As the 2008 season comes to a close this weekend in Rockingham, the competition department has reviewed the 2008 downtime numbers for each professional category.  This effort is to monitor and improve the categories and black flag procedures so that the fans are treated to good racing and less clean-up.

Showing the most improvement of any professional class was Top Fuel.  The class had a 61% reduction in downtime in 2008 as compared to the same completed events in 2007.  The category accounted for 277 minutes of downtime as opposed to 712 in 2007, while the average number of cars per race only dropped 1 car for 2008.  Top Fuel posted the first reduction in downtime since 2004.  The class has averaged 598 minutes of downtime in the last three seasons until this year.

Nitro Funny Car was the only class to post more downtime than 2007, racking up 429 minutes up from 370 in 2007 and 411 minutes in 2006.  The class posted an average number of cars per event gain of 1 car.

Pro Modified, Alcohol Funny Car and Pro Stock also posted reductions in downtime.  Pro Modified downtime was reduced 23%, Alcohol Funny Car downtime was reduced by 34% and Pro Stock was down 58%.

IHRA thanks all our pro teams for taking the time to work on this important aspect of the show!  While the work in reducing downtime is never done, 2008 moved in a positive direction.  Together, we made a significant impact on the quality, safety and timeliness of the Nitro Jam events in 2008.