10 questions for the new Pres....via NHRA.com

[RebilasPhoto]

2 day events? Never gonna happen

I bet you see a two day national event a lot sooner than you think. Like early next year.... #comingsoon

 

[RebilasPhoto]

Well two day pro show. They will still have an all sportsman day of racing as well.

 

[PJ]

I think a 2 day pro show could work at some races. 3 qualifying attempts on Friday then go race Saturday. Start eliminations 1 or 2, that way semi's and finals can be under the lights or at least close depending on the time of year

Sportsman can mix in on Saturday earlier in the day, then between the pros as needed on during pro eliminations. Then they run their eliminations on Sunday.

I'd also toss out most of the current sportsman classes or at least the supers and go all out bracket. Drop the throttle stops, pick a number and run it. You want to spend big money and run low 7's cool, line up against the guy running 13's then. Every once in awhile you catch a large handicap and people get real interested. 85 of the same looking dragsters coasting off the line is a yawn fest. Make them chase each other or other types of cars and you will start to spark some interest.
Even if they split a giant bracket class in half sub 10/over 10 or whatever. That would work too. Keep comp and alky then and lets go racing.

 

[FABMAN]

I think a 2 day pro show could work at some races. 3 qualifying attempts on Friday then go race Saturday. Start eliminations 1 or 2, that way semi's and finals can be under the lights or at least close depending on the time of year

Sportsman can mix in on Saturday earlier in the day, then between the pros as needed on during pro eliminations. Then they run their eliminations on Sunday.

I'd also toss out most of the current sportsman classes or at least the supers and go all out bracket. Drop the throttle stops, pick a number and run it. You want to spend big money and run low 7's cool, line up against the guy running 13's then. Every once in awhile you catch a large handicap and people get real interested. 85 of the same looking dragsters coasting off the line is a yawn fest. Make them chase each other or other types of cars and you will start to spark some interest.
Even if they split a giant bracket class in half sub 10/over 10 or whatever. That would work too. Keep comp and alky then and lets go racing.

Million Dollar race they ran dragsters together and door cars together until the end. We have had races at KCIR that way as well then dragster runs door car for the money.

 

[vegasnitro]

You will never get the throttle stops and delay boxes back in that genie's bottle. It is simply another case of the competitors being ahead of the sanctioning body. The Super categories are the largest attended classes in sportsman racing and thusly, pay the most to play. Tracks will not want to lose that "back gate" money. It will be tough to change the rules too much because you would obsolete HUNDREDS of cars/equipment instantly. Besides, Super categories are NOT spectator categories, they are participant categories. The super categories were not created to get fans in the stands, they were created to get drivers in racecars and at the tracks. In that regard, they have been pretty successful. There are plenty of "heads up" categories at National Events to keep us entertained and I need the time the super categories are running to go to the pits and socialize, get a beer, grab a burger, take a leak, etc. One of the HUGE draws to NHRA drag racing for me is the freedom to move from the stands to the pits and back without missing anything on track. If I wanted to show up at a track at 11am and never get out of my seat until 5pm I would go to Talladega or Martinsville. Just my opinion, I reserve the right to be wrong LOL.

 

[SundayNiagara]

You will never get the throttle stops and delay boxes back in that genie's bottle. It is simply another case of the competitors being ahead of the sanctioning body. The Super categories are the largest attended classes in sportsman racing and thusly, pay the most to play. Tracks will not want to lose that "back gate" money. It will be tough to change the rules too much because you would obsolete HUNDREDS of cars/equipment instantly. Besides, Super categories are NOT spectator categories, they are participant categories. The super categories were not created to get fans in the stands, they were created to get drivers in racecars and at the tracks. In that regard, they have been pretty successful. There are plenty of "heads up" categories at National Events to keep us entertained and I need the time the super categories are running to go to the pits and socialize, get a beer, grab a burger, take a leak, etc. One of the HUGE draws to NHRA drag racing for me is the freedom to move from the stands to the pits and back without missing anything on track. If I wanted to show up at a track at 11am and never get out of my seat until 5pm I would go to Talladega or Martinsville. Just my opinion, I reserve the right to be wrong LOL.

Just replace them with 64-128 car qualified fields of T/D & T/S. Much better racing.

 

[PJ]

I get that Chris, super gas used to be one of my favorite classes though. The the throttle stops came in and ruined it for me.

 

[Reese]

If you think sportsman classes are going anywhere, just multiply the car count times the entry fees and you may change your mind.
I am thinking the opposite, I want more sportsman eliminations on Sunday other than the 2 rounds they do now. I will be watching but gives more time for fans to go the pits. Maybe that is why the stands look so empty on Sunday, they have to go to pits when some pros are running.
Also I always thought they should pick random fans(maybe 10) and teach them how to race by racing rental cars. One last thing, when Alan is asking fans how long they been coming to the nationals, also ask them when was the last time they supported their local tracks, I bet hardly any hands will go up.

 

[Leebone]

Award the fuel teams one point per throttle whack. A limit of course, two points per round.

 

[yoda]

Well two day pro show. They will still have an all sportsman day of racing as well.

I think a 2 day pro show could work at some races. 3 qualifying attempts on Friday then go race Saturday. Start eliminations 1 or 2, that way semi's and finals can be under the lights or at least close depending on the time of year

Sportsman can mix in on Saturday earlier in the day, then between the pros as needed on during pro eliminations. Then they run their eliminations on Sunday.

I'd also toss out most of the current sportsman classes or at least the supers and go all out bracket. Drop the throttle stops, pick a number and run it. You want to spend big money and run low 7's cool, line up against the guy running 13's then. Every once in awhile you catch a large handicap and people get real interested. 85 of the same looking dragsters coasting off the line is a yawn fest. Make them chase each other or other types of cars and you will start to spark some interest.
Even if they split a giant bracket class in half sub 10/over 10 or whatever. That would work too. Keep comp and alky then and lets go racing.

So, now is the time for NHRA to be looking at those markets that can support a Sunday, Sportsman Only event behind the Fri-Sat nitro circus. BUT- they will be few and far between.... Look at the stands during the LODRS events; and at some of those, the track has GIVEN tickets away to get people in the stands (to eat the hot dog, drink the beer...).

I'm sure they know the pockets where Sportsman racing holds its own during the weekend, but as much as I'd like to see the Two Day Pro show come to fruition, will it even be worth the track to take the lock off the gate on Sunday after the circus leaves town?


(I have suggested for years that, in addition to the Sunday Sportsman program, a limited number of Pro teams can book test time for Sunday as well, but they run when there is an open slot in the competition schedule...)