Top-Fuel Racing is a class of drag racing in which the cars are run on a maximum
of 90% nitromethane and about 10% methanol (also known as racing alcohol), instead
of gasoline. The cars are purpose-built race cars, with a layout superficially
resembling open-wheel circuit racing vehicles; however, they are much longer, much
narrower, and have very thin front tires, to optimize their performance exclusively
in a straight line.

Unlike other standing start drag racing classes, these cars compete in a 1,000
foot (304 m) or 990 ft (300 m) race (instead of 1,320 feet (402 meters)); the change
was made July 2, 2008 by the NHRA in the wake of the fatal crash of driver Scott
Kalitta at an NHRA Powerade event at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown,
NJ in June 2008. It seems that 1320 feet is now used again. Some countries such as
Australia still run the 1/4 mile in Top Fuel. The FIA used the shorter distance at
Mantorp Park in 2008 due to the limited shutdown area, but the Hockenheimring and
Santa Pod Raceway ran the traditional distance at their FIA meet for Top Fuel, as
does the IHRA and ANDRA (Australia). They are the fastest such category, with the
fastest cars reaching the end of the 1/4 mile in less than 4.0* seconds at speeds up
to 337 mph (530 km/h)*Times below 4.0 seconds have not yet been achieved on the
1/4 Mile this time relates to the shorter 1000 feet distance,while the 337 mph is
only achieved on the 1/4 mile (all as at Aug 2009). A Top Fuel dragster accelerates
from 0 to 100 mph (160 km/h) in as little as .7 seconds, subjecting the driver to a
force about 5.7 times their weight. This acceleration takes less than a tenth of the
time needed by a production Porsche 911 Turbo to reach the same speed. A top fuel
dragster can exceed 280 mph (450 km/h) in just 660 feet (0.2 km).
For further information and standards for drag-racing, including safety requirements,
see the entry for National Hot Rod Association.

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