Which is faster: Funny Car or Top Fuel?

Top Fuel is faster in NHRA competition—Top Fuel dragsters are the quickest to the finish and typically post the highest speeds over the standard 1,000-foot distance. That said, the single-run NHRA top speed record is held by a Funny Car, creating a rare but notable exception to the general rule.

How “faster” is measured in NHRA drag racing

Drag racing performance is judged primarily by two metrics: elapsed time (ET), which is how quickly a car covers the race distance, and terminal speed, which is the car’s speed as it crosses the finish line. Since 2008, NHRA’s nitro classes (Top Fuel and Funny Car) race to 1,000 feet rather than a quarter-mile, a change introduced for safety. In common usage, “faster” usually means both quicker ETs and higher terminal speeds across typical runs, not just a single peak record.

Current records and typical performance

Top Fuel

Top Fuel dragsters hold the edge on elapsed time and usually on speed during a given event. As of 2025, the NHRA national records list a Top Fuel ET record of 3.623 seconds (Brittany Force, Reading, 2019) and a Top Fuel speed record of 338.94 mph (Brittany Force, Las Vegas, 2022). Competitive passes commonly fall in the 3.65–3.75-second range at roughly 320–335 mph.

Funny Car

Funny Cars are slightly slower on ET but can reach striking terminal speeds. The Funny Car ET record stands at 3.793 seconds (set in 2017), while the Funny Car speed record is the sport’s overall fastest single run at 339.87 mph (Robert Hight, Sonoma, 2017). Typical competitive runs are in the 3.85–3.95-second window, with finish-line speeds often between 320–335 mph.

Why Top Fuel is generally faster

The design differences are decisive. Top Fuel dragsters are long, narrow, and optimized for low aerodynamic drag and high downforce efficiency. Funny Cars, with their full-bodied shells, carry more frontal area and aero drag. Both classes burn nitromethane and make on the order of 11,000–12,000 horsepower, but the dragster’s chassis layout, wheelbase, and aero package let it accelerate harder and reach the stripe sooner over 1,000 feet.

Key comparisons at a glance

The following points distill how Top Fuel and Funny Car stack up in the metrics fans care about most, and where the occasional record-book wrinkle comes from.

• Quickest to the finish: Top Fuel (quicker ETs, e.g., 3.623 seconds vs. Funny Car’s 3.793 seconds).
• Top speed record: Funny Car holds the all-time NHRA speed mark at 339.87 mph; Top Fuel’s is 338.94 mph.
• Typical event speeds: Top Fuel usually posts slightly higher terminal speeds across a weekend, despite the Funny Car outlier record.
• Race distance: Both classes run 1,000 feet (since 2008), which emphasizes acceleration and chassis efficiency.
• Design drivers: Dragster aerodynamics and wheelbase give Top Fuel a performance edge; Funny Cars trade some speed for downforce and stability under their body shells.

Taken together, these factors explain why Top Fuel is recognized as the sport’s quickest and, in practical terms, fastest class, even though Funny Car owns the single-run top speed record.

Summary

Top Fuel is faster for all practical purposes—dragsters are quicker to 1,000 feet and typically record higher speeds during competition. The headline exception is the Funny Car’s 339.87 mph all-time NHRA speed record, but Top Fuel retains the benchmark ET record and the overall performance advantage.

Are Top Fuel and Funny Car engines the same?

Funny Cars are powered by the same supercharged and fuel-injected 500-inch engines as Top Fuel dragsters. Funny Cars are also similar to Top Fuel dragsters in that they do not use a transmission but rather transmit power to the huge Goodyear rear slicks through a multistage clutch assembly that is activated by timers.

How fast would a Top Fuel dragster go in 1/4 mile?

Top Fuel dragsters currently run a distance of 1,000 feet, not a full quarter-mile (1,320 feet), with the fastest elapsed times recorded in the mid-3.6-second range. For example, Brittany Force holds the record for the fastest run, with an elapsed time of 3.641 seconds at 338.94 mph set at the NHRA Finals in Pomona, California, on November 11, 2022. While some sources mention 1,000-foot distances for NHRA Top Fuel, other racing sanctioning bodies like the IHRA have certified a 1,320-foot quarter-mile record. 
Why 1,000 Feet? 

• A 1,000-foot distance became the standard for Top Fuel competition to improve safety, as the dragsters have become so fast and powerful that a full quarter-mile was no longer necessary to determine a winner and increased risks.

Key Records 

• Fastest Elapsed Time (1,000 ft): 3.641 seconds by Brittany Force.
• Fastest Speed (1,000 ft): 338.94 mph by Brittany Force.

Context of Records

• It’s important to note that records can differ based on the racing organization. The 3.641-second time is a national record set in the NHRA. 
• Other records may exist for different sanctioning bodies or specific events. 

How much horsepower does a NHRA Funny Car have?

An NHRA Top Fuel Funny Car, powered by a supercharged, nitro-burning V8 engine, produces over 11,000 horsepower, with some sources citing figures around 12,000 horsepower, a result of high boost levels and extremely high RPMs. This immense power allows these machines to reach speeds exceeding 330 mph and cover the quarter-mile dragstrip in under 3.8 seconds. 
This video explains the immense power of a Top Fuel Dragster: 46sNHRAYouTube · Jan 6, 2025
Here’s a breakdown of their power:

• High-Performance Engines: They use 500-cubic-inch Hemi engines. 
• Nitromethane Fuel: These engines are fueled by nitromethane. 
• High Boost and RPMs: Peak power is generated through very high boost levels and extreme revolutions per minute (RPMs). 
• Brief Peak Power: The internal components are stressed to a high degree, meaning the peak horsepower is only safely achieved for brief periods. 
• Single Cylinder Output: Each cylinder of a Top Fuel engine produces around 1,500 horsepower, equivalent to several NASCAR or Formula 1 engines combined. 

This video demonstrates the power and speed of a Funny Car: 1m1320videoYouTube · Jan 26, 2022

What is the top speed of the Funny Car?

The highest official Funny Car speed recorded is 341.85 mph, achieved by Brittany Force on a 3.659-second pass in July 2025, setting a new NHRA national record. This run was the quickest and fastest in Funny Car history at that time.
 
Key Details

• Brittany Force’s Record: Brittany Force achieved the record-breaking speed of 341.85 mph in July 2025, making her the fastest female and driver in NHRA history. 
• Previously Set Record: This surpassed the previous Funny Car record of 341.68 mph, set by Bob Tasca III in February 2024, which was the first time a piston-driven car exceeded 340 mph. 
• Equipment: Funny Cars are powered by the same type of supercharged, fuel-injected engines as Top Fuel dragsters and use a multi-stage clutch system instead of a transmission to send power to their rear slicks. 
• Comparison to Top Fuel: While Funny Cars can exceed 330 mph, they are shorter and lighter than Top Fuel dragsters and run in the 3.8-second range.