National Event Minimum Age Lowered
 

You only need to be 16-years-old and possess a valid driver's license to race in a sportsman class at a NHRA national event beginning this year. I wonder what the story is behind this change?


http://promod.nhra.com/userfiles/fil...%201-29-19.pdf

Re: National Event Minimum Age Lowered
 

The way it was stated a "restricted" license like we have in SD would be good enough. That means 14 year olds could enter.


"Valid state- or government-issued driver’s license beyond a learner’s-permit level mandatory for cars running 10.00 (*6.40) or slower."

Re: National Event Minimum Age Lowered
 

It really was a bad rule to begin with, under the age of 18 you can run a division race but not a national event.

Re: National Event Minimum Age Lowered
 

The new rule in General Regulations for national events says........

"All non-professional competitors at NHRA Mello Yello national events must be a
minimum of 16 years of age.

All professional competitors at NHRA Mello Yello national events must be a minimum of 18 years of age."

Re: National Event Minimum Age Lowered
 

I suppose there are a number of kids coming out of Juniors at age 16 with years of seat time. They could continue with Jrs until they're 18, but they have a drivers license and want to jump into a parent's car or their own big car. Makes sense. I would want to step up if I were 16 and had a drivers license. Anything to keep kids engaged is good.

Re: National Event Minimum Age Lowered
 

If I remember correctly, the Emmons triplets were in Englishtown when they were 15 and was not allowed to race because you needed to be 16 in NJ to drive. Maybe somebody can add to it.

Greg

Re: National Event Minimum Age Lowered
 

My son set the record and raced in several national events @ 16. That was 1996 late in the year and 1997 on. Never denied a race entry.

Re: National Event Minimum Age Lowered
 

Didn't Jimmy D win the National championship when he was still a senior in HS? Unlikely he was 18 for the entire season so how did that work?

Re: National Event Minimum Age Lowered
 

This was a BS rule I've been bitching about for a few years.

Re: National Event Minimum Age Lowered
 

https://dragracingedge.com/featured-...tsman-classes/

Checking on Speedy Emmons who won the '84 Cajuns, just not sure of his exact age. We went with the story because it's the info we had at the time. And of course this was all written when everyone else was asleep. LOL. And are the JEGS Sportsnationals "really" considered national events as under age competitors were allowed? I guess that's a gray area LOL.