Steve Klemetti is a long time friend of The Drag Racing List. We have
been corresponding from WAY back in the days of the paper Drag Racing List
booklet. A true stats fan, Steve has followed an intertwining, but
separate path from the Drag Racing List. While we have been busy putting
together lists of all the pro, semipro, exhibition, and quicker sportsman
racers in the world, Steve was busy using our lists and his own research
to create his own databases.
Steve now provides updates after nearly every NHRA national and
divisional event and many IHRA events. This provides a much-needed
counterbalance to the work Danny White and I do. Steve's influence has
added greatly to the accuracy of Draglist records, and will be seen even more
as we adopt some of his embellishments to our lists. (One day soon, we
will include a column for the track where each performance was run).
Personal Best with Steve Klemetti will feature drivers'
performance improvements from event to event during the racing year. After
nearly each event, Steve will let us know which drivers improved their
performance, what class they drove in, the track at which their previous
best was recorded, the actual previous best performance (ET or speed), the
updated ET or speed, and the track at which it was recorded. In addition,
Steve will sort the amount of performance improvement for each driver, so
we can follow who improved by the most.
If The Drag Racing List ever gets to the point where we can afford to
sponsor drag races, this will be the method. We will provide a cash award
to the racer in each category who makes the biggest leap in performance
from race to race. Let's call it the "draglist.com Personal Best
Award." Steve's work will form the basis of that award.
As you can see, Steve was busy providing us this information since late
1999, but we are only now getting Steve's column going as we continue to
try to catch up to the workload. Now that we have the format and templates
ready, we will have the updated personal best performance information
available soon after each national event. Check back right here to see who
is making the biggest improvements as the racing season goes on!
In addition to the his work with The Drag Racing List, Steve Klemetti
has his own website that contains fascinating information, including the
following:
The history of NHRA National Records - A list of national records
and other performance marks for the professional and alcohol classes
including quickest bumps spots and the quickest and fastest side by side
races. Early data came from Draglist.com.
List of Most Wins for Driver – A list of Personal Bests from NHRA
National, Divisional, and other teched-in events. Updated after every
National Event and divisional event.
Racer Biographies – Information compiled from the notes attached
to Draglist entries, thoroughly updated.
Steve is looking for pre-1985 National Dragster newspapers in order to
continue his work. If you have any to sell or lend, please contact Steve
at the link below.
Steve Klemetti