Mercedes Mullins
Top Fuel cars are the quickest accelerating racing cars in the world and the fastest sanctioned category of drag racing. They are powered by custom engines that are 500 cubic inches and boast superchargers, making them capable of around 8,000-horsepower, though some estimates go as high as 11,000-horsepower. Top Fuel cars can't burn regular gasoline, or even race gas. They need nitromethane, a special kind of fuel, which is how these cars got the Top Fuel name.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of racing | Drag racing |
| Engine type | Second generation Chrysler RB Hemi |
| Engine size | 500 cubic inches |
| Engine power | 8,000-11,000 horsepower |
| Fuel type | Nitromethane |
| Speed | 338.94 miles per hour |
| Acceleration | 0-100 mph in 0.8 seconds |
| Exhaust flames | Occasionally blast from the tailpipes |
What You'll Learn
Nitromethane fuel is burned at a slow rate and causes the exhaust pipe flames
Top Fuel is a type of drag racing whose dragsters are the quickest accelerating racing cars in the world and the fastest sanctioned category of drag racing. Top Fuel cars get their power from custom engines that are 500 cubic inches and boast superchargers, making them capable of around 8,000-horsepower, though some estimates go as high as 11,000-horsepower. The engine used to power a Top Fuel drag racing car is based on a second generation Chrysler RB Hemi, but is built exclusively of specialized parts.
Top Fuel engines can't burn regular gasoline, or even race gas. They need nitromethane, a special kind of fuel, which is how these cars got the Top Fuel name. It's a complicated balance, requiring the cars to be tuned specifically for the fuel and the fuel to be manufactured specifically for the cars. All the effort is worth it to the racers, who travel at previously unheard-of speeds, and the fans, who love the flames that occasionally blast from Top Fuel dragsters' tailpipes.
Nitromethane is also known by its chemical makeup, CH3NO2. It's a dangerous and volatile substance that's often used for pesticides, medicine manufacturing, heavy duty cleaning solvents and even rocket fuel. Nitromethane burns at a relatively slow rate compared to other fuels, and some unburned nitromethane may escape through the exhaust system and ignite when it comes into contact with the atmosphere, resulting in the exhaust pipe flames that contribute to the spectacle of a Top Fuel race.
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Custom engines produce 8,000-11,000 horsepower
Top Fuel cars are some of the fastest vehicles on the planet. They are powered by custom engines that are 500 cubic inches and boast superchargers, making them capable of around 8,000-11,000 horsepower.
The engine used to power a Top Fuel drag racing car is based on a second generation Chrysler RB Hemi, but is built exclusively of specialized parts. Top Fuel engines can't burn regular gasoline, or even race gas. They need nitromethane, a special kind of fuel, which is how these cars got the Top Fuel name.
Top Fuel cars get their power from custom engines that are 500 cubic inches and boast superchargers, making them capable of around 8,000-11,000 horsepower. The people who built the predecessors to Top Fuel cars—engineers, mechanics and amateur drag racers around the world—eventually came to the conclusion that a nitromethane blend is the best type of fuel for these particular types of engines.
The engine used to power a Top Fuel drag racing car is based on a second generation Chrysler RB Hemi, but is built exclusively of specialized parts. Top Fuel engines can't burn regular gasoline, or even race gas. They need nitromethane, a special kind of fuel, which is how these cars got the Top Fuel name.
Top Fuel cars get their power from custom engines that are 500 cubic inches and boast superchargers, making them capable of around 8,000-11,000 horsepower.
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Drag racing is the fastest sanctioned category
Top Fuel cars get their power from custom engines that are 500 cubic inches and boast superchargers, making them capable of around 8,000-horsepower, though some estimates go as high as 11,000-horsepower. The engine used to power a Top Fuel drag racing car is based on a second generation Chrysler RB Hemi, but is built exclusively of specialised parts.
The people who built the predecessors to Top Fuel cars—engineers, mechanics and amateur drag racers around the world—eventually came to the conclusion that a nitromethane blend is the best type of fuel for these particular types of engines. Nitromethane is also known by its chemical makeup, CH3NO2. It's a dangerous and volatile substance that's often used for pesticides, medicine manufacturing, heavy duty cleaning solvents and even rocket fuel. Nitromethane burns at a relatively slow rate compared to other fuels, and some unburned nitromethane may escape through the exhaust system and ignite when it comes into contact with the atmosphere, resulting in the exhaust pipe flames that contribute to the spectacle of a Top Fuel race.
Top Fuel engines can't burn regular gasoline, or even race gas. They need nitromethane, a special kind of fuel, which is how these cars got the Top Fuel name. It's a complicated balance, requiring the cars to be tuned specifically for the fuel and the fuel to be manufactured specifically for the cars. All the effort is worth it to the racers, who travel at previously unheard-of speeds, and the fans, who love the flames that occasionally blast from Top Fuel dragsters' tailpipes.
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Specialized parts are used to build the engine
Top Fuel cars are powered by custom engines that are 500 cubic inches and boast superchargers, making them capable of around 8,000-horsepower, though some estimates go as high as 11,000-horsepower. The engine used to power a Top Fuel drag racing car is based on a second generation Chrysler RB Hemi, but is built exclusively of specialized parts.
The specialized parts used to build the engine of a Top Fuel car are designed to handle the extreme power and performance requirements of the vehicle. These engines are specifically tuned to run on nitromethane, a special kind of fuel that is required for these cars to achieve their high speeds.
The specialized parts used to build the engine of a Top Fuel car include:
- Custom-made pistons that are designed to handle the high temperatures and pressures of the engine.
- Specialized valves that are designed to open and close quickly to allow for the high flow rates of the engine.
- A supercharger that is designed to increase the power of the engine by forcing more air into the cylinders.
- A nitromethane injection system that is designed to deliver the correct amount of fuel to the engine for optimal performance.
- A lightweight flywheel that is designed to reduce the weight of the engine and improve its performance.
The specialized parts used to build the engine of a Top Fuel car are designed to work together to provide the power and performance required for the vehicle to achieve its high speeds.
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Dragsters accelerate from 0-100 mph in 0.8 seconds
Top Fuel is a type of drag racing whose dragsters are the quickest accelerating racing cars in the world and the fastest sanctioned category of drag racing. The fastest competitors reach speeds of 338.94 miles per hour (545.5 km/h) and finish the 1,000-foot (304.8 m) runs in 3.641 seconds. A top fuel dragster accelerates from a standstill to 100 mph (160.9 km/h) in as little as 0.8 seconds (less than one-third the time required by a production Porsche 911 Turbo to reach 60 mph (96.6 km/h)) and can exceed 297 mph (478.0 km/h) in just 660 feet (201.2 m).
Top Fuel cars get their power from custom engines that are 500 cubic inches and boast superchargers, making them capable of around 8,000-horsepower, though some estimates go as high as 11,000-horsepower. The engine used to power a Top Fuel drag racing car is based on a second-generation Chrysler RB Hemi, but is built exclusively of specialized parts. Top Fuel engines can't burn regular gasoline, or even race gas. They need nitromethane, a special kind of fuel, which is how these cars got the Top Fuel name. It's a complicated balance, requiring the cars to be tuned specifically for the fuel and the fuel to be manufactured specifically for the cars. All the effort is worth it to the racers, who travel at previously unheard-of speeds, and the fans, who love the flames that occasionally blast from Top Fuel dragsters' tailpipes.
The people who built the predecessors to Top Fuel cars—engineers, mechanics, and amateur drag racers around the world—eventually came to the conclusion that a nitromethane blend is the best type of fuel for these particular types of engines. Nitromethane is also known by its chemical makeup, CH3NO2. It's a dangerous and volatile substance that's often used for pesticides, medicine manufacturing, heavy-duty cleaning solvents, and even rocket fuel. Nitromethane burns at a relatively slow rate compared to other fuels, and some unburned nitromethane may escape through the exhaust system and ignite when it comes into contact with the atmosphere, resulting in the exhaust pipe flames that contribute to the spectacle of a Top Fuel race.
Top Fuel dragsters are some of the fastest vehicles on the planet. In fact, just one of the eight cylinders in a Top Fuel engine produces as much horsepower as a NASCAR Sprint Cup car.
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Frequently asked questions
Top fuel cars are racing cars that are powered by custom engines that are 500 cubic inches and boast superchargers, making them capable of around 8,000-horsepower, though some estimates go as high as 11,000-horsepower.
Top fuel cars are the quickest accelerating racing cars in the world and the fastest sanctioned category of drag racing, with the fastest competitors reaching speeds of 338.94 miles per hour (545.5 km/h) and finishing the 1,000 foot (304.8 m) runs in 3.641 seconds.
Top fuel cars can't burn regular gasoline, or even race gas. They need nitromethane, a special kind of fuel, which is how these cars got the Top Fuel name.
The engine used to power a Top Fuel drag racing car is based on a second generation Chrysler RB Hemi, but is built exclusively of specialized parts.
