NHRA Death, Neal Parker NHRA Death

Latest news about NHRA Death, Neal Parker NHRA Death: Neal Parker’s fatal accident during qualifying this afternoon, pondered what the drag racing community’s reaction would be.

At that precise moment, her neighbors in the Old Bridge Township Raceway Park pits fired up their engines, warming up for another qualifying run for the National Hot Rod Association SuperNationals.

“That’s the NHRA’s response,” she said. “The show goes on.”

It did today, despite the midday death of the Parker, 58, of Millville. The Top Alcohol Funny Car driver was pronounced dead after his “Excavator” Chevy Monte Carlo blasted through the sand trap at the end of the track, through one of two catch-nets and over several rows of protective barrels.

The improved netting had been installed in response to Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta’s fiery, high-speed death in 2008.

Racing resumed today after a four-hour delay while New Jersey State Police investigated the crash.

Provisional top pro qualifiers were Cory McClenathan (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock), and Michael Phillips (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

Although Parker’s class continued qualifying, DeJoria — who had lined up two pairings behind him — said, “I don’t think they should run today, out of respect for him. I think they should shut it down, like they did for Scott.
“I want to race, but it doesn’t feel right today,” she said. “We’re probably going to have to do it anyway … but I’ve got to tell you — I’ve got a sick feeling in my stomach.

“It’s just heartbreaking,” DeJoria said. “I’m at war with myself right now. I’m kind of lost right now.”

Tom Carter, the Victoria, Texas, dentist who drives “The Jawbreaker” entry and sat directly behind Parker in line, said, “I think it was an accident. I think this could have happened anywhere. Before we pass judgment on the racetrack and NHRA, we should find out what happened. We don’t know the whole story. He could’ve had a heart attack and his foot stuck on the throttle. That could have prevented him from pulling the parachutes.”

Kalitta’s death prompted the NHRA to shorten the length of the race course for the nitromethane-fueled Top Fuel and Funny Car classes from the traditional quarter-mile (1,320 feet) to 1,000 feet. However, Parker’s death begged the question of whether sportsman drivers, too, should be limited to 1,000 feet.

“It wouldn’t upset me to run 1,000 feet,” Carter said.

“We should have those electronic units [Electromotion sensors] that deploy the parachutes and shut the car off at the end of the quarter-mile,” he said. “They are using them on the nitro cars, and I believe they are going to eventually put them on our cars. At the very minimum, we ought to have that.”