ROCKINGHAM — They may race in a small, small world, but the 1/10th scale Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars competing this weekend in the 11th annual International Model Drag Racing Association East Coast Nationals at Rockingham Dragway deliver performances that rival and often eclipse those of their big brothers.
Using the same kind of technology employed by touring pros in the NHRA’s Mello Yello Series — including clutch management systems, differing tire compounds and chassis turning expertise — IMDRA race cars are anything but toys.
They’re just very small race cars competing on a 132-foot course instead of one 1,320 feet long,
When Tony Rudis set the world record in the Extreme Rail class. For instance, his car covered the first 66 feet of the course in .750 seconds. When Clay Millican won the Top Fuel championship at last week’s NHRA event at Chicago, he covered the first 60-feet in .834 seconds.
Moreover, the 132-foot Rockingham track is afforded the same attention to detail in preparation as its quarter-mile sister, which is why The Rock is the favorite stop on the IMDRA tour. More than 100 competitors from 15 states and Puerto Rico are expected to compete for more than $2,000 in cash and awards along with titles in 12 different classes.
The first qualifying session is scheduled for noon on Saturday. Eliminations in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Mod and a variety of other categories, including brackets, begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
Admission to Saturday’s qualifying sessions and Sunday’s single-elimination finals is free, as is the parking in Rockingham’s main lot.
The 11th annual IMDRA East Coast Nationals will be held at Rockingham on Saturday, June 9, and Sunday, June 10, for the smaller scale Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars.