The State Of Sportsman Racing - Interesting Read

Mike Delahanty · 07-26-2016, 06:50 PM

From Drag Illustrated.

http://www.dragillustrated-digital.c...110?pg=88#pg88

Page 88-99.

Discuss among yourself.

Dan Fahey · 07-26-2016, 08:19 PM

Good read!

Ok stocker · 07-26-2016, 08:38 PM

Sad but true. I remember a time when there was 6 NHRA tracks with in 4 hours from where I lived and they ran all sportsman classes every weekend. There were even a couple of Ihra tracks close that ran classes. What seems to have happened is the tracks run the weekly bracket programs and anyone can race. Few rules and expenses. When the tracks stopped running classes it seems like a natural evolution especially in these hard times races went to what paid and they could afford. The pride money at a lot of local tracks rivals what winning a sanctioned event would pay without the travel, expenses and the rules

Jim Wahl · 07-26-2016, 09:46 PM

Nothing in that article related to Stock and Super Stock racing except for Mike Beard talking about how he pretty much quit racing NHRA and IHRA in order to go bracket racing. Didn't whet my interest at all. Jim

.

BRINK · 07-26-2016, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Wahl

Nothing in that article related to Stock and Super Stock racing except for Mike Beard talking about how he pretty much quit racing NHRA and IHRA in order to go bracket racing. Didn't whet my interest at all. Jim

.

I couldn't agree with you more, Jim.

cutta · 07-27-2016, 10:14 AM

My questions:

Is there really any way to drive the cost of class racing(Stock, Super Stock, Comp) down?

Is there a way to make it more accessible locally?
For me, we had once a year Stock/Super Stock combo races at our local tracks(Prescott and Centerville) that always peaked my interest when I was young. The rest was nurtured at NHRA events.

How do entry level cost compare to what we had ten years ago?

Will we ever be able to shorten our divisional races into one or two day events to make it easier for people to enter these events?

When was the last big money class race(Stock, Super Stock, Comp) that we've seen and where are the sponsors to make something like that happen now?
I'm assuming if the location was right, you could get lots of Stockers and Super Stockers in the same place for a big money purse like some of these bracket races.

What can we as a group(racers, fans, and fut racers) that care about the future of class racing do to make things better?

ALMACK · 07-27-2016, 10:23 AM

I see their points on the NHRA class racing vs. bracket racing.

I have noticed more of the big buck bracket races popping up in KY.

I still like my Stockers, but I can see where running a separate bracket race every day could be more appealing than one race for the whole weekend and if you go out 1st rd., then there is no 2nd chance.

07-26-2016, 06:50 PM	#1
Mike Delahanty VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,180 Likes: 0 Liked 226 Times in 37 Posts	The State Of Sportsman Racing - Interesting Read From Drag Illustrated. http://www.dragillustrated-digital.c...110?pg=88#pg88 Page 88-99. Discuss among yourself. __________________ Been racing Stock and S/S cars since 1973.

07-26-2016, 08:19 PM	#2
Dan Fahey VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,114 Likes: 1,078 Liked 180 Times in 110 Posts	Re: The State Of Sportsman Racing - Interesting Read Good read!

07-26-2016, 08:38 PM	#3
Ok stocker Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 138 Likes: 20 Liked 101 Times in 24 Posts	Re: The State Of Sportsman Racing - Interesting Read Sad but true. I remember a time when there was 6 NHRA tracks with in 4 hours from where I lived and they ran all sportsman classes every weekend. There were even a couple of Ihra tracks close that ran classes. What seems to have happened is the tracks run the weekly bracket programs and anyone can race. Few rules and expenses. When the tracks stopped running classes it seems like a natural evolution especially in these hard times races went to what paid and they could afford. The pride money at a lot of local tracks rivals what winning a sanctioned event would pay without the travel, expenses and the rules

07-26-2016, 09:46 PM	#4
Jim Wahl Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Central Florida Posts: 5,842 Likes: 627 Liked 672 Times in 121 Posts	Re: The State Of Sportsman Racing - Interesting Read Nothing in that article related to Stock and Super Stock racing except for Mike Beard talking about how he pretty much quit racing NHRA and IHRA in order to go bracket racing. Didn't whet my interest at all. Jim . __________________ Jim Wahl....NHRA #2239 S/SS - IHRA # 8 Stock, D2 Stock Champion (forever I guess) 2019 Baby Gators Stock Champion 2009 D2 National Open Stock Champion 1981 D2 West Palm Beach LDRS SS Runner Up Past President, Southern Stock / Super Stock Association. SSSSA Forum Moderator

07-27-2016, 10:14 AM	#6
cutta Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 346 Likes: 0 Liked 5 Times in 2 Posts	Re: The State Of Sportsman Racing - Interesting Read My questions: Is there really any way to drive the cost of class racing(Stock, Super Stock, Comp) down? Is there a way to make it more accessible locally? For me, we had once a year Stock/Super Stock combo races at our local tracks(Prescott and Centerville) that always peaked my interest when I was young. The rest was nurtured at NHRA events. How do entry level cost compare to what we had ten years ago? Will we ever be able to shorten our divisional races into one or two day events to make it easier for people to enter these events? When was the last big money class race(Stock, Super Stock, Comp) that we've seen and where are the sponsors to make something like that happen now? I'm assuming if the location was right, you could get lots of Stockers and Super Stockers in the same place for a big money purse like some of these bracket races. What can we as a group(racers, fans, and fut racers) that care about the future of class racing do to make things better? __________________ Adriel Paradise, Paradise Racing Team Driver/Crew Chief(at least my dad claims me to be) B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Arkansas

07-27-2016, 10:23 AM	#7
ALMACK VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 1,928 Likes: 98 Liked 324 Times in 116 Posts	Re: The State Of Sportsman Racing - Interesting Read I see their points on the NHRA class racing vs. bracket racing. I have noticed more of the big buck bracket races popping up in KY. I still like my Stockers, but I can see where running a separate bracket race every day could be more appealing than one race for the whole weekend and if you go out 1st rd., then there is no 2nd chance. __________________ Alan Mackin Stock 3777/ SS 3377 P/SA & SS/PA Fox Thunderbird I/PS '95 Mustang GT