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.

[Jim Whitehead]

Maybe it is time for every Stock and Super stock racer to Email NHRA.

[Terry Cain]

Originally Posted by NHRA1926

The suits are NOT car people, they could be swapped one for one with others in comparable positions for a private equity business and we’d scarcely tell the difference.

And there is your answer to every problem we are discussing on class racer.

BINGO, we have a winner.

[Bobby Fazio]

Bring class back to nationals in a format that makes sense. Try to pick 2 nationals in each division. Have Stock class at one and Super Stock class at the other. For example, D1 Maple Grove Nationals set Stock quota at 90 and leave Super Stock at 60ish. For Epping/Virginia, take 90 Super Stockers and 60ish Stockers. Rotate them each year.

Let's say it's "Stock Class" weekend: Thursday Stock will run their 2 Q sessions and then C1 for classes with 3-4 cars, C2 for classes with 5-8 cars, C3 for classes with 9-16 cars.

Friday Stock will run all Class Finals after the other LODRS categories have run E1 and E2. Stock has rest of day off for pics, checks/teardowns etc. Saturday morning Stock first out for E1 (90 cars), other LODRS categories run E3. Then Stock runs E2.

Each LODRS category should be at 8 cars while Stock would be at 23. Mix in Stock E3 Saturday afternoon between pros to get them down to 12 cars. Sunday morning E4 Stock first out, track walk and all that jazz, and now all LODRS have 6-8 cars left and the Sunday show can go on as planned.

If a division does not have 2 nationals then rotate between a divisional and a national, or factor in JEGS or Indy where both classes run, or could also find nationals that somewhat border between 2 divisions. As long as each division gets at least one feasible shot in stock and one in super stock and at least one of those is at a traditional national event.

[RKelliher]

I'm not surprised class is gone from nationals. I told people years ago that NHRA would get rid of class racing at nationals . Nhra is not in the racing business, hasn't been for years. just in the entertainment business only. This is reflected in the new div. hires. Sportsman racer are only there to pay the fueler insurance and fill gaps. I would not be surprised to see class gone in all events.

[Frank Castros]

I wonder after one year as Division One Director and previously of the Motorsports entertainment business what Craig Curdie's thoughts are regarding this decision.

The passion of Stock and Super Stock racers for class eliminations is second to none and he now understands it.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Bobby Fazio

.

Let's say it's "Stock Class" weekend: Thursday Stock will run their 2 Q sessions and then C1 for classes with 3-4 cars, C2 for classes with 5-8 cars, C3 for classes with 9-16 cars.



.

Okay Bobby, Good effort.
I would add one thing though...
One car comes apart at every class event. Bv apart I mean one piston and rod out and a look /see at the crank.
Not someone who's been apart recently either...or someone they know will pass.
This would be someone who goes exceptionally fast and beats someone during the rounds. A judgement call, not necessarily 1.30 either.
You guys good with that?

[James Perrone]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

Okay Bobby, Good effort.
I would add one thing though...
One car comes apart at every class event. Bv apart I mean one piston and rod out and a look /see at the crank.
Not someone who's been apart recently either...or someone they know will pass.
This would be someone who goes exceptionally fast and beats someone during the rounds. A judgement call, not necessarily 1.30 either.
You guys good with that?

Piston and rod?. You must be not racing anymore lol
Not gonna happen not enough help on the Nhra side

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by James Perrone

Piston and rod?. You must be not racing anymore lol
Not gonna happen not enough help on the Nhra side

Only takes two tech guys and a cherry picker, and two folding chairs, while they wait.

[1347]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

Okay Bobby, Good effort.
I would add one thing though...
One car comes apart at every class event. Bv apart I mean one piston and rod out and a look /see at the crank.
Not someone who's been apart recently either...or someone they know will pass.
This would be someone who goes exceptionally fast and beats someone during the rounds. A judgement call, not necessarily 1.30 either.
You guys good with that?

Sounds like a great idea, but the piston and rod probably isn't gonna happen except for a protest.
I was torn down last year at the Keystones, alomg.with 3 other super stockers, at 4 in the afternoon. With 2 tech officials pouring heads, I wasn't able to put my stuff together till after 8pm. Lonnie came over and gave me my wally at 10pm after all the other tech officials left and went to dinner. If you have 4 cars pulling engines to show cranks and pistons and rods, with a 8am first round, it would have given the tech officials maybe 4 hours of sleep. I know you said 1 car, but if you go fast enough for auto hp, it could turn into 2 or 3. The schedule doesn't really permit a teardown like that anymore. Believe me, if I was asked for those itmes, I would have and lived on 3 hours sleep to make 1st round. It happened at Indy with the corvette that got protested. He worked all night to make 1st round the next am. Those times are over, but I think most of us would be happy with at least pulling heads for teardown.

I dont even know where to start when you start pulling coyote engines apart like Robin did last year. You are basically putting that car out of the race the next day. I know I know, the statement from someone will be " Thats their choice for picking that combo " It is, but you have to at least give them enough time to put it back together.