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supercharger is on its way to taking over all of those classes in a very literal sense . With the nitrous oxide injection combination almost obliterated in many divisions already , ( albeit still within “ shooting distance ” in Radial racing ), and turbochargers dropped like a whitehot header pipe by all but the most hardcore challengers in Radial and Pro Modified competition , the only remaining options are the screw compressor or , where the rules make them realistic at all , the Roots blower .
While all four forms of supercharging were created in the nineteenth century , the centrifugal blower first became an automotive application almost one hundred twenty years ago . Although all were simple air pump designs , the centrifugal version immediately displayed benefits over positive displacement ( Roots ) superchargers and screw compressors . Those same advantages have placed the centrifugal unit head and shoulders above any options in drag racing in 2021 .
While centrifugal blowers were chosen as the original production superchargers on a variety of American drag racing classics through the 1960s , the centrifugal blower wasn ’ t introduced to the mainstream until the popularity of “ small tire ” competition made famous the original ProCharger and Vortech aftermarket units . It reached the “ old school racer ” market and swept through Top Dragster Eliminator like wildfire in the first decade of the twenty-first century . Only in the past ten years have centrifugal units been designed to produce the boost needed for five thousand horsepower unlimited doorslammer competition .
Its popularity is easily understood . The ability to create nearly unlimited amounts of boost without the drag and power loss of a
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belt drive and the ability to deliver a fuel / air charge not already contaminated with massive amounts of heat far exceed the capabilities of the Turbo , Roots or Screw chargers . Likewise , infinite adjustability in the overdrive through gears rather than pulleys offers a multitude of choices not available with a blower on top of the engine . The centrifugal blower is , for the moment , the most efficient means to make boost and power .
The question remains if the associations which attempt to combine all four options in one category , ( not to mention nitrous-injected and naturally-aspirated combinations ), can “ slow down ” the centrifugal cars enough to maintain any parity for any length of time . Based on the recent performance advancements , this will be one of the sport ’ s greatest 2021 challenges .
At the recent NHRA Gatornationals , the growing number of ProCharger customers winced when Stevie Jackson ’ s 2019 Rootsbased 5.64 NHRA Pro Modified Record was bombed by a 5.62 by Jose Gonzales and his newest centrifugally-blown Q80-backed “ El General ” Camaro . The nearest Roots-blown entry was Brandon Snider ’ s new J & A Service 2021 Camaro at a distant 5.71 . Jeff Barker ’ s 2018 Camaro was the quickest nitrous machine at the event with a 5.72 and the strongest turbocharged rig was Clint Satterfield ’ s infamous “ TurboPig ” Takas Fuego ’ 69 Camaro at 5.79 .
Drag racing has been at this crossroad before . Evolution often antiquates what once seemed unbeatable . The efficiency of the centrifugal supercharger threatens the existence of options for racers in a variety of classes . In two years , will there still be a choice ?
- BRET KEPNER
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OUTLAW DRAG RADIAL ELIMINATOR QUICKEST DRIVERS ( eighth-mile )
RANK E . T . DRIVER SITE STATE DATE
1 3.498 Daniel Pharris Cecil GA 4 / 2 / 2021
2 3.502 Jason Lee Cecil GA 2 / 24 / 2021
3 3.505 Steve Jackson Dinwiddie VA 9 / 20 / 2020
4 3.518 David Reese Cecil GA 10 / 17 / 2020
5 3.529 Bryan Markiewicz Cecil GA 4 / 2 / 2021
6 3.542 J . R . Gray Cecil GA 10 / 12 / 2020
7 3.544 Kevin Rivenbark Bradenton FL 12 / 6 / 2020
8 3.546 Melanie Salemi Cecil GA 2 / 15 / 2020
OUTLAW DRAG RADIAL ELIMINATOR FASTEST DRIVERS ( eighth-mile )
RANK M . P . H . DRIVER SITE STATE DATE
1 221.20 Mark Micke Cecil GA 3 / 22 / 2018
2 218.44 Tim Slavens Cecil GA 10 / 18 / 2019
3 216.20 Daniel Pharris Cecil GA 3 / 23 / 2018
4 216.10 Ken Quartuccio Cecil GA 10 / 16 / 2020
5 215.89 Mark Woodruff Bradenton FL 1 / 24 / 2020
6 215.31 Steve Jackson Cecil GA 2 / 14 / 2020
7 214.55 David Reese Dinwiddie VA 9 / 20 / 2020
8 214.18 John Carinci Bradenton FL 1 / 25 / 2019
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X275 ELIMINATOR QUICKEST DRIVERS ( eighth-mile )
RANK E . T . DRIVER SITE STATE DATE
1 4.140 Rob Goss Cecil GA 4 / 3 / 2021
2 4.156 Dom DiDonato Cecil GA 4 / 3 / 2021
3 4.158 Ron Rhodes Dinwiddie VA 4 / 23 / 2021
4 4.172 Mike Cerminaro Dinwiddie VA 4 / 24 / 2021
5 4.175 Manny Buginga Dinwiddie VA 9 / 19 / 2020
6 4.175 Gary White Cecil GA 4 / 3 / 2021
7 4.175 Rich Bruder Dinwiddie VA 4 / 23 / 2021
8 4.179 Blake Copson Cecil GA 2 / 24 / 2021
X275 ELIMINATOR FASTEST DRIVERS ( eighth-mile )
RANK M . P . H . DRIVER SITE STATE DATE
1 181.01 Gary White Cecil GA 4 / 3 / 2021
2 179.30 Dom DiDonato Dinwiddie VA 4 / 23 / 2021
3 178.14 Eric LaFerriere Bradenton FL 1 / 31 / 2021
4 175.62 Manny Buginga Dinwiddie VA 9 / 19 / 2020
5 174.44 John McDonough Cecil GA 10 / 12 / 2020
6 173.36 Jared Johnston Cecil GA 3 / 22 / 2019
7 173.34 John Urist Cecil GA 2 / 25 / 2021
8 172.70 Ron Rhodes Cecil GA 10 / 17 / 2020
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UNLIMITED PRO MOD ELIMINATOR QUICKEST DRIVERS ( eighth-mile ) |
EXTREME TURBO ELIMINATOR QUICKEST DRIVERS ( eighth-mile ) |
UNLIMITED NITROUS ELIMINATOR QUICKEST DRIVERS ( eighth-mile ) |
EXTREME PRO STOCK ELIMINATOR QUICKEST & FASTEST DRIVERS ( eighth-mile ) |
RANK E . T . DRIVER SITE STATE DATE |
RANK E . T . DRIVER SITE STATE DATE |
RANK E . T . DRIVER SITE STATE DATE |
RANK PERF DRIVER SITE STATE DATE |
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1 3.485 Frankie Taylor Rockingham NC 4 / 5 / 2014
2 3.486 Brandon Snider Tulsa OK 3 / 18 / 2016
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1 3.527 Jose Gonzalez Dinwiddie VA 10 / 23 / 2015
2 3.540 Kevin Fiscus Benson NC 4 / 5 / 2016
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1 3.542 J . R . Gray Cecil GA 10 / 12 / 2020
2 3.549 Marcus Birt Cecil GA 10 / 17 / 2020
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1 4.007 Chris Powers Dinwiddie VA 10 / 18 / 2019
1 181.20 Jeff Dobbins Dinwiddie VA 10 / 19 / 2018
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3 3.492 Jason Scruggs Tulsa OK 3 / 18 / 2016
4 3.496 Terry Leggett Benson NC 11 / 12 / 2016
5 3.498 Daniel Pharris Cecil GA 4 / 2 / 2021
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3 3.561 Eric Dillard Dinwiddie VA 10 / 14 / 2015
4 3.566 Carl Stevens , Jr . Dinwiddie VA 10 / 24 / 2015
5 3.578 Daniel Pharris Cecil GA 3 / 22 / 2019
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3 3.567 Jamie Hancock Brandenton FL 1 / 28 / 2021
4 3.572 Luis de Leon Dinwiddie VA 9 / 20 / 2020
5 3.589 Daniel Ray Brandenton FL 1 / 31 / 2021
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OUTLAW 275 ELIMINATOR QUICKEST & FASTEST DRIVERS ( eighth-mile ) |
6 3.502 Jason Lee Cecil GA 2 / 24 / 2021 |
6 3.596 Khalid Mohammed Doha QAT 3 / 3 / 2018 |
6 3.592 Jim Halsey Brandenton FL 12 / 5 / 2020 |
RANK PERF DRIVER SITE STATE DATE |
7 3.505 Steve Jackson Dinwiddie VA 9 / 20 / 2020 |
7 3.618 Kris Thorne Dinwiddie VA 10 / 17 / 2019 |
7 3.610 Jay Cox Dinwiddie VA 9 / 19 / 2020 |
1 3.667 Shawn Ayers Cecil GA 4 / 2 / 2021 |
8 3.510 Khalid al Refaei Tulsa OK 3 / 19 / 2016 |
8 3.621 Tim Slavens Cecil GA 2 / 14 / 2019 |
8 3.613 Lizzy Musi Brandenton FL 12 / 5 / 2020 |
1 213.27 Mark Micke Cecil GA 10 / 17 / 2020 |
UNLIMITED PRO MOD ELIMINATOR FASTEST DRIVERS ( eighth-mile ) |
EXTREME TURBO ELIMINATOR FASTEST DRIVERS ( eighth-mile ) |
UNLIMITED NITROUS ELIMINATOR FASTEST DRIVERS ( eighth-mile ) |
OUTLAW SIX-CYLINDER ELIMINATOR QUICKEST & FASTEST DRIVERS ( quarter-mile ) |
RANK M . P . H . DRIVER SITE STATE DATE |
RANK M . P . H . DRIVER SITE STATE DATE |
RANK M . P . H . DRIVER SITE STATE DATE |
RANK PERF DRIVER SITE STATE DATE |
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1 231.44 Kevin Fiscus Benson NC 4 / 5 / 2016
2 231.24 Jose Gonzalez Rockingham NC 4 / 10 / 2016
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1 231.44 Kevin Fiscus Benson NC 4 / 5 / 2016
2 231.24 Jose Gonzalez Rockingham NC 4 / 10 / 2016
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1 210.77 Jim Halsey Brandenton FL 12 / 5 / 2020
2 209.23 Lizzy Musi Dinwiddie VA 10 / 22 / 2018
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1 5.557 Arnaldo Santiago Budds Creek MD 10 / 5 / 2019
1 262.74 Jomar Gomez Bithlo FL 3 / 6 / 2021
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3 230.10 Carl Stevens , Jr . Dinwiddie VA 10 / 24 / 2015
4 225.33 Turki al Zafiri Gilliam LA 5 / 1 / 2015
5 224.92 Eric Dillard Dinwiddie VA 10 / 14 / 2015
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3 230.10 Carl Stevens , Jr . Dinwiddie VA 10 / 24 / 2015
4 225.33 Turki al Zafiri Gilliam LA 5 / 1 / 2015
5 224.92 Eric Dillard Dinwiddie VA 10 / 14 / 2015
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3 208.72 Jay Cox Darlington SC 10 / 5 / 2019
4 208.52 Tommy Franklin Dinwiddie VA 9 / 20 / 2019
5 207.82 Ron Muenks Dinwiddie VA 9 / 20 / 2020
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OUTLAW SIX-CYLINDER ELIMINATOR QUICKEST & FASTEST DRIVERS ( eighth-mile ) |
6 223.54 Jason Scruggs Tulsa OK 3 / 19 / 2016 |
6 221.74 Kris Thorne Bradenton FL 12 / 6 / 2020 |
6 207.37 Mike Achenbach Bradenton FL 1 / 26 / 2020 |
RANK PERF DRIVER SITE STATE DATE |
7 221.74 Kris Thorne Bradenton FL 12 / 6 / 2020 |
7 221.20 Mark Micke Cecil GA 3 / 22 / 2018 |
7 207.18 Marcus Birt Bithlo FL 11 / 9 / 2019 |
1 3.693 Arnaldo Santiago Budds Creek MD 10 / 5 / 2019 |
8 221.56 Brandon Snider Tulsa OK 3 / 19 / 2016 |
8 220.58 Khalid Mohammed Sakhir BAH 1 / 12 / 2017 |
8 207.18 J . R . Gray Cecil GA 10 / 12 / 2020 |
1 210.21 Arnaldo Santiago Budds Creek MD 10 / 5 / 2019 |