government-issued license can compete with it at their track’s NHRA Summit Racing Series events. That means a driver can compete in one car for many years.
Jr. Comp cars may also run quicker than traditional Jr. Dragsters. Current JDRL cars are restricted to 7.90 seconds and 85 mph, but a Jr. Comp car may run as quick as 6.90 seconds and as fast as 110 mph in the eighth mile.
Jr. Comp is open to drivers 14 and older. Depending on their age, drivers will compete using their Jr. Comp license or NHRA competition number. Jr. Comp cars are not permitted to run against traditional Jr. Dragsters. Though each track operator can design their own program, NHRA says the category is envisioned as a 6.90 heads-up class using a Pro Tree. This formula will help Jr. drivers transition from dial-in racing to the heads-up racing used in Super categories. If the track uses a dial format, 6.90 is the lowest allowed dial.
The roll cage portion of the chassis of all Jr. Comp cars is certified to the same spaces as a Super Comp dragster. Though no inventory exists at this time, a Jr. Comp car should not cost more than a top Jr. Dragster and may cost less to maintain.
Rules allow any four-stroke OEM motorcycle, snowmobile, Jet Ski, or industrial (nonautomotive) engine up to four cylinders, and a transmission allowed. The minimum wheelbase for a Jr. Comp car is 150 inches, and the maximum length is 190 inches. Because the maximum wheelbase traditional Jr. Dragsters is 150 inches, the same trailer may be used for either car.
Jr. Comp is for dragsters only; no funny cars, roadsters, mini stocks, etc. are allowed.
Racers and builders interested in the Jr. Comp program may request supplement rules for the class from the NHRA Technical Department. The rules are a supplement to the JDRL and NHRA Rulebooks; for any items not covered in the supplement, rules apply in the JDRL Rulebook for Jr. Comp and the NHRA Rulebook for Summit Racing Series classes.