Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

As the time come for NHRA to seperate the Pro show from sportman racing at National Events

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

I say no. I think NHRA needs to figure out how to speed up the pro program. Not so much down time between the classes. There is too much non racing crap going on during the pro sessions. Better integration between all of the classes. Maybe even cut out one round of pro qualifying to make room for the sportsman during daylight hours. It was cool when they used to have a night pro session. Just need some better event management. The sportsman pay a lot of money to participate. Make the racing the show.

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

What about Indy?

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

No. Could start a downward spiral for sportsman racing. Out of sight out of mind from the majority of fans and NHRA executives. This is more negative than positive. Need to stay on course and fight to make things better at NHRA Natl events

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

I think there are a lot of fans that also attend National events to see "regular" type cars.

In fact,there was a survey in National Dragster many years ago that asked fans...What is your favorite class?

The class that had the most votes was SUPER STOCK.

I don't think this would be a good move from the NHRA point of view.

I could see the end of National event payouts,if National events go away.NOT good for any Sportsman racer!

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

No. If you don't want to run Nationals, you can always stay home.

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

i say NO. what should be done is to take and limit all stock super stock super gas super comp comp and so on at nationals events only. to grade points. put a number on each class for the amount lets say 75 per class and stick to it.first come first serve. races like houston if you have money and a NHRA # and pulse and no grade points you can enter. not fair to the ones that make points meets for grade points.that would make more room at nationals.why should you reward someone who has never raced before to go to a national event without paying your dues. JUST SAYING!!

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

Limit it to 64 and that takes an extra round out of the eliminations schedule.

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

YES. National events have turned into "camping in a parking lot" If we were separate from pros there would be more racing less sitting.

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

You already have that it's called a divisional. IHRA already showed once you take the pros away everything else starts to go away.

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

Brett C has the right idea by Limiting car count to 64.

The only problem with that is: Most National Events have Stock & SS Class Run-offs.

I wonder if the future for Stk & SS will try to be 2 New Eliminators" ALL the New Cars Running Heads Up in there own Eliminator Quailifing 16 or 32 Cars.

Stk & SS will be a combined 128 Cars for their Eliminator with No More Class Run-Offs.

It would be nice seeing the New Cars going head to head on a Sportsman Level.
Quailify 16 or 32. It would be like a Jr. Pro Stock.
Or you can have them run like they do at the National Opens with 3 different classes
with Handicap starts, (probably a much fairer way for the Non-Professional Racer).

Yeah i like that proposal better. Handicap starts with break out rules in effect.

Just my 4 cents.

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

No. If sportsmen are pulled away that will be the end. If there were more cars and some paying spectator at division races NHRA would take notice of sportsman racing. Right now the only people in the stands are family and crew members and some of them never leave the big motorhomes or the pits.

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

nhra executives have pulled a few bone headed moves over the years and managed to survive, so far. But they know better than to attempt to separate the Pros and Sportsmen. nhra would be buried under Constitution Avenue.

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

Split them up. Sportsman nationals Sat-Sun the week prior to the Pros at each event. More room to park without all the pro cities and restaurants....more racing, less waiting, get it all done in two days....less need for days off work....more competitors per class back to over a hundred like I remember....class at each race....track prep tailored to sportsman needs...no clutch dust...sportsman credentials good for pro race if you want to stay...tear down selected cars after they loose in the eliminator...seal the selected cars at tech....if it rains, you got till next Friday to complete the sportsman portion...never have to come back for a reschedule...save fuel, time, aggravation, and Money. Classes for sportsman portion S, S/S, S/ST, S/G, S/C, Comp for the pros Use T/S, T/D, A/FC, A/D as fillers for the pros. Your boss would be happy with you missing less work. And racers families would be happier that your vacation days would be used for VACATION! LOL Just think about it....no more bitching and fussing about the pros....just racing and having fun again....keep the sportsman money in the sportsman race

Wade Mahaffey

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

x2

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

I decided a few years ago that running a national event is a waste of my time and money, Any chance we could just get rid of the pros?. Then people may actually show up to watch us race.lol.
Until things get better I'll just stay close to home, The cars are paid for and don't cost much to leave parked..

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

I have to agree with Wade. As long as NHRA and the track can make a profit doing it this way.

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

NHRA Fan Poll results: Favorite classes 05/01/2002

Funny Car 10.78%
Top Fuel 10.62%
Pro Stock 10.19%
Top Alcohol Dragster 7.58%
Top Alcohol Funny Car 7.55%
Pro Mod 7.46%
Pro Stock Bike 7.02%
Super Stock 6.80%
Comp 6.64%
Top Fuel Bike 5.93%
Stock 5.45%
Super Comp 5.03%
Super Gas 4.91%
Super Street 3.98%


Points values were assigned to all rankings 1-14. Percentages listed reflect the percentage of points earned of the available TOTAL, not the actual total of people who voted for the category or for that category’s position in the standings.

http://www.nhra.net/2002/news/May/050101.html

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

Maybe Sportsman Thursday & Friday , Pro's Sat & Sun , that way everyone has a 2 day event

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

Im with Bo...finish by saturday.

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

Depends what you're interested in. Do you actually want to race, be able to make time runs, pit in a decent area, ... then yes. However, if you're only intersted in being part of the "show" and all that goes with it (both good and bad) then no, keep them together.

We have a Pure Stock C5 and thus can only run IHRA. That wasn't by accident and every time I'm tempted to update it to a "regular Stocker" it's incidents like Houston that remind me we like where we are now.

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

Pure stock doesnt count,What you have is a STREET car ,Stay bracket racing.

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

You're absolutely correct. I do have a "street" car with AC, all power equipment, and can 60' in the 1.50s and run a half second under the index and I still have stock exhaust manifolds and haven't been in the engine YET. In fact, I'm not far from the almighty NHRA B/SA index with a stock LS1. Forgive me for not needing someone to build me a $10K engine with $4K heads to run how far under? Another 3 or 4 tenths ...

And you wonder why people think SOME NHRA racers are pretentious. :mad:

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

Looks like NHRA just split the pros/sportsman up. Atlanta sportsman classes finished today. Wonder what they will do tomorrow inbetween the pro classes?

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

Dry the track????

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

Now that's funny. :)

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

FOR SURE !!!! NHRA National Events should be - for the Pros - . EVERY class should be Heads Up, first one to the line wins. Classes; Top Fuel, Nitro Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Mod, Alky Dragster, Alky Funny Car, Factory Stock, Top Super Stock, Jr. Super Stock, Top Stock, and Jr. Stock, plus Hemi Cars at some events. Qualified Fields, Fastest/First one to the Finish Line Wins.. Zero Fan Confusion, Go Fast or Go home!!!

Sportsnations/ Points meets, to Feature Comp and Class Racing as the headliner. NHRA to consult with and make Bill Bader the VP in charge of marketing and operations of Sportsnationals and Points Meets, including providing him the nesessary advertising budget/funding to make it happen.

Additionally ...Maybe, with some planning, the Sportsmen World Championships could be run and decided at INDY. Just my thoughts. JB

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

Ding Ding Ding, We have a winner leave the bracket racing to the bracket racers.... Class Cars are much more fun to watch when they are run Heads-up. the word Drag race means first to finish not first without going to fast... Fix the HP. on extra soft combo's it's not that hard to do and go racing, HEADS-UP.

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

Every heads up eliminator that has ever been implemented (top stock, super modified) has failed as far i know.NMRA has a few, but they only have about 25 % of the entries they had a few years ago.Anyone have any ideas how to fix that?

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

Do you realize the cost involved in running the same track two weeks in a row with all of NHRA personnel having to be there. NHRA would just as easily keep the sportsman money and cut their number of runs. Until the new IHRA steps up to the plate, NHRA knows they are the only game in town; sportsmen racers that want to go to national events are going to have to deal with whatever they decide to dish out. Your choices are go spend the money and cry or stay home.

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

Jim not only has nice cars,is good looking but smart too.:>):>):>)

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

I agree IHRA needs to stand up and take on NHRA.
Several recommendations were made earlier about bringing in Imports and bolstering Pure Stock would bring in more racers.

They need to take on there own personality to attract anyone interested to come and visit.

Top Fuel and Funny car are just too damn fast racking up huge insurance costs.
Paying into those Death Panel forces operators to go 1/8 mile or pinch on infrastructure.

One such simple recommendations is making Rest Room Facilities look professional and clean.
Drag Racing needs to have a more polished image which will bring in more women and kids.

Need to take on the image of a good gym with Showers.
MIR seems to have a done a major redo.

As for Pro Stock..three is nothing Stock about it.
It has gone Nascar.

Heads up racing is a great way to go and with all the new products out today.
IHRA would be wise to study the market to allow the current racer budget such seperate Heads up Super Pro Body and Rail Classes.
Standardize engines, Flat Top Pistons, Limited Lift, Spec Spring, would not even allow hood scoops.

Just NO Throttle Stop Racing !!

Another suggestion is to incorporate all the independent racing programs for Class Racing as they are well organized to make them also part of the Divisional Point Chase.

D

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

I like this.

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

Which means what, exactly? Many racers didn't support IHRA when they were at their strongest and were doing everything the racers said they wanted.


Didn't most people pitch a fit years ago when they separated the Sportsmen from Gainesville and sent them to finish up at Orlando?

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

If they split them up the fans would not have a car show to look at...Plus the pits would be empty and would make NHRA look bad............

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

I don't think they will separate after they saw what sportsman racers do for the pros. with out us there the track was slick and was more of a smoke show than a race. they love us now! :)

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

Tar Heel What did the vette cost you...$40.000?..You dont have a race car as i pointed out..Class racing is WAAAAAYYYY different than a bogus PURE STOCKER,,,The convesation is about national events...your a wanna be Class Racer ...Do you wear gloves and sunglasses..oh and the gold chain when you race?LOL stay on the porch little dog

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

If Atlanta is any indication it looks like JR Dragsters will take the place of sportsman classes at NHRA National events.

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

The only guys I've seen driving vettes with gold chains came from NY, might wanna watch that one. But you are right that this is about NHRA nationals, which doesn't have pure stock. Although Jeremy Preston has run a "street car" vette in NHRA stock for quite successfully.

Re: Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman
 

Maybe if Comp, Super Stock, and Stock went back to racing off the National record the fans would be more interested. Racing to 1000 feet is not interesting to the fans because they don't understand about saving your index. This would take class racing back to "Go fast or go home".