Top Fuel Centrifugal Clutch - Explained

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPBCCuFLCXk

How do top fuel dragsters put down up to 10,000 horsepower? It's all done through a slipping multi-plate centrifugal clutch. The clutch has fingers on it which, under rotation, will provide pressure on the clutch pack. As more fingers press down at higher rotational speeds, the clutch pack compresses further, locking up the clutch and allowing for the full engine torque to be supplied to the wheels. The difference between a good run and a bad run in the NHRA all comes down to how well you execute clutch slip and provide the absolute maximum torque to the driven wheels without them fully breaking loose.