Are there too many classes?

[Mike]

This is asked from the standpoint of marketing and growing the sport, not from the racer's pov.

Are there too many classes, and would it help the sport as a whole to pare back some of these?

 

[Rich D]

If you are talking about sportsman categories, think the argument is that the entry fees from the sportsman competitors are a cash cow for NHRA and help fund the Pro payouts.

 

[T.Smith]

This is asked from the standpoint of marketing and growing the sport, not from the racer's pov.

Are there too many classes, and would it help the sport as a whole to pare back some of these?

Outside the prism of NHRA/IHRA, yes. Half the time I don't know what the hell I'm looking at.

 

[65 Goatboy]

Outside the prism of NHRA/IHRA, yes. Half the time I don't know what the hell I'm looking at.

Cubs or Sox?

 

[T.Smith]

Cubs or Sox?

Oh for sure the Sox. Fun bad.

 

[CS]

Such a simple question with a complex answer. From the view point of a novice spectator YES. When our sponsors would attend a race with us I spent time explaining why there are two professional nitro classes, why there is a T/F class and a TAD class etc.. From a racers stand point NO. There needs to be a variety of classes to permit people to race in classes they can afford. Over the years there has always been the argument to limit the number of sportsman classes at big show events and to continue to run all sportsman classes at divisional events. The problem with that idea is the sportsman racers are the bank for NHRA, without all the classes running at the big show the pro payouts would suffer. Not to mention the fact that those in Wally World’s ivory tower couldn’t be paid the big bucks that they are. NHRA relies on the gate, the sportsman racers, food purchases and souvenir purchases to be their bank remove or decrease any one segment and the whole suffers.

 

[PJ]

Yes, Pro stock, factory stock and now factory mod are too close together.
I love comp and top sportsman but there is a lot of crossover to the average fan. Top dragster and super comp, same,,,. how many times have you been to a race and the announcer doesn't realize the class has switched to the next one.

Growing up super gas was always one of my favorite classes but throttle stops have killed it for me. Give me the Eckard brothers in those Anglias or Gecker in Godzilla

I'd rather see one or two large bracket classes. A few years ago at Indy there was some I think it was 15 second wagon that was going rounds. it was getting huge head starts and the people in the stands were loving it. Give me more of that. Give me a 9.9 and under bracket and a 10+ or heck put them all together. I don't care what you run under the hood then. As long as safety rules are there just don't break out.

 

[GumbyWVU]

Always seemed a little silly, to me, to have Pro Stock and Mountain Motor Pro Stock at the same event. And then throw in Pro Mod at the same one too.

Is there that much difference between Stock and Super Stock to justify having both?

I worry about the future for the Pro Stock class with the whittling away of passenger cars by manufacturers (at least those participating in NHRA) in lieu of crossovers/SUVs. Will it become "Pro SUV" ? ugh

 

[Dennis]

The problem with that idea is the sportsman racers are the bank for NHRA, without all the classes running at the big show the pro payouts would suffer.

This phrase comes out every time reducing the sportsmen at national events is brought up (this is not directed at you per se, it was just the most recent comment).

For tax year 2023, NHRA brought in $72M in admissions and sponsorships and $16.5M in licenses and fees. NHRA paid out $22M in prize money and awards. Even taking out all of the licenses and fees (of which some are professional fees) they still brought in $50M more in admissions and sponsorships than they paid out as prize money.

Back to the original topic, in my opinion, yes there are too many classes. Do we need to have Super Comp and Super Gas? Do we need Pro Mod and Top Sportsmen? MMPS and Pro Stock? I realize there has to be some filler between the big show but to bring in more fans you need to make it understandable. My two cents, anyway.

 

[z28]

Yes, Pro stock, factory stock and now factory mod are too close together.
I love comp and top sportsman but there is a lot of crossover to the average fan. Top dragster and super comp, same,,,. how many times have you been to a race and the announcer doesn't realize the class has switched to the next one.

Growing up super gas was always one of my favorite classes but throttle stops have killed it for me. Give me the Eckard brothers in those Anglias or Gecker in Godzilla

I'd rather see one or two large bracket classes. A few years ago at Indy there was some I think it was 15 second wagon that was going rounds. it was getting huge head starts and the people in the stands were loving it. Give me more of that. Give me a 9.9 and under bracket and a 10+ or heck put them all together. I don't care what you run under the hood then. As long as safety rules are there just don't break out.

to make it simple just go back to ET dial in for cars under and over 10 seconds. two classes and a bunch of cars. They could still have a few featured classes for Alcohol and other fan favorites.

 

[Butch]

What about doing this. Tweak the rules to make Super Comp and Super Gas into one. I don't see how to blend Pro Mod and Top Sportsmen there's too big of difference. I do think MMPS and Pro Stock could be tweaked and combined.
By doing this you eliminate four classes but could keep the entries close and maybe increase the qualifying size.
Just a quick thought.

 

[Headerfire]

I'm not understanding how any of this helps the sport. We just had a thread about car counts being down across the board, and now we have a thread about how we can intentionally reduce car counts.

 

[PJ]

This phrase comes out every time reducing the sportsmen at national events is brought up (this is not directed at you per se, it was just the most recent comment).

For tax year 2023, NHRA brought in $72M in admissions and sponsorships and $16.5M in licenses and fees. NHRA paid out $22M in prize money and awards. Even taking out all of the licenses and fees (of which some are professional fees) they still brought in $50M more in admissions and sponsorships than they paid out as prize money.

Back to the original topic, in my opinion, yes there are too many classes. Do we need to have Super Comp and Super Gas? Do we need Pro Mod and Top Sportsmen? MMPS and Pro Stock? I realize there has to be some filler between the big show but to bring in more fans you need to make it understandable. My two cents, anyway.

I think the admissions number includes race entry admissions. So cutting the number of sportsmen cars would affect that number

 

[PJ]

I'm not understanding how any of this helps the sport. We just had a thread about car counts being down across the board, and now we have a thread about how we can intentionally reduce car counts.

Not reducing car count, just the classes. Now instead of say 200 cars spread across 7 classes. We have 200 cars spread among 2 or 3 classes.

 

[Billy]

to make it simple just go back to ET dial in for cars under and over 10 seconds. two classes and a bunch of cars. They could still have a few featured classes for Alcohol and other fan favorites.

I would be so effing bored, I don't think I would go. I grew up on NHRA classes and know every distinction of each one, and like each one. I never understood the No Prep Kings (or especially No Time - LIKE - that's literally the sport - numbers and math!) because I don't understand the rules package. Is it run whatchya brung, but like, then why aren't there nitro doorslammers? Like I don't understand how they made those rules. At least Pinks was based on MATH. Even the pro Street class in PDRA - I do enjoy them, but I don't really understand the rules and am only impressed by numbers based on historical viewing experience.