The last few times I have been able to catch one of the NHRA broadcasts, I noticed that Pro Stock cars have some kind of device or sensor attached or embedded into the door glass that, to me, is something new.

It's circular, about 2"-3" in diameter, about 2"-4" inside the dogleg of the roof and windshield pillar.

Clearly seen in these photos
http://www.nhra.com/2005/gallery/ps/index.asp?name=Allen_Johnson

http://www.nhra.com/2005/gallery/ps/index.asp?name=Jason_Line

Not all cars have them. Some are on both pass and driver glass, some on one side only.

At the line, the attending pit crew member slaps the glass/places hand in that area before the pre/final staging, similar to the "secret" last thing the same people do to to Top Fuel cars. I imagine that the TF "widgets" control/activate fuel or timing changes, or recorders.

Anyone knowledgeable out there know what they are used for (both)?
Thanks in Advance! :thumbsup:

It was explained once last year. It sucks the window in a little. They are looking for .0001 of a second!

They're the door latches.

I believe it's a secondary latch to keep the door glass (lexan) from bowing out at speed due to air pressure inside the car. IIRC I read an article about it a few years ago. I believe there used to be a problem with the flimsy doors blowing completely off the cars at high speeds.

That gives a new meaning to getting your doors blown off... :D

Yep, latches for the upper doorframe. The aluminum latch buttons are stepped and sit flush with the lexan when latched.

Incidently, the "secret" things the crew chief does on a Fuel car (F/C or T/F) is remove the throttle stop (used during the burnout to limit throttle thus controlling engine rpm) and then he looks at the digital tach (in front of the engine on a Funny Car or over the driver's shoulder on a Top Fuel car) and sets the engine idle speed. This is done because the Fuel cars at the line release the clutch and hold the car with the brake. Then the driver opens the second fuel manifold and leaves the line from idle. By the crew chief setting the idle manually after the burnout he can affect throttle response.

Upper Window Latch Kit
S & W 's upper window latch kit is designed to keep airflow from pulling the top of the door window away from the body at high speeds.


http://www.swracecars.com/shopimages/95-314.JPG