How the current Heritage JrFuel class works is a track dial-in system based on 3 different JF classes. Handi-caps on the 4 tenths Pro Tree is ; JFA = 6.90, JFB = 7.02, JFC = 7.15. Basic difference in the 3 classes is "A" follows the NHRA Comp Elim rules of A/ND, where any head, valve angle 3 1/8" max injector size all iron engines, JFB [ B/ND] is limited to all iron 23° valve angle SBC with raised runner heads, 2 7/8" stack injectors, and OEM style Ford, Chrysler, BBC, iron heads, JFC has all the same rules but limited to non-raised runner SBC heads. All 3 classes had their engine size raised from 410 ci to 430 when NHRA Comp raided the max size 2 years ago. All 3 classes also are on a 3.5 lb/ci weight breaks.
How the handi cap works is it's a no break-out rule, but if a racer runs below the handi-cap for his class during elims, not qualifying, he doesn't lose, but the very next round goes to the new handi-cap, for everyone in that class. The Heritage JF handi-caps can only be changed at Heritage Events, not at NHRA Comp races.
"The rest of the story", how these rules were put together is, in 2012 the Bakersfield track wanted to eliminate Jr Fuel because of low car counts, and since they have to pay NHRA for the right to have a Heritage event, they were looking at ROI. I have also found JFDA series sponsors to increase the advantages or racing Jrfuel Mallory print, and Hayden Wheels are presenting sponsors with A-1 Performance, S & W Race Cars, Motul Race Oil, giving us gift certs, and E.R.C. Race fuels giving us a 16 gal barrel of alky for the winner, runner-up and the closest to the handi-cap 1'st round loser. The car count was low mostly because of the economy, but also a certain JFA team ran so fast they chased most of all the JFA teams away in 2008. For the 2012 season in order to help increase car count I let Enriquez/ McKray use one of my RR SBC motors, which allowed them to win their 1'st Heritage Championship.
So, in order to save JF, my company suggested that Hayden Wheels cover the payout for JF, that way none of the Heritage tracks could complain about car counts, because the tracks keep the entry money and only pay for the Wally. And to help increase car count we came up with the idea of inviting JFA back using the Pro tree handi-caps, based on the current at that time A/ND, B/ND national records. A/ND was at the start of 2013 was 6.89, even tho Parks set a new A/ND record to 6.77 in 2013, so we kept it at 6.89 because that's what I talked to all the teams about at the end of 2012. JFB was set at the B/ND record at 6.98, and JFC has no Comp Elim class so we set "C" at what the fastest SWJFA was 7.24. As it turned out at the 2013 March Meet, the JFC handi-cap was reset by a SWJFA team Mallory/Brady, to 7.20 while racing J.D.Zink's JFA car. SouthWest JrFuel Association is limited to non-raised runner for their SBC dragsters, with the only difference is SWJFA races with a 3.65 lbs/ci weight breaks.
My goal is to get the car count up this year so we can go back to Heritage and ask the tracks to cover the pay-outs since Hayden Wheels is not a big company.
So of course the Heritage JF racers are worried about the Parks-Rowley Racing team's new heads/ motor performance, but as of the 1'st Heritage race they have not reset the JFB handi-cap, and they are not planning on racing Heritage in 2016, so we just have to wait and see how the season works out. If they do lower the handi-cap, we can then reset it back to 7.02 for 2016, but it doesn't make sense for Scott Parks to hit the handi-cap hard since they would also hurt their changes of winning the 2015 Championship.
For more information check out JrFuelDragsterAssociation.com and feel free to buy any JFDA T shirts to help our tow money fund to help some teams with the 750 mile tow to the Salt Lake City Heritage race.
Thank You for your interest in JrFuel racing !
Jon Hansen
