Mph = Win ?
 

Seems to be the thing with the slower index classes S/ST , S/SG , that the faster car takes the win lights. Been hearing that 85% of the faster cars are winning considering they cut a better or similar light . Any real truth to this ???? Don`t see it so much with S/Comp as with the slower classes.

Re: Mph = Win ?
 

The higher mph car will be on the stop longer, now he is chasing. It's much easier to judge you opponent and the stripe when it's all in front of you rather than having to look over your shoulder.

Re: Mph = Win ?
 

I know that's the case just really wanted to know if anybody had run sheets ect. To prove it ? I do not have enough information in my program to see it.

Re: Mph = Win ?
 

You won't have accurate data from any run sheets. It all depends on the driver, and the statistics on median MPH in the class.

I would bet the median MPH now for SST is 140+. Thus your data will be skewed because there are less low MPH cars in the class, thus less winners.

I won the division 4 title going on average 118-123mph in 2011. I go on average 128-132 now. I drive better being chased than chasing because that is what I am used too. To me its not easier to judge chasing someone, it's easier to see, but calculating the closing distance is easier for me while watching the other car come up on me than me come up on another car.

Re: Mph = Win ?
 

Remember the slower car always has the first opportunity to take the stripe, when I ran in hot rod @ 125 mph I enjoyed being the slower car always felt I had the advantage. All in how you look at it I guess.

Re: Mph = Win ?
 

I don't have the percentages for you but driving a faster car is a definite advantage at the finish line as said before you always have your opponent in front of you and you can see and judge the closing rate.
However in the 28 year history of the Midwest Super comp Series the same 155MPH (slow) Small block super comp dragster has won 5 championships (3 with original owner& 2 in a row for the current owner)
So being the fast guy might be overrated.

Re: Mph = Win ?
 

That's impressive,I have seen guys run 180mph in that class. its hard to judge the stripe when you are 30mph faster then your opponent.

Re: Mph = Win ?
 

MPH has no effect on win or loosing. Drag racing is a game of numbers. If you have a better light and run closer to the number in index or handicap racing you will be the winner no matter which car has the bigger MPH.

Re: Mph = Win ?
 

The hi mph guy wil lag behind till the finish line. And then before he gets there he will know if, he can catch him and take the stripe, or not catch him and get on the binders to make sure he doesn't break out more. I believe the hi mph cars are more accurate time wise, in that the micro processor throttle controls are fine tuning tools that can be made at the last second, when they are sitting in the staging area and a weather update come across there pager for a new TS setting. Plus times are more accurate when you are not covering distance as fast as in the cruise portion of the run. Yeah slow guys can do it, but if you are a .01 over and they put a wheel on you, you better be on your game. Only two guys I know who have won division or national championships would be Northrop, and Phillips that are not hi mph guys. I am probably wrong about some of this. Go to the track and watch it on the big end, it becomes pretty clear

Re: Mph = Win ?
 

Maverick
Brings up a good point, in one instance we were on a very poor racetrack and the only guy who could hit the index was the 180 MPH guy.
everyone else was sliping spinning and sliding all over the place. My first thought was that since he had more power than any of us, perhaps he had a traction control device.But then we made a pass along side of him and I saw his incremental times ,all of them to the 1/8 mile especially the 60' time were way slower than anyone else. Resultantly he didn't spin anywhere and was capable of making up the time in the last half of the track and was more consistent.

Re: Mph = Win ?
 

Gambling in the stands we would always say MPH wins and go with the car that had the most. A lot of times odds would have to be given because cars with more MPH usually won. Not very scientific or no spreadsheet available just good old gambling.

Re: Mph = Win ?
 

So I guess one barometer would be how many "high" MPH cars have won S/ST and S/G? I have not seen a lot in S/ST at least, maybe I am wrong.

Re: Mph = Win ?
 

I am interested in what you consider hi mph in super street, and what is hi mph in super gas. Looking at the Belle Rose ets, red lights, and slow runs of 11.0 seconds, I would say a 136 mph car won SST. I myself consider that a hi mph. But I take note of any car over 140 extremely hi mph. Seen a few 150 cars, and to me that is they are the trend. The hi mph cars usually run SG, when they want to, with ease.

Re: Mph = Win ?
 

Well I would consider a S/ST car over 150 to be a "fast" car. There are more and more of those along with cars that can go 160+

Re: Mph = Win ?
 

Super gas winner at 4 Wide Nationals 172 in the final

Re: Mph = Win ?
 

That would be true if most of the winners made no adjustments at the finish line. But that simply isn't the case. The vast majority of winners can cut a respectable light, AND can play the stripe. The driver gets a better look at how the stripe is unfolding when he is the catching car as a rule. I have not had that luxury for most of my racing years, so my head is mounted on a swivel.:D

Re: Mph = Win ?
 

But,If you make one round at 9am,then 2nd round at 330pm,with weather and track conditions changing as well-with the thought process being that most of the mph cars have 2 hundreds in the bank because nobody really knows what the will run with that much down time between rounds,that gives the mph car the advantage of catching the slower car,parking on him coming to the stripe,or push the slower car to breakout and dump to get back on the good side on the index! the slower car can dump as well but the car with the most options is the mph car,and all this happens really fast! I have be told by good racers they win more rounds not taking the win light! there is a skill to finish line racing.had a racer tell me a qtr mile race track is 2 ft long-the first foot & and the last foot!

Re: Mph = Win ?
 

Do you mean by not taking the stripe? The win light is kinda needed?

Re: Mph = Win ?
 

Yes-not taking the stripe

Re: Mph = Win ?
 

here is a good case in point. I usually race my high mph car in s/st. I feel I def. have the advantage by watching the race unfold and waiting till last few feet to act... now that said this weekend I ran my 11.60 street car in super pro, managed to drive well and got to the finals where I ran an 7.60 altered. we were dead even at the tree, I watched him leave, then again at 1000 foot decided he was not going to get there, I dumped hard at the mph stripe, killed 10 mph and 4#s ran out by .003. and still took way too much stripe! advantage fast car!!!!! btw I have found it to be much harder to kill #s with a 3700 pound car than a 2600# car also an advantage for being lighter, lesson learned....

Re: Mph = Win ?
 

I hear people all the time that think more MPH will make them win... NO.. MPH can be a advantage because they get to see the whole run if there fast because they are on the stop longer.. Our 1970 S/G Cuda is plently competitive and it runs 150-152 MPH running against guys running 170-180 MPH..

Re: Mph = Win ?
 

I too feel that the higher mph car has the advantage. Witnessed a S/G car go 9.90 @ 183+ at the Summit Nationals in Norwalk last weekend.