Re: 2016 Oildown enhancements
 

Dale, yes racing is expensive. We all know that going in. What really bugs me is the entry increase vs the purse lack of increase. I'm a relative newcomer compared to some racers out there. I ran my first national event in 1996, and the entry was $160. Plus you could sell the extra crew pass they gave you back to NHRA for $40 if you didn't need it. When I won my first national in 1998, the purse was $1800 in SS.
Fast forward to 2016...Entry is $320 and crew pass is $85. The purse? $1800. Plus as others have pointed out, the contingency is horrible. I won a total of &15,000 20 years ago without trying as hard as now on the stickers. Now I'd be lucky to get $10,000.

Re: 2016 Oildown enhancements
 

Dale,
All is well and good here, but just like you everywhere it is getting more expensive. I could afford to build another track and run it, but NHRA's policies are not even conducive to a track owner making the profit he should for the investment. Over a decade ago I did exactly what you suggested. I chose to run only IHRA. Then I got the ego rush to run some NHRA races. It didn't take long for me to remember why I had made the decision to let my membership and drivers license expire. In may 2008 I decided they were not getting any more money or support from me until they changed some of their policies toward sportsman racing. I have not seen any good significant changes despite a lot of their rhetoric of doing so. The oil down enhancement was one of those policies that was a tipping point for me. I also sat back and looked at the big picture. NHRA management doesn't want but enough sportsman racers at a National event to make for good filler. They are now having trouble selling their divisional events and need to move Sportsman participation from National events to participating at Divisional. Why, can't they just come out and say that instead of hiding their intentions behind rules and quotas. Without going into the difference of how the National events and the Divisional races pay NHRA I'll just say they have milked the track owners that hold Divisional races just like they have Sportsman racers. The medium size track cannot afford NHRA. If they changed a few policies and cut some of the heavy overhead out they could probably make things more affordable and grow the sport instead of just squeezing a dollar out of it. Point: just look at how their policies have run the contingency sponsors away. Sportsman racers depended on them for money and support.
As far as writing on class Racer, I will probably continue to voice my opinion, esp on the subject of where NHRA is taking the Sportsman program. If you don't appreciate my humor or opinions or even like or agree you can see my name clearly displayed (not hidden in a Screen name avatar or alias) and move on to something more suitable to your reading habits.

Re: 2016 Oildown enhancements
 

Thought the same thing. They are making it harder for racers that want to be a part of it all. I agree if the car blows up you might as well oil both sides and get your moneys worth!

Re: 2016 Oildown enhancements
 

Well said. Dale. Always the same old witch hunt

Re: 2016 Oildown enhancements
 

That is a bit a bull**** rule, I say that because at our home track they also have an oildown penalty of a $1000.00 however... they do not enforce it if you have a diaper or belly pan. If they feel you did what you could to prevent it then its not your fault.

Re: 2016 Oildown enhancements
 

Don't over react guys. I was involved at a pro level when all this stuff started. An oil down back then, was defined as "WHEN THE TRUCKS ROLL". As long as NHRA doesn't get crazy about mopping up a few drips, I don't think we have much to be worried about. At least I hope that's the case.

Re: 2016 Oildown enhancements
 

Has any Sportsman racer been subject to the oil down tax yet?

Re: 2016 Oildown enhancements
 

I would expect that Markus Svensen got a fine for his trans blow up on Thursday in Pomona with Meadors great white whale. It was about a half hour clean up.