Driver Reactions to Average Reaction Times

After doing this column for six months and while we are in between seasons, I thought this would be a good time to give you a few FAQ's about DragStats. Along with these FAQ's about stats, I want to share with you some reactions from drivers to DragStats.

While crew chiefs are primarily interested in their car's and other team's incremental times, (they want to know where the fastest cars are making their moves on the track) there is no contest as which stat drivers are interested in...average reaction time! Actually, I've never gotten a request or question regarding anything other stat. Here is one example of how interested one FC driver was. This driver, during his "TAFC" days, used to call me in between editions of National Dragster. He would wait on the phone and while I calculated his up-to-date average reaction time. Another FC driver would order a list of the top 100 reaction times at the end of every season. I would highlight his name on the list for him to see how often his name was listed.

Speaking of National Dragster, DragStats first appeared in 1987. Since every sport had "Top 10's" and I suggested to the editor that drag racing should have one too. He agreed, and 15 seasons later I'm still doing it. This leads to FAQ #1.

FAQ#1 - Why do your stats only date back to 1990? I started keeping stats the same time I got my first PC, 1987. I have data going back to 1987, but I have not had time to convert it to the format my program now uses. Here's a quick antidote when DragStats first appeared...a fuel racer wanted to know why they were ranked 10th in average reaction time at the end of the season. This person thought DragStats was poor journalism, etc. By the way, I have yet to introduce myself to this driver. Which leads to FAQ#2.

FAQ#2 - Are your stats objective or subjective? For the most part objective...meaning the numbers speak for themselves, I don't mess with them. If you have 11 stats, to calculate the mean you add all 11 stats and divide by 11. To find the median, you sort the 11 stats and take the 6th stat as the median. When is it subject? I do throw out elapsed times and mph from aborted runs, redlight reaction times, and an occasionally a reaction time from a single run. Here are two stories that tie into this second FAQ. First, one FC driver called me and wanted to why his name wasn't in the season ending top ten average reaction time list. That's a valid question, but I don't put a spin on the stats to promote or demote anyone. The numbers simply average out to reflect what stats occurred. The second story is about a call I received from a current TF driver, during his FC days. This driver had just made a solo run because his opponent had engine problems at the starting line. This driver wanted to know if his .6something reaction time was going to figure into my stats. His point being a driver on a single run is just concentrating on going from point a to point b. I agree, throw that stat out of mix.

FAQ#3 - Where are the sportsman stats? Sportsman racers produce fantastic stats. The reason I don't track them is because this takes a huge amount of time. I manually enter and double check every stat. The stats come from NHRA's timing sheets. There are other factors as well. Should I enter division and national stats? Some division stats are not even available. I don't intend to disrespect other drivers by not including their class.

One final note - thank goodness the small front tires are gone from Top Fuel. I got all kinds for flak during the time period they were used. The smaller tire guys always had quicker reaction times, because smaller tires trip the lights sooner. The bigger tire guys would always complain about this inequity. What was I supposed to do? I guess could have created a rollout factor and factored their stats upward, but that would have been even more controversial! By the way, did you know that there used to be fuel and pro stock factors for the Mile High Nationals. I used to factor elapsed time and mph for that event only. I decided to do away with that and go back and put the stats in their original state after Blaine Johnson's out of the box 4.703 in 1996! That run would have translated to an approximate 4.50 run. A 4.50 would not have made any sense for that time.

Stat Trivia:

Each month I'm going to leave you with some Stat Trivia, that only you will know, since you read this column. Have fun with these stats!

Here is the question and answer... What class has had the most drivers qualifying for National events in the last 12 seasons (since 1990)? My first guess would be Pro Stock, but PS ranks 3rd...98 unique qualifying drivers. Second is Funny Car with 101 and the most is Top Fuel with 108. Think about it, 307 different teams/drivers have put together crews, passed tech, paid entry fees and had the know-how to qualify at NHRA national events. The other amazing thing about this stat is that the numbers are so close together. No one class has a monopoly of drivers! (Note - some of these drivers are the same people. They raced in multiple classes over this time period. But the point is still valid.)

See ya next month and let's hope for some safe racing and great stats in the 2002 season - Jim Hawkins!

Review more 2001 season ending stats, including stats for all NHRA qualifying drivers, Top 12, and National Events at Jim's DragStats web site:

http://home.att.net/~jhawkins/dragstats.htm or email him with any questions at: DragStats@att.net

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