The Demise Of Class Eliminations

[Bill Ringer]

Originally Posted by Greg Gay

I see a big difference between what the spectators will watch on the track, and what they will check out in the pits. I don’t even know if the NHRA brass are aware of this. Yes, the spectators might not watch much of Stock and S/S on the track, but once they have walked through the Pro pits, these are the cars that they check out. They will walk past a every carbureted dragster and tube frame Sportsman car, but many, many of them will look at, or stop and talk and talk with the owner of, the ‘60’s and ‘70’s Stock and S/S cars, ESPECIALLY the Stock Eliminator cars. Why? Because those are the cars that they can relate to. And the Stockers are more attractive to them because of no wheel tubs. Stock and S/S are a free car show in the pits and many spectators are aware of this. I have spectators come and talk to me about my cars every day of every national event that I attend. NHRA take note: we ADD VALUE to your events.

Yes, that's spot on and there's one more thing in addition. I've seen this myself at Pomona- as the last nitro car of the session completes its run the crowd is getting up to leave the grandstands when Super Stocks fire off with giant wheelstands and then, those spectators are sitting back down to watch. Stock & Superstock are great for getting the nitro crowd to return to their seats and watch a little longer.