NHRA Jr. Comp Dragster

Click here for NHRA Jr Comp Technical & Competition Guidelines

Driver: Josh Lee

Jr. Comp is the newest category being offered by the NHRA to provide a bridge by which Jr. Drag Racing League drivers can advance to other NHRA categories, while providing an affordable entry level for new drivers.

This exciting new category is designed to compliment the NHRA O'Reilly Jr. Drag Racing League (JDRL). Jr. Comp is for drivers 14 years and older. Plus, the car can double as an E.T. bracket car that can provide a driver years of enjoyment.

That's because drivers 16 or older can use this car to compete in NHRA Summit E.T. action. This means an 18-year-old can run in the Jr. Comp event in the morning and in the E.T. brackets that afternoon with just some minor gearing and jetting modifications. Additionally, it means that a driver can compete in this one car for many years ­ even decades.

Whereas JDRL cars can carry drivers 13-17 as quickly at 7.90 seconds and as fast as 85 mph, the Jr. Comp rules provide for young drivers from 14 years of age on up to run as quickly as 6.90 seconds and 110 mph in the same eighth-mile.

What's more, a track operator can design his Jr. Comp competition to include any and all ages beginning at 14. Younger drivers would compete on their Jr. Comp license, while adult drivers would compete on their NHRA competition number. Jr. Comp cars cannot, however, compete against Jr. Dragsters.

The Jr. Comp category is envisioned as being a 6.90 heads-up category on a Pro Tree, thus serving as a stepping stone between the dial-in racing in the JDRL to the heads-up racing in the Super categories. However, a race track could run these cars on a dial-in basis with the 6.90 as the lowest dial-in allowed.

The roll-cage portion of the chassis is certified to the same spec as a Super Comp dragster.

The vehicle on display this weekend at the NHRA CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals is the first to be certified as an NHRA Jr. Comp Dragster.

The car was designed by veteran chassis builder Norm Porter and built and tuned by Harold Holladay of Holladay Research & Development. The engine is a 1000cc Yamaha snowmobile unit that delivers the power to the ground through a centrifugal clutch. Rules accommodate any four-stroke OEM motorcycle, snowmobile, Jet Ski, or industrial (non-automotive) engine up to four cylinders and the transmission is allowed.

While no rolling inventory exists to estimate costs at this time, it is felt that a Jr. Comp car will cost about the same as a top-flight Jr. Dragster, and may even be less costly to maintain.

The wheel base on the car on display here is 150 inches. This is the minimum wheelbase for a Jr. Comp car and the maximum wheelbase for Jr. Dragster. This allows the participant to use the same trailer for either car, thus moving up to the Jr. Comp car is possible without the cost of a new trailer. Maximum length is 190 inches.

Jr. Comp is for dragsters only. No Funny Cars, roadsters, mini stocks, etc. are allowed.

Interested racers and builders can inquire with the NHRA Tech Department for a set of supplemental rules. The Jr. Comp rules are supplemental to the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League Rulebook, meaning items not covered in the supplemental revert to the rulebook. If the car runs in Summit E.T. the rules are in the NHRA Rulebook.

For more information, please contact the professionals at HRD Racing so they can give you the individual attention you require: 909.875.4150