Racing Suits, Jackets, & Pants

Most racing suits are made of nomex material, which contains fire-retardant properties to protect the driver. Other suits are made of cotton and then chemically treated with substances like Proban to provide a level of protection from fire.

Racing suits contain sensitive materials and chemicals that provide fire protection. Care must be taken to not weaken the effects of them to help keep a driver safe. A mild laundry detergent is all that is typically required to clean a racing suit. However, check the suit tag or contact the manufacturer to confirm the correct cleaning process and safe cleaner to use. Letting the suit hang dry and out of sunlight is the best process as heat from the dryer or direct sunlight can weaken or break down the driving suit material or fire-retardant chemicals.

Most driving suits have a SFI rating. Since 1978 the SFI Foundation has tested suits and provided a rating to them that is then used and required by racing bodies. The SFI rating is put on a black and white patch placed on the left shoulder for easy visibility during tech inspections. A standard SFI rating for a driving suit is 3.2A/1. The number after the slash increases, the more protective the driving suit is. 3.2A/1 provides approximately 3 seconds before a driver would receive a 2nd degree burn in a fire. There are six different ratings that go all the way up to 3.2A/20, which provides 40 seconds before a second degree burn will happen to a driver. Most burns are caused by heat transfer rather than direct flame. Insulation is the best way to prevent burns, so as the rating goes up, so does the amount of insulation, thickness, and weight of the fire proof racing suit. Fire proof race suits are available in one piece, two piece, or multiple pieces. JEGS two piece racing suits as well as single and multi-layer versions are available.

When selecting a racing suit, the first thing you need to do is confirm the SFI rating required for the class you are going to be racing in whether it is drag or kart racing. This can be done by either a rule book or contacting the track or speaking to a track official. The required rating is the minimum requirement. You can upgrade the racing suit to a higher rating but keep in mind that the trade-off to improved protection from fire with higher ratings is a higher cost and a heavier, less breathing race car suit. Once the SFI rating has been decided on, the size needs to be confirmed. You want a comfortable and loose fitting racing driver suit. A tightly fitting driving suit can reduce the fire protection from the suit as it hugs your body and reduces the air gap. Manufacturers provide a size guide that can be found on the JEGS website. Custom driving suits are also available by special order to get you the exact size you need as well as possible custom colors. Many JEGS racing burn suits are available for purchase to meet your needs.

A JEGS expert is ready to answer your questions and help you find the JEGS racing suit that you require for your specific application.