from Nostalgia Drag World Magazine
http://nostalgiadragworld.com/v2i12-paulhutchins-jrfuel.phpThe ABCs of Junior Fuel
by Paul Hutchins
What’s the deal with the different classes in Heritage Series Junior Fuel? The simple answer is that it allows more teams to compete on a level and fair basis. So it must be about weight and cubic inches? No, that’s what divided the classes in the 60s before the direct drive, injected nitro D/Fuel cars of that era became the original flyweight Junior Fuel cars at Lions. In contrast, the 2014 Junior Fuelers run alcohol, a 12” tire, a max. of 430 ci, and Powerglides.
Heads up Junior Fuel racing under these rules, that were first established in 1984, almost died a few years back when some of the teams started using exotic heads on their small block Chevrolets. They were dominating the field with passes in the 6s. The initial effort to keep the rest of the teams racing was “A” and “B” fields based on e.t.‘s…and it remained heads up racing. This evolved into a move to A, B and C classes based on SBC head design, and the teams racing each other on dial-in-handi-caps using the Pro Tree. Now, as in other handi-cap racing, a C car can compete with an A car with a fair chance to win.
The “A” cars are allowed any valve angle in a SBC and a 3 1/8 “ injector.
“B” cars are restricted to a raised runner 23 degree valve angle and 2 7/8" injectors. “B” cars can also run OEM Hemis and Ford heads.
The “C” class is limited to non-raised runner heads on the SBCs and a 2 7/8” injector.
The current handi-cap dial-in for “A” cars is 6.89, “B” is 6.98 and “C” is 7.20. The baseline for A and B was set using the NHRA national records for A/ND and B/ND cars racing in Comp Eliminator. Since there is no C/ND in Comp Eliminator, the handi-cap for the Heritage Series C cars is 7.20 based on the quickest pass in Heritage Series eliminations. While Comp Eliminator records set the original marks for A and B, the handi-caps can be lowered only in Heritage Series eliminations. The cars race on a no break-out rule. That is, if a car runs better than their class handi-cap, they do not lose the race, but the very next race will be against the new handi-cap mark that was just set.
Jon Hansen is the current director of the the Junior Fuel Dragster Association based in California. Primary sponsors are Mallory Print.Com and Hayden Wheels. Associate sponsors include A-1 Transmissions, S&W Race Cars, Motul Race Oil, and Engine Research Company (ERC) Race Fuels.
There is also a Junior Fuel group based in Texas. The “Southwest Junior Fuel Association“. They have over 20 active teams and race heads up 1/8 mile with a single class that is equivalent to Heritage Series “C“. Several of the SWJF teams have competed at the CHRRs in past years, and at the National Hot Rod Reunion at Bowling Green. Only Heritage Junior Fuel "C" teams and SWJFA teams are invited to the Bowling Green race.
