I'm all for running the full 1/4 mile...on all of the tracks that are capable of handling the speed and getting the car stopped when the chutes get burned off.... But until then, a 1,000 ft. race is a good interim safety solution....

There have been many, many improvements in safety over the years. Unfortunately most of them came about as a result of a tragedy like this. It's just high time NHRA and the participants took a stand on these safety issues and did something about them.

No amount of safety rules will prevent all the accidents and injuries. I'd hate to see it come down to an "OSHA APPROVED" top fuel show. But the obvious things like short shut down areas can be handled easily. If the crowds won't show up to watch a 1,000' drag race at E-town, then the track will have a lot of incentive to spend the big bucks to build a new facility or buy up more land so the shutdown area can be lengthened.

I've raced on a lot of unsafe tracks, both circle burners and drag racing, usually because of sponsor commitments, points racing, or a varitey of reasons. A driver shouldn't be forced into making the decision of driving on an unsafe track or losing his ride....

It's just too bad it takes the death of people like Scott Kallita to bring the safety issue to prominence....

No hard feelings or pissin' contest on my part 737... Matter of fact I will offer you a standing invitation to come race with us sometime and get a new look at drag racing from the participant level....