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[Mike Carr]

Originally Posted by mopar jeff

I am new to this game, so I will ask this probably stupid question anyway. Can someone please explain the adding horsepower thing. How does that hurt you? Does it change your factor number, and you have to carry more weight to slow you down? Also if someone runs far enough under to get slapped with horsepower, does it affect anyone running that combo, or just that particular car? Are you then labeled everywhere you go? Hopefully someone can better explain this to the newbie. Thanks.

Jeff, if you were to have, say, a '64 426 Max Wedge. 415 rated NHRA. If you run -1.40 under (9.900 or quicker in A/SA), a combination gets hit 3.25%, or 14 HP, so you're now at 429. You'd have to carry an extra 112 pounds. All 426/415 Max Wedge racers receive this penalty. And yes, it can change the classification of the vehicle. As an example, when the '93-97 GM F-bodies came out, they were rated at 275 and were in, I believe H/SA in 1995. They are now rated over 340 (I forget the actual number) and can run up to B and C/SA. Hope this helps.