Dirt
The Major Leagues of Alcohol Racing
Pro Alcohol Drag Racing series seeks to take alcohol racing to the next level By Nate Van Wagnen
Since the early 2000s , the NHRA Lucas Oil Series ’ Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car classes have been seen by many as feeder classes for Top Fuel and Funny Car . After all , numerous current Top Fuel and Funny Car drivers spent time in the alcohol ranks before moving up to the “ big show .” But Kevin and Kris Hool , two brothers who have competed in Top Alcohol Funny Car for more than 30 years , are trying to change the narrative with their new Pro Alcohol Drag Racing ( PADR ) series . Their vision is for the alcohol classes to be the destination , not a stop along the way .
“ Our main emphasis is geared toward team ownership in the alcohol ranks ,” says Kevin , who tunes the brothers ’ K & K Motorsports Top Alcohol Funny Car driven by Kris . “ We do not believe that the primary purpose of alcohol racing is to populate the nitro ranks . We ’ ve been racing in alcohol for over 30 years , and in that time 95 percent of the teams we have encountered have shown little to no interest in racing in Top Fuel or Funny Car . Alcohol racing isn ’ t the minor leagues of fuel racing . Instead , we want Pro Alcohol Drag Racing to be the major leagues of alcohol racing .”
PADR is still in the planning phases , with the goal of launching a schedule of six events in 2024 . The touring quarter-mile series will feature screw-blown , clutch-equipped , methanol-burning Funny Cars competing in a unique format . The series plans to have eight-car qualified fields , with winners advancing and losers dropping to another bracket to continue racing . A full eightcar field will provide all drivers with three runs on race day . Payouts and bonus points will be distributed based on how drivers finish in positions 1 through 8 .
“ On Sunday , you ’ re going to see many more pairs of racing ,” Hool says . “ You ’ ve got people in the seats , you ’ re going to have cars on the racetrack . Rather than the standard eight-car format , which is seven runs total , we ’ re going to offer a track 12 runs on race day itself .”
The series will also use a modified Pro tree , where the green light and all three amber bulbs will be triggered simultaneously to signal the start of the race . There will not be a . 400 delay between the green and ambers .
“ The drivers and teams that have worked hard at making themselves and their cars quicker and more efficient are being penalized by the current . 400 Pro tree system ,” Hool says . “ The modern Alcohol Funny Car has simply outpaced the current starting structure , and the PADR believes it ’ s time for a change to make Alcohol Funny Car racing better . Everyone wants to see and appreciate which drivers and cars are the best at reacting to the light , not who ’ s the best at ‘ delaying ’ their reaction to the light . Let ’ s find out who really is the best at the starting line , in both car and driver .
“ It will also eliminate at least 99 percent of the red lights ,” Hool adds . “ That ’ s another thing tracks are really open to . During red lights , a guy will normally just idle it down track knowing he ’ s red lit , so it takes the excitement of the run out of race day . This will eliminate most of the red lights , so you ’ ll have much more side-by-side racing .”
In an effort to keep costs and performance levels in check , PADR will limit the number of parts each team can bring to each race . Each team will be allowed two engine blocks , two crankshafts , and two sets of cylinder heads for use during each event . Additionally , a point penalty will be assessed for any engine block or crankshaft replacement during qualifying or eliminations . If a team goes through its allocation of those limited parts , they ’ re considered out of competition . There ’ s no penalty or limit on parts like valves , valve springs , pistons , connecting rods , and other consumables .
PHOTOGRAPHS BY K & K MOTORSPORTS AND DYAN LOVER
54 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 184