Years ago I got tangled up with a so called "Official" at a local drag strip over this very subject. Extra long wheel studs. I never did get a reasonable answer as to why they thought they needed to have a lot of extra stud hanging out there, swinging around in the breeze. Of course, it didn't help that I was about 16, and had all the answers but didn't know the question. Of course the first Official I come across was about the same age as I was. (He likely suffered from the same affliction as I did...had all the answers, didn't know the question.) His deal was, it's a saftey issue, and the longer studs were stronger. I said that was BS. Being longer would make no difference, being
larger would. Well things kind of went south from there. What started as a question, and discussion, soon deteriorated into a hollaring match. A second Official intervened, the first one, got hauled off to one side to cool off. The second guy was likely in his thirties at that time, so he garnered a little respect right off the start. But that didn't last, because that's when I get the "Those are the rules and if you don't like it you can leave." The truth is, I doubt if I was going to get to stay anyway. So I pushed on. I asked, "if half of the exposed stud where cut off, would the wheel fall off?" I got an indigent NO! "How about if the stud was cut off right up to the nut, would it fall off then?" By now we had a bit of a crowd and a third Offical. These guys could see where this was going, so I got ushered off the premises and told not to come back. The last somewhat official response, was from Offical #1, a smirk and the finger. Never did get a real answer, and I never did go drag racing, at least not on a track. It was ironic that about a year later, Grand Bend closed and I ended up circle track racing. Grand Bend stayed closed for quite a few years until a new group opened it up and it has been going strong since. Maybe I should go back and see if anybody knows now, why the studs have to be so long? On second thought....Nah!