Rajan Wilcox
Drag racing is a high-octane sport that requires powerful engines and fuels to match. The type of fuel used in drag racing varies depending on the class and specifications of the car. Top Fuel dragsters, for example, are some of the fastest-accelerating machines in the world, producing up to 10,000 horsepower and reaching speeds of over 330 mph. These dragsters use supercharged, nitro-burning engines, with nitromethane providing its own oxygen atoms to aid combustion and generate extreme power. Other classes, such as Top Alcohol Dragsters, may use supercharged methanol-burning engines or injected nitromethane combinations, while Pro Stock cars are restricted to using spec gasoline.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Top Fuel Dragster Engine Sound | 150 dB at full throttle |
| Top Fuel Dragster Speed | 330 mph |
| Top Fuel Dragster Horsepower | 7,000 |
| Top Alcohol Dragster Weight | 1,975-2,125 lbs |
| Top Alcohol Dragster Fuel | Methanol or injected nitromethane |
| Top Fuel Dragster Fuel | Nitromethane |
| Top Fuel Dragster Engine Lifespan | Short |
| Top Fuel Distance | 1/4-mile |
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What You'll Learn
Top Fuel dragsters
Safety equipment for Top Fuel dragsters includes full-face helmets with fitted HANS devices, multi-point quick-release safety restraint harnesses, and full-body fire suits.
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Nitro-burning engines
The use of nitromethane in these engines dates back to the late 1940s when midget and drag racers discovered its explosive properties. The fuel mixture typically contains between 10% and 40% nitromethane, mixed with methanol, though in drag racing, higher concentrations of up to 90% are used. This mixture is ignited by spark plugs or, in the case of nitro engines, a glow plug that is heated with an electric current.
However, there are also challenges associated with nitro-burning engines. The extreme heat and friction generated during operation can cause the clutch plates to weld themselves together. Additionally, the engines have a very short lifespan and must be torn down to the bare block after each pass. Despite these challenges, nitro-burning engines continue to be a popular choice for drag racing due to their impressive performance and the thrill of managing their unpredictable nature.
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Supercharged methanol-burning engines
Top Alcohol Dragsters use supercharged methanol-burning engines. Methanol has been used as a fuel in drag racing since the 1940s. It has a high octane rating of 114, which means it can achieve a higher thermal efficiency and power output compared to gasoline in engines designed for methanol use.
Methanol has a slower burn rate than gasoline, which can make it harder to start and warm up an engine, especially in cold weather. It also has a lower specific energy of around 17 MJ/kg compared to 34 MJ/kg for gasoline, which results in higher fuel consumption. Methanol produces more water vapour when burned, similar to hydrogen combustion engines, and some acidic byproducts, which can lead to increased wear and tear on engine components.
One advantage of using methanol as a fuel is that it is far more difficult to ignite than gasoline and burns at a slower rate, resulting in a cooler flame that is less dangerous and easier to contain. Water can be used to suppress a methanol fire, as it cools the fire and dilutes the fuel. Methanol fires do not produce smoke or flames, which can improve visibility for drivers in the event of a crash, but this can also delay the detection of a fire.
Methanol has been used in various forms of racing, including drag racing, tractor pulling, boat racing, and go-kart racing. It is also used in the maritime and shipping industries, with around 100 methanol-burning ships ordered by key players as of 2023. Methanol is also used in aviation, where it is injected with the main fuel to increase power during take-off.
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Gasoline race cars
The type of fuel used in drag racing cars varies. Top Fuel dragsters and funny cars burn nitromethane (CH3NO2), a liquid explosive that contains a great deal of energy per unit volume (more than twice that of gasoline). Top Alcohol Dragsters may use a supercharged methanol-burning engine or an injected nitromethane combination.
Pro Stock cars, often called "factory hot rods" due to their resemblance to production-based automobiles, use spec gasoline and are restricted to a maximum of 500 cubic inches. They can rev to more than 10,500 rpm and make over 1,300 horsepower. A competitive Pro Stock car can run a quarter-mile in 6.6 seconds at nearly 210 mph.
NASCAR engines burn 110-octane leaded gasoline, while Indy cars burn pure methanol (CH3OH), which has the advantage of being able to run at extremely high compression ratios (meaning more power). Methanol also has the safety feature of being extinguishable with water.
The use of 100% nitro in Top Fuel drag racing came about in the 1965 season, when Bob Sullivan's Pandemonium ('65 Plymouth Barracuda) joined about six other nitro-fuelled early funny cars facing fuel dragsters. In 1971, Don Garlits introduced the Swamp Rat XIV, a rear-engined Top Fuel dragster that won the 1971 NHRA Winternationals.
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Exotic fuels
The use of exotic fuels is prohibited in Super Gas drag racing competitions. However, drag racing cars in other categories, such as Top Fuel, Top Alcohol Dragster, and Top Alcohol Funny Car, use a variety of exotic fuels.
Top Fuel dragsters, also known as the "Kings of the Sport", are among the fastest-accelerating machines in the world, capable of covering the dragstrip in less than 3.7 seconds at speeds exceeding 330 mph. These dragsters use supercharged, nitro-burning engines, burning up to 15 gallons of nitromethane fuel during a single run. Nitromethane contains its own oxygen, which contributes to the extremely high power output of these engines. The slow burn rate of nitromethane can result in unignited fuel mixtures, leading to the escape of nitromethane from the exhaust pipe. This escaped nitromethane ignites upon contact with atmospheric oxygen, producing a characteristic yellow flame.
Top Alcohol Dragsters, on the other hand, may use a supercharged methanol-burning engine or an injected nitromethane combination. They are physically similar to Top Fuelers but have some significant differences. Top Alcohol Funny Cars, which resemble production-based automobiles, are restricted to using methanol fuel and have a three-speed transmission.
Drag racing teams have a variety of fuel choices on race day, depending on factors such as engine requirements, competition class, sanctioning body rules, race day conditions, and track rules. One unconventional option is aviation-grade fuel (avgas), which has an octane rating of at least 120. Avgas burns slowly and smoothly, reducing engine knock and ping. It is particularly useful at tracks or events where other racing fuels are not permitted.
Additionally, some drag racing fuels are designed to enhance performance through blends of exotic molecules and hydrocarbons. For example, XS EVO and JSK 8, offered by ETS Racing Fuels, are ethanol-free fuels with high combustion speed and energy, designed for use in normally aspirated or turbocharged engines with moderate compression ratios. Another fuel, IRF 102, contains specific anti-valve recession additives, making it suitable for vintage and historic touring and racing cars.
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Frequently asked questions
Drag cars, or "nitro-burning funny cars", use nitromethane, a type of fuel that comes with its own oxygen atoms to help it burn. Nitromethane is similar to gasoline that has been pre-mixed with nitrous oxide.
In a typical run, a dragster can consume between 12 and 22.75 US gallons of fuel.
Top Fuel dragsters use supercharged, nitro-burning engines, whereas Top Alcohol Dragsters use a supercharged methanol-burning engine or an injected nitromethane combination.
