The National Hot Rod Association Tech Department has release safety related rules changes for four classes that compete with the organization. These amendments come on the heels of the passing of Top Alcohol Dragster driver Mark Nivers at Seattle last weekend. The changes effect the Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Top Fuel, and Funny Car categories.

Effective July 21, 2010, all racers in those categories must be using carbon fiber brake rotors and pads on the rear axle. Effective August 11, 2010, all of the competitors in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car will be required to have carbon fiber front brakes. We’re pretty sure most racers already have this equipment on board, as it is the best way to try and haul down one of these speeding cars in the event of a parachute failure as Nivers experienced as the root cause of his incident. 

NHRA is working on a secondary tethering method of parachutes as Neil Parkers fatal accident at Englishtown was also apparently triggered by a failed ‘chute deployment. Beginning in 2001 all the alky cars will be using the same radio activated shutoff device that the fuel cars are equipped with now. It can be installed and used immediately if competitors so choose.

Lots of people want to heap blame at the netting that caught Nivers at the end of the track, but at base, the parachutes tearing off the car set the whole chain of events in motion. Had they not failed, we wouldn’t be talking about any of this.

Here’s the full news release from NHRA:

As part of its continuing efforts to enhance safety, NHRA announced today that rear carbon fiber brake rotors and pads will be mandatory for Top Fuel Dragsters, Funny Cars, Top Alcohol Dragsters and Top Alcohol Funny Cars effective July 21, 2010, and front carbon fiber brakes will be mandatory for Funny Cars and Top Alcohol Funny Cars by August 11, 2010. The vast majority of vehicles in these classes already use this equipment. 

As an additional safety enhancement, NHRA is also working with manufacturers on a secondary tethering device for parachutes in the Top Fuel, Funny Car, Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car classes. This is in addition to an enhanced specification for parachute mounting for the same four classes that was introduced earlier this year.

A radio frequency-activated shutoff device, which shuts off the fuel supply, cuts ignition and deploys the parachutes if the driver has not done so after passing the finish line, will be mandatory beginning in 2011 for the Top Alcohol classes. This device has been mandatory in Top Fuel and Funny Car since earlier this year. Top Alcohol drivers may install the receiving device on their vehicles and use it immediately at all of the national events remaining on the 2010 schedule.

NHRA’s investigations continue into the tragedies that have struck the sport this year and NHRA and the entire racing community again extend deepest condolences to the families of those involved. NHRA continues to actively address safety issues and work to enhance safety in the sport.

All of today’s announcements follow a series of safety enhancements for Top Fuel, Funny Car, Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car implemented this year. These include a burst-panel activated safety shutoff system, which releases parachutes automatically when the manifold burst panel breaks; the use of a cable around the main element of the rear wing to automatically deploy the chutes if the wing breaks; improved oil catch can systems; use of the Eject helmet removal system; and fireproof tubing around brake lines.