Tesla Plaid and Dodge Demon owners rejoice because now you can go drag racing without getting kicked out after a single pass. The NHRA has just announced new regulations that will allow for many street-legal vehicles like the Demon to race without the need to add safety features like a roll cage. It sounds like it’s about to get a whole lot more interesting at your local drag strip.
Up until now, vehicles that could run the quarter-mile in less than 10 seconds at 135 mph (217 kph) or more required not just a safety roll cage but their drivers needed an NHRA competition license. They also had to wear a certified helmet with either a neck collar or a HANS device.
That meant that if you rocked up in your Tesla Model S Plaid and put down a 9.5-second pass, you’d be stopped and told that you need all of the above-mentioned kit despite the fact that you haven’t modified a single thing on the car. That seems unfortunate even if the Model S Plaid’s brakes seem a little suspect. So the NHRA is doing what it can to keep up with the times.
“Each year, automotive manufacturers continue to push the limits of performance by building production vehicles that are quicker and faster than the previous year’s models, “said NHRA National Tech Director Lonnie Grim. “At NHRA, we very much support their commitment to performance and recognize that there is still a very large market for performance cars. At the same time, we acknowledge that NHRA needs to keep pace with the current trends, which is why we’ve announced these rules adjustments.”
The changes only apply to cars made in or after 2014. That will include the “Holy Trinity” of the McLaren P1, Ferrari LaFerrari, and Porsche 918 Spyder. Of course, it’ll also apply to the Dodge Demon which sort of drew attention to the issue when it arrived in 2018.
The Demon could dip way into the nines and Dodge was proud to point out that it was technically too fast to be raced at NHRA events without additional safety equipment. Maybe the brand’s upcoming electric muscle car can do the same deed for eight-second cars…
Keyword: You Can Now Take Your Stock 9-Second Car To The Drag Strip Without A Roll Cage