America’s premier drag racing events organizer, the National Hot Rod Association, has long welcomed electric vehicles to its drag racing events but now it’s looking to expand its commitment to EVs.
To do that, though, it will first talk to manufacturers and the wider industry to ensure it will happen as safely as possible. The decision, as you might expect, will have to do with automakers’ desire to advertise their EVs.
In a press release, the NHRA said that it has always maintained a productive relationship with the manufacturers entering cars into its events. Indeed, the eCOPO Camaro and the Cobra Jet 1400 Mustang were used by Chevrolet and Ford to show off their electric prowess.
The organization also argued that EV development has really taken off recently. Just last year, drag racer Steve Huff broke the 200 mph barrier at the Tucson Dragway in an all-electric dragster. The vehicle completed the quarter-mile in just 7.52 seconds at 201.7 mph.
“It’s certainly no secret that electric vehicles are becoming more and more popular with consumers, and the technology associated with them continues to move forward at a rapid pace,” said Ned Walliser, NHRA Vice President for competition. “At NHRA, we are eager to keep pace with the latest developments in EV technology.”
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The NHRA will ask manufacturers and suppliers how best to achieve that goal at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, March 12 to 14.
“We want to be able to ask some pertinent questions such as, ‘Do you have an interest in using the NHRA platform to develop and promote electric vehicles?’” said Walliser. “If the answer is yes, then how do we get where we want to go? We are very interested in talking with and continuing a dialogue with anyone who has experience in this industry.”
One of the big issues the NHRA is looking to address is safety. An EV, after all, will react differently to a meth-powered car in an accident.
Along with the concerns, though, there are benefits like the potential to attract younger fans. Even so, the NHRA isn’t giving up on its bread and butter racers.
“There are many potential benefits associated with expanding NHRA’s footprint in regard to EV technology,” Walliser said. “That being said, we certainly have no intentions of abandoning our current platform, which has proven to be extremely popular with racers and fans alike.”
