National Event Minimum Age Lowered

Jim Kaekel · 01-29-2019, 04:44 PM

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

btrc · 01-29-2019, 05:28 PM

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."

BZenzen · 01-29-2019, 06:45 PM

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.

BBF67 · 01-29-2019, 06:46 PM

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."

CMcAllister · 01-29-2019, 07:06 PM

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.

G Schenck · 01-29-2019, 08:09 PM

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

Jeff Teuton · 01-29-2019, 08:20 PM

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.

Jim Caughlin · 01-29-2019, 09:15 PM

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?

Nmbr1GMfan · 01-29-2019, 10:54 PM

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

John DiBartolomeo · 01-30-2019, 08:35 AM

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.

01-29-2019, 04:44 PM	#1
Jim Kaekel VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,227 Likes: 133 Liked 529 Times in 107 Posts	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 __________________ Jim Kaekel 3836 STK

01-29-2019, 05:28 PM	#2
btrc Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 253 Likes: 286 Liked 84 Times in 42 Posts	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." __________________ Bob Tilton 568 FS/H

01-29-2019, 06:45 PM	#3
BZenzen Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: USA Posts: 140 Likes: 51 Liked 470 Times in 81 Posts	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. __________________ Brian Zenzen SS 5404 STK 5401

01-29-2019, 06:46 PM	#4
BBF67 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 89 Likes: 0 Liked 8 Times in 4 Posts	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."

01-29-2019, 07:06 PM	#5
CMcAllister Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Fulton County, PA Posts: 614 Likes: 16 Liked 917 Times in 257 Posts	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.

01-29-2019, 08:09 PM	#6
G Schenck Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Harahan, La. Posts: 521 Likes: 41 Liked 81 Times in 35 Posts	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

01-29-2019, 08:20 PM	#7
Jeff Teuton VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Houma, LA Posts: 2,717 Likes: 2 Liked 325 Times in 50 Posts	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. __________________ Jeff Teuton 4022 STK

01-29-2019, 09:15 PM	#8
Jim Caughlin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Woodburn, Or Posts: 683 Likes: 82 Liked 801 Times in 244 Posts	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?

01-29-2019, 10:54 PM	#9
Nmbr1GMfan VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 1,763 Likes: 1,197 Liked 1,954 Times in 491 Posts	Re: National Event Minimum Age Lowered This was a BS rule I've been bitching about for a few years. __________________ Todd Greene

01-30-2019, 08:35 AM	#10
John DiBartolomeo Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Beaver Springs, PA Posts: 494 Likes: 1 Liked 1,282 Times in 159 Posts	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. Attached Thumbnails __________________ John DiBartolomeo DRC Race Products DragRacingActionOnline.com Last edited by John DiBartolomeo; 01-30-2019 at 08:38 AM.