[John DiBartolomeo]

Here's an interesting take and something I've mentioned before: Both Island Dragway and Numidia Dragway have 1700 feet of shutdown. At 175 mph, I'll easily wear the brakes out at Island (haven't been there in a couple of years but don't think it got any longer) and will use the 'chute to make things easier. Numidia? I've got to step on the brakes right away but no problem stopping. The difference? Numidia's shutdown area goes uphill. We always talk about short shutdown areas and it's part of the reason we went to 1000 foot racing. Now if we can't understandably make the tracks any longer, why can't we just regrade the shutdown areas? As a point of reference, the longest track on tour is Gainesville at 3300 feet, which is the place Woodro had his "encounter," although length had nothing to do with that.