In the wake of Scott Kalitta's death, the National Hot Rod Association will adopt a 1,000-foot track length for the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes starting with the running of this weekend's race in Denver.

This interim departure from the traditional 1,320-foot dragstrip length is to allow the NHRA time to analyze and determine if changes in the format of racing its fastest classes of cars should be instituted in the interest of safety.

Kalitta, a 46-year-old Funny Car driver and a veteran racer, was killed in New Jersey last month when his car's engine exploded at speed and he crashed into the retaining wall at the shut-down area of the track.

In spring 2007, Eric Medlin was killed at speed at a track in Florida, and Kalitta's death has raised issues about the speeds of these cars, which can easily obtain 330 mph in the quarter mile.

At the Edmonton International Hot Rod Association event last weekend, Funny Car driver Dale Creasy Jr. was seriously injured when the drive line in his car exploded at speed and he suffered multiple lower body traumas.

Obviously, racing at this level can be dangerous. With a short wheelbase of 317.5 centimetres, a Funny Car is the hardest to handle as the driver constantly fights with the steering to keep the car straight as the rear tires try to maintain traction on the track while getting close to 8,000 horsepower from the engine. By contrast, a Top Fuel car, which develops the same power, has its engine behind the driver in a car with a 762-centimetre wheelbase, and usually goes down the track straight.

Since Medlin's death, a new version of a Funny Car is in the works, with the emphasis on enhanced safety. This movement is headed by drag racing icon John Force, who himself suffered a nasty crash late last year but has returned to competition.

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He may have a handicap, but that does not stop Kris Martin from pursing his dream.

The 21-year old hearing-impaired Burlington racer, who was born deaf, will be competing in a Wheelan All-American NASCAR Late Model series race on the weekend in North Carolina.

Martin has raced in oval track events for several years, and has utilized his tactile senses when competing in a race car. He will be driving for Lee Faulk Racing in one of the team's Late Models at Tri-County Speedway.

Along with his racing, Martin has become an advocate of the hearing-impaired, providing inspirational speeches for organizations such as VOICE (Voice For Hearing Impaired Children) in Canada, and the CHHA (Canadian Hard of Hearing Association).

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Weekend winners: Doug Hood, of Freelton, drove his 1930 Model A coupe to a feature win in Canadian Vintage Modified racing at ... Carl Spiering, of Jordan Station, had a successful weekend at the IHRA Rocky Mountain Nationals in Edmonton, winning the Pro Modified title in the national event in his Eaton Cutler-Hammer sponsored 1963 Corvette.

Tim Miller is a longtime motorsports writer and author of several books on the sport.