Tucson?
 

Tucson is off of the D-7 schedule, will there only be 5 divisionals in D-7?
IHRA hasn't claimed tucson yet?

Re: Tucson?
 

Mar 25-26 Tucson, AZ

Nitro Jam

Re: Tucson?
 

Word is that Bernie (Longjohn, the new manager ) never did like that date for the LODRS.

We ( Southwest Drags) had originally wanted to do a "class nationals" type event on that date. When I mentioned it here, there was NO (0) response to that idea.
Now that the date appears to be open again, I'll see what I can find out.

The Nitro Jam was being promoted by an independent outfit as an " IHRA style" event
The big question is whether an NHRA sanctioned track would allow it to happen.
Stay tuned....

Re: Tucson?
 

The word on the street is a switch to IHRA ?

Re: Tucson?
 

It's not up on nhra.com yet, but Chris Blair posted on FB yesterday that there was going to be an additional LODRS event at Las Vegas the week before the spring national event.

Re: Tucson?
 

Here is the exact post by Chris:

Just added to the 2011 Schedule at The Strip at LVMS. Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series - March 24-27 (the week prior to the Summitracing.com NHRA Nationals). The Strip will also host our traditional Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event on November 3-6, 2011.

Re: Tucson?
 

The Nitro Jam events are Feld Entertainment events......NOT IHRA!!

Re: Tucson?
 

I see that Tucson not on NHRA's track directory.

Re: Tucson?
 

It appears that it's neither one at the present time. That's all we know right now.

Re: Tucson?
 

the las vegas rumor is not a rumor any more its on the schedule. http://sportsman.nhra.com/2011/sp_schedule.asp

Re: Tucson?
 

IHRA is owned by Feld

About Nitro Jam
Headquartered in Norwalk, Ohio, the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA), a division of Feld Entertainment Motor Sports, promotes professional, semi-professional and local level racing opportunities for drivers at all levels. The Nitro Jam™ Drag Racing Series is a North American professional drag racing series comprised of events in major cities throughout the United States and Canada.

Re: Tucson?
 

SCHEDULE CHANGE TO NHRA PACIFIC DIVISION LUCAS OIL SERIES


GLENDORA, Calif. -- (Jan. 7, 2011) – NHRA announced today that the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event previously scheduled for Oct. 7-9, 2011 in Tucson, Ariz., has been moved to March 24-27 and will be held at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The event will now be the second event in the Pacific Division and will be followed by the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at the Las Vegas facility. The Pacific Division will return to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Nov. 4-6 for a second event and the final division event of the 2011 season.

Re: Tucson?
 

They are back to back Mark. Hopefully they'll try a combo in the middle of the week like they did last fall.

Re: Tucson?
 

I hope so, it's a window of opportunity that I hope SIR, and IHRA both come to the table with. Especially now that NHRA'S greed has shown by raising our entry fees!!!

Re: Tucson?
 

Latest info is this;
It seems IHRA (or FELD, or whoever's behind this) Is making a big advertising effort in the Phoenix area as well as Tucson, to promote this event.
We (Speedworld management and Southwest Drags) have decided, rather than to go head to head with this, and the Vegas Divisional as well, have decided to move the 50th Anniversary / SWND's to the weekend of March 5th and 6th.
Of course that frees up the S/SS racers to be able to make our event.
( I will have to continue this down below in our special section)

Re: Tucson?
 

Mark, is this in conjunction with the Heritage race?

Re: Tucson?
 

Yes it is, Floyd. All combined now.
They'll start eliminating on Saturday, and then during Southwest Drags time trials Sunday, they'll continue eliminations.
Do you know of racers coming over here for that series?

Re: Tucson?
 

Yeah good luck with that!!! IHRA can't get cars on the East Coast what do you think is gonna happen on the West Coast??? And it's $30 bucks more, not that big of a deal IMO.

Re: Tucson?
 

You're not talking NHRA's difference in entry fees over IHRA's are you? Last year when I was hopeful of trying out that Nitro Jam Race at Rocky Mountain Raceway, I could've registered my car number, became an official IHRA member, and paid the entry fee for the race, for less than the $270 dollars that we had to pay last year for a (non-Jeg's Sports) national event! Furthermore, we sportsman classed racers now have to pay $305 for a regular national event (non-Jeg's), as opposed to just $240 ONLY 3YRS AGO...THAT'S $65 BUCKS!!!! You obviously have a bigger budget for racing than I do (and I'm happy for you, and others like you), however I don't so I'm open to any possible options that will allow me to pay less and race my car in the category it was built for. Quite possibility one key reason IHRA doesn't get the car counts on the east coast is because you can darn near race the entire D1 circuit without having to travel more than 250 miles from many parts of their division, and D2 may have to go a bit more, but for those of them who live in Ga., Tn., or Nc. they have an option of racing a D1 & a D3 race (or more as well) without having to travel more than 400 miles. D1 & D3 are the most geographically friendly divisions (with D2 & D4 being the next best (which I feel is the reason IHRA's car counts may be meager out there). We're not nearly as populated out west as the east is, but we have a lot more land to traverse to get to our tracks. I asked NHRA 2yrs ago (after the NFL restructured their divisional layout), to do the same with our divisional layout, and they (plus many racers here on this site) laughed at me and pretty much said "if you don't like the tows you have from where you're at, then move and quit your bitchin'! I don't want to live out there where they do (and with the weather they've been getting, I'm glad I don't)! However, it appears that we westerners have a chance to try out what your area has had for years, but since we have fewer tracks, and more land I think IHRA will do better out here, and hope that some of our tracks will give them a chance to try???

Re: Tucson?
 

There are several of us here that are running the heritage series. It's generally such a crowded event that I was wondering about them throwing another race into the schedule. One guy has already said he's not going if there is going to be a s/ss combo at the same time. I'm going cause I'm going to chase the points in d/gas. A lot of the northern guys can't travel that far so it gives me a head start. Being in the middle geographically the only one that is a long tow is Sacramento. I need all the help I can get so hitting all the races can't hurt. That is if I can keep my **** together.

Re: Tucson?
 

Floyd, Last years Heritage event here was very modest at best....Same with S/SS combo...
Plenty of room and time for all.

Questions? 602-769-0346 Mark

Re: Tucson?
 

one of the best parts about going out west with IHRA is that the racers are begging for an alternative. I'm from NC, in the Heart of IHRA country, however, I welcome the move to try and take our brand into new markets and meet/race against some guys and gals that we don't normally see. I truly hope this deal is supported so there can be a full slate of classes out there in the years to come. I know the racers are there, now load em up and give it a try. Make sure you all get to the race in tuscon even though you're not racing and talk to the track, to the IHRA officials and I'm sure you will hear some good answers.

Re: Tucson?
 

I'll be there, Mark, along with a couple of buddies. Gotta come see my friend Dale Hicks who moved out your way last year.

Re: Tucson?
 

There will be a driver meeting at the track on January 22, 2011. There will be lots of discussion followed by votes. The votes of the drivers will dictate which direction Tucson will go.

I urge anyone who has an interest in Tucson to attend the meeting....it is important.

Re: Tucson?
 

Marc, 7820, and all others reading this thread, this is how serious I am for it...if there are 23 committed Stock/Super Stock racers who'll get that category added to the Tucson race and you need one more racer, I'll commit the dough to get my name on the entry list....though I won't actually be able to race in it since my car is still hibernating in snow-ville wyo., instead of being sand blasted by the desert sun & dust here in Maricopa, Az. I'm not rich by any means, however I want this to happen that much that I'll pay all registration cost needed to get me into this field. Heck, depending on how this meeting goes this coming Saturday, I may join IHRA then, or early next week!!!???

There are enough racers in the neighboring divisions that can make this happen, so how about it, if I'm needed, I'M IN!!!

Re: Tucson?
 

I will be there in sprit only as my bullet has expired.

Re: Tucson?
 

Bummer bud, but thanks for the thoughts though....

Re: Tucson?
 

I spoke to the husband of the track manager at Speedworld in Arizona (Victoria Griffey) to see what he knew. He said Tucson held a vote recently and local racers wanted to stay NHRA. So what he is hearing is that Tucson will have this Nitro race and revert back to NHRA.
Mind you this is nothing official and that's all I know!

Re: Tucson?
 

The vote has not yet happened. There is a meeting on the 22nd and a vote will be held. I doubt a decision will be made right away as they want the vote to be thought out so you don't have to place your vote that day. We will find out more on the 22nd. Until then we all just wait.