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Alky Fields in Vegas..
- Thread starter Toejam
- Start date
TR
Nitro Member
Wow what a Poor entry list, 15 FC's and just 17 Dragsters! You would think with the D-7 race the following week more cars would be there! D-7 ain't what it used to be!
NHRA has run them off, slowly been taking them away from National events.
Rick
Actually Rick there are still the same number of National events (16) that contest the alky classes, NHRA has just moved the venues around a bit in the past few years. The economy and high fuel prices definitely have something to do with the car counts. And, as Bruce said, the movement of some alky teams to the nostalgia classes, especially on the West coast. Interestingly there are two East coast teams (Tigges, Gill) entered for Las Vegas and three (Ferro, Tigges, Gill) entered for Pomona. I believe all three teams are also planning to run the divisional in Vegas.
I checked the Spring Vegas race; Brett Williamson, Brian Hough, John Patton, Mark Wozniachak, Ken Webster, Clint Thompson, Sean O'Bannon Ran that race, but aren't entered at this one!
Clint Thompson just ran the Maple Grove National, Noble, OK, and Reynolds, GA. Hough was also in Noble, OK and Reynolds, GA., both were trying to win the D6 championship. I don't think Ken Webster is driving the Synoil car anymore and it is entered in Vegas with another driver. Not sure about the others although I noticed that O'Bannon withdrew from Pomona.
Maybe all those East coast boys making the trip scared them all away
SundayNiagara
Nitro Member
It's over for funny cars!
Gotta disagree with that statement. I think this year is a composite of things ...
1) Economic (Fuel / Travel expenses)
2) It appears as if teams wait to see how the season shakes out before entering an event. In this case ...
National Points:
- TAFC Championship is over and TAD is really down to 4 cars, 2 of which (Shields / Reichert) can't earn anymore points.
- D7 is down to 2 cars in TAD (Demke / Whitely) and 2 cars in TAFC (Payne & Lombardo) to battle at Vegas.
- D6 TAD and TAFC titles are already clinched
Joey Severance can still earn points (97 max.) at both remaining Nationals but he really only needs to earn 46 points to move into first. He already has a perfect divisional score. If I had a spare $100, I would bet it on Severance to be the 2011 TAD Champ.
With all that said, logic dictates to me that if you are not in any form of a National / Divisional title chase, why would you travel to these last few events to spend money for ZERO points or $$ benefit.
I can only imagine that the D1 cars (Tigges / Gill) are going for a kind of racing bucket list kind of thing.
Just my .$02 worth as I know I wouldn't make the investment just for the fun of it at this late stage of the season. Save the money and come out swinging next season.
Indy had 24 FC's and 22 Dragsters, Reading close to the same.
TR
Nitro Member
O.K. I understand Indy, but I used to go to the Phoenix race and Denver race all the time, but they cut out the alky cars on those events, so I just don't go anymore. I realize they are strong in other parts of the nation and Indy would not be considered a good measuring stick. As stated I think the economy has a lot to do with it but NHRA pulled them from these tracks way before the economy was bad. Just my 2 cents.
Rick
Rick, that change was made years ago! Most of the Alky racers liked it.
Alky racers on the West Coast did not like losing Phoenix. And now they lose sonoma as well. Fields at both racers were good. Economy is the #1 one reason. But that being said if a better bone was given tot he alky classes and even if the div tracks treated them right the two classes would not be in the state they are right now.
Dean
Dean
Looks like there are some serious discussions between NHRA and the top alcohol community to move the alcohol classes from a 7 division format to a 2 region type format. Should be interesting to see how it turns out.
www.insidetopalcohol.com - Regional races coming?
www.insidetopalcohol.com - Regional races coming?
I was talking to a few that didnt like Phoenix at all! Granted this was back 10-12 years ago when this change was made! Pitting in that Gravel pit was not fun!
Tumbleweed
Nitro Member
110% Disagree.........
They may not have liked the the track in general but it was just considered another race. It usally good pretty good car counts. the last race was in 2001, does not seem that long ago
Dean
Last edited:
Your opinion is noted and dismissed
