continuing the cause

When NSSR pulled the plug on its program last spring, a signal was fired up to the asphalt drag racing community that it was time to get organized and get themselves a series to run. The other option was to mothball years of testing and development.

Out east, asphalt racers John Oliver and Mark Giammattei have started their own race club, to be known as the National Asphalt Sled Racers Association (NASRA). NASRA is set to primarily operate on the NHRA and IHRA-affiliated drag strips in the northeast region of the US.

"Our goal in forming NASRA was to attempt to save what little heads-up competition is left in the world of asphalt racing," noted Giammattei. "NSSR did a fine job of laying the groundwork for us, but with the loss of that sanctioning body, we were extremely concerned about the future of heads-up racing classes and events for sleds."

The program NASRA has outlined consists of five heads-up classes: 600 Pure Stock, 800 Pure Stock, Super Stock, NSSR-style Prostock 800 and Pro Mod, along with a bracket class. All classes will run 1/8 mile under the current format. According to Giammattei, "The decision to run 1/8 mile was done by racer consensus. The average sled racer is used to racing 660 feet. In fact, this decision has enticed some long-time grass and ice racers to consider racing on the blacktop."

The Pure Stock and NSSR-style Prostock 800 classes will be just as their names imply. Super Stock is basically an open displacement Improved Stock class and will accept any commercially available engine mods, provided they're built on the OEM stock crankcase. Pro Mod is basically a Pro Stock sled with an interesting twist, any size displacement, made for snowmobile engine will be legal, turbos and superchargers will also be allowed. No nitrous oxide will be allowed, per NHRA rules.

What makes the NASRA format unique is that it has made considerations for creating parity between brands and engine sizes. "We intend to use weight to equalize various sleds' performance," explained Giammattei. "For example, a 500cc stocker may be allowed a 100-pound minimum weight break to be competitive with the 600cc sled. This will allow a 500cc stocker to run with a 600cc stocker and still be competitive." Of course, this system will take some trial and error time, he noted.

There will also be index times associated with the Pure Stock and Super Stock classes. If a racer beats the index time, he is disqualified. "The times will be adjusted as racers start hitting them consistently," said Giammattei.

NASRA is hoping to host as many as 20 events next season at Lebanon Valley Dragway in eastern New York, and other drag strips across the northeastern US.

With the 30-some ISR classes distilled down to just five, Giammattei hopes to boost class entries and build purses over $1,000 to win. "We have developed a way to include 99 percent of the sleds that would be legal to compete under the ISR/NSSR format," he said. "All of those sleds will fit somewhere into our class structure."

Any questions or concerns in regard to the rules/class structure, please contact Mark Giammattei (518/756-1997) or John Oliver (518/464-7664) to provide you with information. If its a question regarding NHRA rules compliance, contact Glen Grow, track manager at Lebanon Valley (518/794-7130).

Editor's Note: If you are currently racing in, or organizing, an asphalt series or a regularly scheduled event, we want to know about it. Email us at amsnow@amsnow.com.