Regular Season Championship

[eatmedic]

NHRA just announced a regular season championship with a $400,000 purse in all 4 pro classes.

Link Below for more info

New regular-season championship bonus part of $25 million overall purse

NHRA officials have announced that $25 million in purse and payouts will be awarded to teams during the 20-race national event schedule, including a new bonus payout for regular-season championships ahead of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

www.nhra.com

 

[Fueler1]

So the Clowndown is winding down?

 

[DDB]

So the Clowndown is winding down?

Sure would be nice if their announcement answered that question, wonder if something else is in the works and they cant announce

 

[Nunz]

So sounds like a bonus for points leaders after Indy, and then the full season purse after the countdown. If I'm understanding this correctly I believe this is really good news.

 

[DDB]

So sounds like a bonus for points leaders after Indy, and then the full season purse after the countdown. If I'm understanding this correctly I believe this is really good news.

could be waiting on finalizing the "sponsor" ?

 

[mick]

nunz, i read it like you do. only really good news.

 

[Nunz]

could be waiting on finalizing the "sponsor" ?

I don't think that's the case, they wouldn't roll this out if it wasn't funded already. I assume it's part of the Mission deal.

 

[Rat]

I don't understand it. You can't have 2 champions in one season. I don't like this. Just DROP the countdown and do a few double point events. This devalues what it means to be the 2025 champion. "I won the six race countdown and the championship." "Oh yea? well I won the 14 race championship!" How does this look for a sponsorship?

 

[Rat]

It is reading between the lines. It is kinda exactly what it is. Calling 2 champions, but offically only recognizing one.

 

[mike]

Sure would be nice if their announcement answered that question, wonder if something else is in the works and they cant announce

Well, it did if you read the article.

“The 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Series season opens March 6-9 with the 56th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at legendary Gainesville Raceway, the first of 14 races during the regular season. The points reset for the championship competitors during the last six races of the year, with the Countdown to the Championship playoffs determining the overall world champion across the NHRA’s four Professional categories.”

 

[65 Goatboy]

I don't understand it. You can't have 2 champions in one season. I don't like this. Just DROP the countdown and do a few double point events. This devalues what it means to be the 2025 champion. "I won the six race countdown and the championship." "Oh yea? well I won the 14 race championship!" How does this look for a sponsorship?

Nascar does.

 

[mick]

more money at various points during the season. plus the tasty challenges on saturdays. how can i clap louder applauding mission foods.
there was an announcment last week about the gainesville TF callout race. no mention of a sponsor or purse.

 

[LoPony]

This is really cool, guys. Nothing but positive comes from this. It helps address all the major criticisms of having essentially a practice season and a countdown. Also partially helps with escalating racing costs, depending on how they structure the payouts.

I wonder if this will affect the points reset, or the points addition strategy right after Indy?

Kewl.

Wonder what the runner up regular season champion gets. Squat, or something more substantial?

 

[I was NITRO BREATH]

this reminds me that I did not see a breakdown of the "real " points totals for 2024 season. Has anyone calculated them???

 

[none]

Great to see some more cash coming into the sport. But 2 champions? About as stupid as the countdown.

 

[Nunz]

Great to see some more cash coming into the sport. But 2 champions? About as stupid as the countdown.

I may be wrong, but I don't think they'll label it as 2 champions, but rather more of a regular season bonus before the countdown begins.

 

[BaldyLochs]

Kind of weird to me. As long as they're announced at the last race of the regular season. Just think of the bragging rights: I was champion before you were. I got my trophy before you did.
And suppose the regular season champ at some point clocked a phenomenal run that was FAR better than the countdown champ ever did. The countdown champ would be getting the last hurrah, while everyone in the pits knows who the REAL champion is?? I like the purse thing but I don't like a first and last winner. Second sucks. Heck; why not revisit Larry's 2-man top fuel car again? What if THAT car won? Then we'd have 3 champions

 

[mick]

article says 'almost 400k' in bonuses paid after indy, spread over 4 classes. i'm guessing that money is paid to 4 teams only?
i like this new deal, but what might work too would be more money for all qualifiers at 4 majors; gators, chicago, norwalk, indy; so the additional
money filters all the way to the first round losers at 4 events ...... then run out the last 6 races as per usual.

 

[none]

I may be wrong, but I don't think they'll label it as 2 champions, but rather more of a regular season bonus before the countdown begins.

From Comp plus:
New this year, a regular season championship will be awarded to the points leader in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
NHRA is set to allocate nearly $400,000 to the regular season champions in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle, contributing to the overall $25 million purse.

 

[You!]

Off topic a little but has someone done the math for the 2024 season if there had not been a countdown format in place?