Re: How do we promote sportsman type racing?
 

I don't know how many races you attend as a spectator,but this is clearly NOT the answer.

In my observation,after Top Fuel and Funny Car,the overwhelming majority of the "fans" head for a hot dog when Pro Stock comes up.The few that stay,definitely leave when they run Alcohol Funny Car and Alcohol Dragster.

And I am not just saying this because I am one of the Stock Eliminator racers who would not go if I was guaranteed a heads up race at every race.

The number one way to promote Sportsman racing is with TV.

I think Stock and Super Stock could make a real good "reality show" if properly edited.

Re: How do we promote sportsman type racing?
 

Getting rid of shoe polish would kill S/SS all together. Except for maybe 20-30 racers with money and/or soft combos.

Re: How do we promote sportsman type racing?
 

We probably have the only form of racing of any kind that first to the finish line doesn't win. Thats just flat wrong and thats why the fans don't like it. Its bogus and not really racing. The soft combos would be rectified in a hurry if they ran them out so that argument is bogus to.

Re: How do we promote sportsman type racing?
 

What do you think of the pooling of class singles on the Index at a Nationals? Sure lets the quicker car win.....But..... /

Re: How do we promote sportsman type racing?
 

Heads up raing will help as far as spectators understanding the racing. And heads up in Stock is sure a lot cheaper than heads up in many of the outlaw classes.

Stock/Superstock, the .90 classes and bracket racing are too hard for the casual oberserver to understand or get interested in. Cultivating a spectator market and more heads up runs or probably even something along Comp's CIC would help. Most people could understand a 4cyl car can't beat a 427 early Camaro in a heads up race but they sure don't see the logic in running too fast and breaking out. I think a lot of spectators might even get a kick out of watching the chase and seeing the slower car win or the faster car chase it down but then to lose because they ran too fast? WTF is most of them are thinking. I'm not sure if there is any other racing on the planet where you can be legal and still lose being the first across the finish line. JMT

Re: How do we promote sportsman type racing?
 

Personally, I like pooling the single class cars......But...... No Racer in his right mind is going to go out and go fast enough to hurt himself for just a damned Wally.
The Racers should have some significant incentive waving in front of them if they are expected to go fast enough to take a HP hit. What is it worth to set a Natl. Record? Zip. Number 1 qualifier at a Natl. Event ? Nada. I was recently #1 at a points meet, triggered the first (it takes two) -1.00 towards a HP review and never even got my name mentioned.
Wave the right carrot and we'll go fast. And a Wally ain't it.

Re: How do we promote sportsman type racing?
 

I agree but what if the points awarded for setting a record or winning class or #1 qualifier were comparable to winning the eliminator? Would that be reason enough to turn em loose? Maybe someone that wasn't an excellent bracket racer and more into the performance end of it could win the championship. I know there are some that would fit that bill.

Re: How do we promote sportsman type racing?
 

Billy is right here, as usual..

I always thought the payout structure was quite lop-sided.
The flat out , heads- up portion , which should be the big draw for spectators, is the part where the payouts have dwindled to practically nothing, where the ET racing (notice I didn't use the B word?) part is what the majority get to see,... if they want to. Most don't.

On the brakes , 1000' runs ,etc. , just aren't that exciting to the uninitiated.
Spread the eliminator money down into the class finals, and you'll see racers willing to take an AHFS hit to get it.

Re: How do we promote sportsman type racing?
 

Personally I enjoy shoe polish racing more than anything else. Sure a heads up is great within the eliminator but don't want to go see heads up everything. Wasn't nopi all heads up? The problem is that glendora went all in with top fuel and funny car and basically let the rest hang out to dry. Even a half hour show at local tracks across the country will get people to understand that more than top fuel and funny car happens at the greatest car show. I think a street class will help just a matter of making it easy on tech and cheap enough to run in.

Re: How do we promote sportsman type racing?
 

Increasing the amount of points isn't going to do it either. Not enough Racers have the time or money to chase all over the country with the hope of winning a championship. And speaking of the championship (world or div.), there's not enough money or other incentives there either.