[Michael Pliska]

I think we have all probably lost a round (whether or not we knew it) to someone who took the stripe with body panels which were still in compliance with the 3" min clearance and 30" max overhang NHRA rules. Have you ever compared the height of the finish line beams to the starting line beams? The finish line is much higher, such that body panels frequently trip it. I asked the question of an NHRA guy about 20 years ago, and was told that the higher beams were to make sure the tire did not pass through within the timing system's sampling period (i.e., to make sure the timing system did not "miss" seeing the tire in the beam) when the car was running at a high speed. This was not a problem on the starting line, so they were lower there to make sure body panels did not interfere.

I'll bet that every national record in the pro classes was set by a car tripping the finish line with body panels, making it a 1317.5' pass instead of 1320'.

Why is the finish line beam still at this height? I would think that the modern timing systems are not in danger of missing a wheel, even at 350 mph. We end up with inaccurate ETs and the possibility of unintentionally giving up the stripe in bracket and .90 class racing.

I remember the first time I lost this way, giving up the stripe to a then-new Brogie roadster with its extended front "spoiler". I almost lost that way yesterday to a Suncoast roadster (gave up the stripe but ran dead on with a 0 while he broke out).

Thoughts/arguments/agreement?