Top Fuel - Short Field? (1 Viewer)

[The Counterfeiter]

Only 15 cars have made runs. Millican and Paton are on the entry list - Millican is probably done - is Paton there? McMillen is not on the entry list, but is now P12. Round one bye for P1?
Too tired to search for the last time this happened - if this occurs, does anyone know when?

 

[The Counterfeiter]

OOPS - after looking further, I see Paton will run tomorrow. It's still a bad situation when the 16th car decides to skip two rounds to run "when it counts"!

 

[blowerboy]

This is the first race requiring the big tube chassis. With Torco's withdrawl(Millican and Foley) there are only a few other big tube cars out there. Bill Miller, Mike Strasburg, Terry Mcmillian are for sure, Luigi Novelli and Bruce Litton I think are. I didn't think that Todd Paton's was. Anyway expect to see this more often.

 

[Zak]

This is the first race requiring the big tube chassis. With Torco's withdrawl(Millican and Foley) there are only a few other big tube cars out there. Bill Miller, Mike Strasburg, Terry Mcmillian are for sure, Luigi Novelli and Bruce Litton I think are. I didn't think that Todd Paton's was. Anyway expect to see this more often.

I'm not 100% sure - but I think Bruce has to get the big tube on his car. I spoke with Scott Palmer in Rockingham - he's going to get his done later.

Rumor has it that Mitch King doesn't want to switch his just yet since the car just won back to back IHRA races.

 

[Toejam]

Back in 2000-01 there were short fields for the first 5 races or so.

 

[Jet]

Unfortunately I think we need to get used to short fields. Wait until the Western Swing.

 

[merc49]

Ahhhhh, the boycott has begun!

 

[Johnny Mopar]

Unfortunately I think we need to get used to short fields. Wait until the Western Swing.

Given the pitiful payouts and the skyrocketing cost of travel, I don't know what the compelling reason to participate is? With the exception of the well funded, big sponsored entries the western swing could be embarrassing...

 

[Super Mod]

I can see NHRA's response to the situation if it continues... "NHRA unveils new 8 car Top Fuel format for 2009" ....thats one way of filling the field

 

[Triple Nickel II]

I can see NHRA's response to the situation if it continues... "NHRA unveils new 8 car Top Fuel format for 2009" ....thats one way of filling the field

And the first few words of the of the story would be:

"Based on overwhelming demand for a quicker raceday program..."

Buried deep in the story would also be:

"Because of the added value of a shorter race day, spectator entry fees will be increasing to..."

 

[Toejam]

I think if you see short fields for a couple of races, the low buck Independents will start going to more races seeing as it won't take but a 4.80-.90 to get in if thats the case.

 

[mick]

aren't there payouts for 17,18 & 19 qual. positions?
maybe some consolation for independents who don't have
to haul too far?

 

[Toejam]

aren't there payouts for 17,18 & 19 qual. positions?
maybe some consolation for independents who don't have
to haul too far?

Mike, I was told that all Fuel cars who make at least one qualifying pass get $3,000. But that was a couple of years ago, As for what 17-18 get who knows?

 

[luxexpress]

I think if you see short fields for a couple of races, the low buck Independents will start going to more races seeing as it won't take but a 4.80-.90 to get in if thats the case.

As said above, a lot of the budget guys don't have the dollars to update their chassis to the NHRA's new specs. I don't think you'll see many of them in the NHRA until the big boys start selling their cars to them in a year or so. Just another case of NHRA making rules with no regards to their effects.

 

[blowerboy]

17th and 18th pay $3000. You can make 4 qualifing passes, end up 19th and get $00.00. The days of tow money are looong gone.

 

[TAFC 5 81]

As said above, a lot of the budget guys don't have the dollars to update their chassis to the NHRA's new specs. I don't think you'll see many of them in the NHRA until the big boys start selling their cars to them in a year or so. Just another case of NHRA making rules with no regards to their effects.

Good point. Otherwise you could expect a few A/FD teams to move up and fill in the blanks.