Kevin Kent - Nitro Funny Car - West Ten Motorsport.. takes out the timing blocks ! Great Run Though!

Festival of Power (4th April 2026) 4.36 @ 280mph 😀👍 The orange boxes in the centre of the track at Santa Pod Raceway are timing blocks (or "foam blocks") that house the finish line infrared sensors. What Do They Do? Finish Line Timing: These blocks contain reflectors or sensors that, when broken by a car's front tyre, stop the electronic timer to record the Elapsed Time (E.T.). Speed Traps: There are multiple boxes near the end of the strip. Some are placed 66 feet (20 metres) before the finish line to calculate the vehicle's trap speed (terminal velocity). Winning Lane Indicators: Breaking the beam in these boxes also triggers the track's logic system to identify and light up the winning lane on the scoreboard. Why Are They Orange and Soft? Visibility: The bright orange colour makes them clearly visible to drivers as they approach at speeds up to 300mph. Safety: They are made of foam so that if a driver "crosses the centre line" and hits them, the blocks disintegrate or move easily without damaging the vehicle or causing a crash. Magnetic Mounting: The raceway uses specialised magnetic sheets (like MagFlex) to keep the sensors stable at high speeds while allowing them to be replaced instantly if hit.