Heads up class clarification

Demon340 · 02-12-2024, 01:43 PM

If class is being run at a Divisional race and there are more than two cars in a particular class, how is it determined who runs whom first round ?
Thanks, Larry

nhramnl · 02-12-2024, 01:58 PM

Class isn't usually contested at Divisional races. Regardless, who runs who is usually decided in a gentlemanly way by the contestants. If two guys (out of say 5 contestants) want to race each other, they "pair-off" and the remaining 3 guys work out who races who. If there is an uneven number of contestants (like 5, instead of four, six or eight), the fastest guy is often given the bye for the first round.

Jim Caughlin · 02-12-2024, 02:11 PM

Can't speak for other divisions but in Div 6, we had an actual qualifying sheet for class run offs for each of the individual classes.

GUMP · 02-12-2024, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demon340

If class is being run at a Divisional race and there are more than two cars in a particular class, how is it determined who runs whom first round ?
Thanks, Larry

Class is run off a sportsman ladder. If there is a bye, it goes to the fastest qualified car in that class.

MR DERBY CITY · 02-12-2024, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhramnl

Class isn't usually contested at Divisional races.

It is in 2024.. The majority of Class Eliminations this year are at Divisionals. …

JP1738 · 02-12-2024, 04:10 PM

Couple of things here given this is semi-related and I don't want to start yet another thread elsewhere:

If I were to run someone in the same class as me, but one is an auto and the other is a stick, is it still heads up? I don't think they run class with each other, but I didn't know how it applied during the race.

Also, where are the procedures for the actual race itself defined? As in, where does it say it's a handicapped start bracket race, must dial at least your index, heads up run if you match up with someone in your same class? I just looked through the rulebook on Stock and it really doesn't describe the actual running of the race with any detail. I understand how the class is run at this point, but I'd love to find an official NHRA resource that describes it more officially that I can point others to who have questions about the class.

Doug Hoven · 02-12-2024, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP1738

If I were to run someone in the same class as me, but one is an auto and the other is a stick, is it still heads up? I don't think they run class with each other, but I didn't know how it applied during the race.

No, not even in what is considered a class "combo" would a stick and auto car run heads up. If there is only one car in some classes, they run a class "combo," which is heads up, handicapped start based off the indexes of the respective cars. This can be very good fun to watch. As for the other questions you have, on page 1 of section 11A of the rulebook it states "Category is based on a handicap start using the NHRA index
system; breakout rules apply." I have not "mastered" my way around the rulebook, but I'm sure it is spelled out in there somewhere. Also being part of the "slow car" against the index club, take special care to notice your potential first round opponents between qualifying runs. I've noticed a pattern in D1 of where other "F/SA" cars in my case usually end up after being 2/2 for getting a heads up race first round. Personally, I'd rather bracket race a "hitter" first round than have a heads up run with someone that has me covered by half a second, but that's just me.

Glenn Briglio · 02-12-2024, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Hoven

No, not even in what is considered a class "combo" would a stick and auto car run heads up. If there is only one car in some classes, they run a class "combo," which is heads up, handicapped start based off the indexes of the respective cars. This can be very good fun to watch. As for the other questions you have, on page 1 of section 11A of the rulebook it states "Category is based on a handicap start using the NHRA index
system; breakout rules apply." I have not "mastered" my way around the rulebook, but I'm sure it is spelled out in there somewhere. Also being part of the "slow car" against the index club, take special care to notice your potential first round opponents between qualifying runs. I've noticed a pattern in D1 of where other "F/SA" cars in my case usually end up after being 2/2 for getting a heads up race first round. Personally, I'd rather bracket race a "hitter" first round than have a heads up run with someone that has me covered by half a second, but that's just me.

What about the FWD classes that run stick and automatic in the same class ?

Doug Hoven · 02-12-2024, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenn Briglio

What about the FWD classes that run stick and automatic in the same class ?

Billy is going to be disappointed when he see's that I forgot about him. I'm not sure about factory stock, being that they don't have separate classes for stick/auto either, but FWD do run together. FWD stick cars must add 100lb to the class weight to make it "even."

Dan Bennett · 02-13-2024, 02:47 PM

There a lot of procedures not mentioned in the rulebook.

When I was writing for Super Stock and researching the nitrous issue, I was lucky enough to come across something I'd never seen. It was an internal NHRA book published for NHRA officials/employees and was never released to the membership. It wasn't on the production level of the rulebook, but just a bunch of typed pages on normal paper. I can't remember if it was bound or just stapled together.

It contained things like what you're wondering about along with a lot more things that covered a lot of race and tech etc, procedures that at the time were what we were all used to but weren't in the rulebook.

I can't remember the title of the thing though something on the order of General Procedures comes to mind. Sadly. it disappeared during a move a long time ago. Wish I still had it and I honestly don't know if such a thing still exists.

02-12-2024, 01:43 PM	#1
Demon340 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Colorado Posts: 79 Likes: 200 Liked 94 Times in 24 Posts	Heads up class clarification If class is being run at a Divisional race and there are more than two cars in a particular class, how is it determined who runs whom first round ? Thanks, Larry

02-12-2024, 01:58 PM	#2
nhramnl Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 504 Likes: 7 Liked 352 Times in 82 Posts	Re: Heads up class clarification Class isn't usually contested at Divisional races. Regardless, who runs who is usually decided in a gentlemanly way by the contestants. If two guys (out of say 5 contestants) want to race each other, they "pair-off" and the remaining 3 guys work out who races who. If there is an uneven number of contestants (like 5, instead of four, six or eight), the fastest guy is often given the bye for the first round.

02-12-2024, 02:11 PM	#3
Jim Caughlin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Woodburn, Or Posts: 635 Likes: 70 Liked 693 Times in 208 Posts	Re: Heads up class clarification Can't speak for other divisions but in Div 6, we had an actual qualifying sheet for class run offs for each of the individual classes.

02-12-2024, 04:10 PM	#6
JP1738 Member Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 171 Likes: 342 Liked 259 Times in 84 Posts	Re: Heads up class clarification Couple of things here given this is semi-related and I don't want to start yet another thread elsewhere: If I were to run someone in the same class as me, but one is an auto and the other is a stick, is it still heads up? I don't think they run class with each other, but I didn't know how it applied during the race. Also, where are the procedures for the actual race itself defined? As in, where does it say it's a handicapped start bracket race, must dial at least your index, heads up run if you match up with someone in your same class? I just looked through the rulebook on Stock and it really doesn't describe the actual running of the race with any detail. I understand how the class is run at this point, but I'd love to find an official NHRA resource that describes it more officially that I can point others to who have questions about the class. __________________ #2827 N/SA 1980 Malibu SW 2S 305/180 #2827 S/ST 1978 Mazda RX7 w/ 383 sbc/glide

02-13-2024, 02:47 PM	#10
Dan Bennett Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 355 Likes: 562 Liked 353 Times in 78 Posts	Re: Heads up class clarification There a lot of procedures not mentioned in the rulebook. When I was writing for Super Stock and researching the nitrous issue, I was lucky enough to come across something I'd never seen. It was an internal NHRA book published for NHRA officials/employees and was never released to the membership. It wasn't on the production level of the rulebook, but just a bunch of typed pages on normal paper. I can't remember if it was bound or just stapled together. It contained things like what you're wondering about along with a lot more things that covered a lot of race and tech etc, procedures that at the time were what we were all used to but weren't in the rulebook. I can't remember the title of the thing though something on the order of General Procedures comes to mind. Sadly. it disappeared during a move a long time ago. Wish I still had it and I honestly don't know if such a thing still exists.