Off season topic: If you had the power to change sportsmen classes or format? (1 Viewer)

[Mike]

If you were given the power to change rules or format of the sportsmen classes, what would you change? Could be for one or more classes, or format of divisional races, national, or both.

 

[Jer]

No delay box cars or jr dragsters at national events. Lol

 

[Nappy]

No delay box cars or jr dragsters at national events. Lol

I agree with the no delay box, let 'em tune them like a lot of other classes. Jr dragsters at a few events, one in each region if possible. The feeling a kid would get in front of a national event is one of a kind. I know the feeling I had at the starting line for the first time at a national.

 

[LasVegas87]

I would like to see the ladders reworked so that there are no bye runs in the quarters or semis. I know how a ladder works, one bye run per round, etc, but I'd rather see 2 byes in round 2, than a bye run in round 6. Just my $0.02.

 

[camaro]

I would like to see a 'Dial in' handicap class, that requires you to 'Floor' it from green to stripe, in other words no 'dumping', breaking or any sandbagging what so ever. You would be allowed to run under your dial in, as long as it had no factor in your 'MOV'

 

[Randy]

Delay boxes, timers, launch controls, or any other incompetent driver enhancement devices should be removed. I had to run that stuff in my short stint in top sportsman because everyone else had them. But in the 1970's when I bracket races at OCIR it was (allegedly) the best driver who won, not the best delay box, package producing driver enhancement devices. And yes, I was vocal about it while running them a couple years ago.

 

[Bruno]

Delay boxes, timers, launch controls, or any other incompetent driver enhancement devices should be removed. I had to run that stuff in my short stint in top sportsman because everyone else had them. But in the 1970's when I bracket races at OCIR it was (allegedly) the best driver who won, not the best delay box, package producing driver enhancement devices. And yes, I was vocal about it while running them a couple years ago.

Not vocal enough. Unfortunately, there are not enough of us "old guys" that appreciated true drag racing!

 

[Just Paul]

I would like to see a 'Dial in' handicap class, that requires you to 'Floor' it from green to stripe, in other words no 'dumping', breaking or any sandbagging what so ever. You would be allowed to run under your dial in, as long as it had no factor in your 'MOV'

Huh.
So you run 10:00, and dial 10:00.
I also run 10.00, but I can dial 12.00 because I can break out with no penalty as long as I run all out? I’ll race you every time!

 

[Afuelracer]

How about a BEST PACKAGE CLASS. Cars would dial but would leave heads-up, computer would take reaction time and determine best package. Break out in effect. Cars wouldn't cross the finish line together, but who watching anyways? In the Super classes, this would eliminate the need for throttle stops and 1000 hp motors to run 9.90. No one would have to explain why the car slows after launch or why a handicap start! Dial it hard, cut a light and win-easier on brakes and tires too!

 

[camaro]

Huh.
So you run 10:00, and dial 10:00.
I also run 10.00, but I can dial 12.00 because I can break out with no penalty as long as I run all out? I’ll race you every time!

you didn't highlight the most important part of my statement - of course if u run 2 secs under your dial you will beat me at the stripe by 2 secs. Your penalty will be the MOV minus the amount of ET u ran under your dial, so if for example your MOV is 3 secs then the 2 sec u ran under had no effect on your win cause i was slow of the tree or couldn't run my dial

 

[Just Paul]

you didn't highlight the most important part of my statement - of course if u run 2 secs under your dial you will beat me at the stripe by 2 secs. Your penalty will be the MOV minus the amount of ET u ran under your dial, so if for example your MOV is 3 secs then the 2 sec u ran under had no effect on your win cause i was slow of the tree or couldn't run my dial

That’s 10X more of a CF than regular bracket racing. MOV isn’t displayed anywhere but in the tower or on your ticket. At least the person in the stands for normal bracket/index racing can see if a person breaks out by looking at the scoreboard.

 

[camaro]

why is it a 'CF'? its just basic math and besides, is anyone watching a bracket race looking at the scoreboards doing the math?. All the typical spectator cares about is which win light comes on and the whole advantage of this style is so the fan can see a 'balls to the walls' drag race and not some 125mph car slammin' on the brakes

 

[Just Paul]

why is it a 'CF'? its just basic math and besides, is anyone watching a bracket race looking at the scoreboards doing the math?.

I’d say just about everybody. If you see a 9.65 dial, and a 9.64 comes up, you think to yourself dang, broke by 1. (Math!)

 

[Mike]

Brian, best package was tried at Bakersfield a couple of years ago and it was horrible, more confusing than today..

I think you guys are confusing delay boxes with throttle stops. Electronic throttle stops are just horrible. Go to any heritage series race and any one of the index classes that have stops just not what you see in todays super classes. 2 cars leave the line and no dropping back just a good side by side race to the finish line

 

[Just Paul]

No delay box cars or jr dragsters at national events. Lol

Ha. The kids need to be involved 100%. I went to a racing awards banquet Saturday night, and looked across the room at all the people. If there were 150 people there, 140 were older than me, and I’m 45. My kids were the youngest of course.

Plus - I don’t know of another “major league” sport where you can get the kids with the drivers / players up close and personal like this, and play on the same track/field at the same time during an event. You certainly aren’t going to see a kid with Kyle Larson during or after the Daytona 500 pose with their race cars together.

My youngest - 2021 & 2024

 

[Just Paul]

No delay box cars or jr dragsters at national events. Lol

How can you physically tell if a car has a delay box from watching on the outside?? Other than seeing the drivers hand move?

 

[stitcherbob]

Bring back Modified Production

 

[ZWeinstein]

As much as I think watching Jr. dragsters is boring to watch, mainly the dad jacking around on the carb for a minute like he's Jimmy Prock, the kids are the future of the sport and I believe should be given their moment at every national event. Let the top eight at every track be showcased. Not only is it a real honor for a kid to compete on the same track on the same weekend as the big name pros but you never know if someone in the stands and their kids see that and want to get involved.

If you messed with sportsman classes you run the risk of increasing costs and lowering participation which benefits nobody. Other than maybe lowering the super classes to 8.0/9.0/10.0 I dont know of anything else I would do that would not cause racers to quit showing up. Lets face facts, 99% of fans who show up at a national event are not there to watch sportsman classes. They add to the show in my opinion and I enjoy watching Stock/Super Stock and Top Dragster/Top Sportsman but I know I am in the heavy minority of fans who show up.

The only thing I would do to change sportsman racing is as a sanctioning body (NHRA) I would go around and figure out how can we get more sponsors involved in contingency programs. Whether its offering free advertising space, free setup on the manufactures midway, whatever. If you get more sponsors, even if not automotive, in providing racers with contingency money that puts more money in a racer's pocket which helps increase participation.

 

[Jer]

Ha. The kids need to be involved 100%. I went to a racing awards banquet Saturday night, and looked across the room at all the people. If there were 150 people there, 140 were older than me, and I’m 45. My kids were the youngest of course.

Plus - I don’t know of another “major league” sport where you can get the kids with the drivers / players up close and personal like this, and play on the same track/field at the same time during an event. You certainly aren’t going to see a kid with Kyle Larson during or after the Daytona 500 pose with their race cars together.

My youngest - 2021 & 2024
View attachment 15043

View attachment 15044

Well if they have to be involved tell them to stage it and run,its not top fuel,they take forever

 

[Jer]

As much as I think watching Jr. dragsters is boring to watch, mainly the dad jacking around on the carb for a minute like he's Jimmy Prock, the kids are the future of the sport and I believe should be given their moment at every national event. Let the top eight at every track be showcased. Not only is it a real honor for a kid to compete on the same track on the same weekend as the big name pros but you never know if someone in the stands and their kids see that and want to get involved.

If you messed with sportsman classes you run the risk of increasing costs and lowering participation which benefits nobody. Other than maybe lowering the super classes to 8.0/9.0/10.0 I dont know of anything else I would do that would not cause racers to quit showing up. Lets face facts, 99% of fans who show up at a national event are not there to watch sportsman classes. They add to the show in my opinion and I enjoy watching Stock/Super Stock and Top Dragster/Top Sportsman but I know I am in the heavy minority of fans who show up.

The only thing I would do to change sportsman racing is as a sanctioning body (NHRA) I would go around and figure out how can we get more sponsors involved in contingency programs. Whether its offering free advertising space, free setup on the manufactures midway, whatever. If you get more sponsors, even if not automotive, in providing racers with contingency money that puts more money in a racer's pocket which helps increase participation.