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Jim Wahl 10-07-2017 07:24 PM

IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
With the announcement today that Summit will continue to sponsor the IHRA Summit Super Series bracket program it confirms the rumor that Stock, Super Stock, Top Dragster, Quick Rod, Super Rod and Hot Rod classes that IHRA calls the Summit Sportsman National Championship has been dropped. Scooter Peaco, IHRA V.P. is quoted in an email to state that "IHRA will be an all bracket racing oriented organization".

In a phone discussion with yours truly this week he said that "We can not continue to throw money at these classes that have such low racer turnout".
This decision is something I forecast 18 months ago after discussions with several IHRA officials. I think we all knew IHRA was in deep financial trouble when they began downsizing and laying off workers as well as shutting down the Drag Review Magazine. Communications between the racers and the Association all but stopped. An occasional email and a post on their website was all that was left. Sportsman racers had one last chance this past year to prove they would support the revised points championship program sponsored by Summit Racing Equipment but failed to meet the numbers IHRA felt it needed to continue with the Summit Sportsman National Championship program.

While it is true most of the dropped Sportsman classes can switch over to run with the NHRA many Stock and Super Stock racers can not and will have no where to go but to bracket race or invest a lot more money in their race cars to be able to compete. The Crate motor combos have no where to compete with NHRA. About half the Stock field in IHRA was filled with crate motor cars.
We at the Southern Stock/ Super Stock Assn.
have been allowing crate motor cars to race with us for over 6 years and we will continue to use IHRA indexes and classes so the IHRA S/SS cars will have a place to race. I will be getting with the Presidents of other S/SS Associations to see what they can do for these guys also.

I will make another prediction that I hope doesn't come true. IHRA is on life support and has one year to live unless something or someone comes along to save them. The mother company who bought IHRA a few years ago (I will not mention their name here) is guilty of mismanagement and screw ups like letting four major tracks in Florida to go back to NHRA was typical of the body shots the IHRA took recently and just could not survive. Let me be clear, I do not blame the upper management of IHRA or Summit, I truly believe they did all they could given the hand they were dealt. This is purely result of Corporate greed and lack of racer support.

NHRA now has a lock on Drag Racing in the United States. As much as I love racing with them, it is never good for any one entity to not have any competition! Some of you may think the NHRA has been overbearing previous to this....... just wait. Jim

http://www.ihra.com/ihra-news/all-ne...racing-program


.

HR9121 10-07-2017 08:31 PM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
I'm disappointed but not surprised, I couldn't imagine how they could continue with the car counts they were having.

buzzinhalfdozen 10-07-2017 09:40 PM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
So many good memories with IHRA hate to see this. Damn they fell a long way in a short time.

RTP S/S 10-07-2017 09:42 PM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
As bad as it is with the demise of the IHRA Class Cars, don't forget that NMCA ran the Stock/Super Stock combos at all 6 of their Muscle Car Nationals this year. True, it still is a dial-in format, but they have provisions for the heads up runs that a lot of folks still work so hard for.
The payouts are in line with the divisionals, and there are numerous contingency sponsors. This was the first year for the NMCA supporting this venue. They allowed all the IHRA classes including the Crate Motor and Pure Stock guys. Some racers think those classes are blasphemous and heresy, but it going to take all kinds of racers for us to survive this day and time.

Jim Bailey 10-07-2017 09:43 PM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
"If" I was an IHRA crate motor racer, I'd be on the phone, e- mailing, or writing letters to the NMCA. They have a great Stock / Super Stock Program and race series. Good pay outs, good contingencies, and a really well run program. Promise them support and ask them to continue to allow Crate Motor Combos in their program for 2018. What the heck, it's worth a try, and it's a great place to race !!

SSDA3426 10-07-2017 11:14 PM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
Truly Saddened To Hear This. I Knew With The Last Few Years Decline In Participation And Fan Turn Out That It Wouldn't Be Long. Being Paying Members( Many Of Us In Multiple Classes) We SHOULD Be Receiving A Magazine (DRAG REVIEW) Reminding Us Of Events AND BRAGGING RIGHTS When We DO APPEAR And Or PLACE...
SAD DAY. With All The Decline In NHRA As Well, They Wont Be Far Behind. Pro Stock Is Their Most Recent Cut Back What's Next?..

Jim Woods 10-07-2017 11:18 PM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
Hopefully all IHRA classes will be allowed in the association's and the nmca

Stephanie 10-07-2017 11:22 PM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
Jim: I see no need for IHRA your S/SS program can provide a platform that should satisfy everyone. Matter of fact I believe organizations like yours are all that is needed.

goldformula 10-07-2017 11:36 PM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
I can tell you this if you want to run nmca just contact them.

They are great people and truly care about their racers.

I am sure they would be happy to listen to anybody that would want to race with them.

I am not sure who moderates the nmca section here but just a simple post in that forum should get the ball rolling.

Lew Silverman 10-08-2017 12:51 AM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
This isn't the worst news I've heard in the last few months, but it's pretty darn close! I know I'm not the only one who thought that after this year's "no-divisional experiment" the powers that be would have realized how important the local programs were, and "tweaked" their business model to bring back the format we've all gotten used to, but sadly they've given up on "true" class racers altogether. I know I supported the IHRA when I was able to, and remained loyal through all the many changes throughout the years, but I NEVER imagined that they would give up on me (us)! Unfortunately, sadly, I can understand why these decisions always come down to money (everything revolves around it, after all!), but why are these changes only discussed in some boardroom somewhere, and then handed down like some death sentence with no hope of reprieve? Would it have been that much harder to communicate the "inevitability" of this sweeping change to the members (we are still an "association" aren't we?), instead of the way the edict came down? They owed us that much, didn't they? I truly hope that this "re-imagining" of what the IHRA is supposed to look like will be a success, if for no other reason then the welfare and livelihood of the folks who continue to run the show week in and week out.

Get out there and support your local Stock/Super Stock Assn if your program is an "IHRA only" combination, they all run a great show. The NMCA, as folks have mentioned, is another great opportunity to get yourself out in front of an appreciative audience, doing what you love! And who knows, maybe there will be other places we will be welcomed from time-to-time, after all, "Stranger Things Have Happened"!

Mike Jones 10-08-2017 06:21 AM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
looks like a fresh deal with Summit.
https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=333232
We see new index racing creeping in at NHRA national events.
Is NHRA far behind?

Mike A114

MikeMoller 10-08-2017 09:15 AM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Jones (Post 547081)
looks like a fresh deal with Summit.
https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=333232
We see new index racing creeping in at NHRA national events.
Is NHRA far behind?

Mike A114

Nope

Steve Stasko 10-08-2017 10:03 AM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
The unfortunate fact of the matter is that NHRA is now the monopoly.

340Cuda 10-08-2017 10:18 AM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
This is not good news for anybody.

Competition makes organizations better.

Bill

John Nechiporchik 10-08-2017 10:57 AM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
The recent Summit/IHRA contract extension does raise the question as to the future of the National Points Series by the omission of any mention of it. It does not "confirm" the end of class racing.
I sent an e-mail to the IHRA PR guy on Friday asking when any additional information would be forthcoming. He responded by indicating additional announcements would be made in the next few weeks.
Although it seems likely that the end of IHRA class racing is on the near horizon, let's wait for an official word from IHRA. If Peaco "leaked" that info in advance, that is completely inappropriate behavior for a corporate officer.

Nitro Joe Jackson 10-08-2017 11:24 AM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
Official Announcement:
After talking to Jeff Ross, we both agree that the Buckeye Stock/Super Stock Association will run off of the 2017 IHRA SS/Stock classes and indexes for our series in 2018. We hope that other independent series do the same thing to give the IHRA class cars somewhere to race in 2018.

Jeff Ross
"Nitro Joe" Jackson
Buckeye Stock/Super stock Association

Andys dad 10-08-2017 11:24 AM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
Does any one remember AHRA?

Ron (former GT3 national event competitor and champion)

ssracer3821 10-08-2017 12:22 PM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
Great decision - Jeff and Joe!

Mark Yacavone 10-08-2017 12:50 PM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
Our AZ. association allows IHRA classes to compete.
I realize there aren't many cars within 1000 miles, but the option is there.
We just take 3 tenths off the IHRA indexes for qualifying points.
Allowing IHRA classes to race, and adopting their indexes ,are two separate issues.

George Fitzpatrick 10-08-2017 12:54 PM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Andys dad (Post 547106)
Does any one remember AHRA?

Ron (former GT3 national event competitor and champion)

Just the old folks.

Mike Jones 10-08-2017 02:49 PM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by ssracer3821 (Post 547111)
Great decision - Jeff and Joe!

X2
Mike A114

Ed Wright 10-08-2017 02:52 PM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Andys dad (Post 547106)
Does any one remember AHRA?

Ron (former GT3 national event competitor and champion)

Tulsa went AHRA for a while. I never could slow my car down enough to run with that deal. Never saw so many cars with no front bumpers. Tulsa scedualed a National event with them. I ran off my own record in NHRA back then. I decided I would just set the AHRA record where I needed it at that race. Their tech guy, Vance Brady about had a stroke when I went down for the rear down. Told me I "was not going to screw our guys over like that". His whole little bald head turned red. And, said that if I was not happy running off the record as it was, to just take my ***** somewhere else to race. I was just going to knock it down 1.10 seconds. Slowest bunch of cars I had ever seen. Only good AHRA car I remember was Alan Patterson's '55. Very nice car.
Some of us used to call it the Arkansas Hillbilly Racing Association.

Mike Jones 10-08-2017 02:54 PM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Andys dad (Post 547106)
Does any one remember AHRA?

Wasn't Billy the Kidd involved in that?
Can you explain their demise?
Thanks
Mike A114

jimi 10-08-2017 03:58 PM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
I find it very concerning that IHRA did this. It wouldn’t be so far fetched to think NHRA could eventually do the same thing?
Maybe it is time to start looking at how to preserve and protect our investment into our cars and classes?
Think about the massive investment that all the stock,Super stock racers have made over the last 50 plus years into race cars ,parts ,car haulers etc . Not to mention the investment into NHRA!
I would hate to see with the stroke of a pen our classes get reduced to just an index bracket. With the knee jerk reactions we see from time to time(like the recent prostock joke) it is a possibility. Instead of waiting for something to happen we need to make sure it never can.

Ed Carpenter 10-08-2017 06:18 PM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
Ihra sportsman program failed because of the "I'm too good to run ihra" crowd in nhra. Personally had racers tell me I'm not running my stuff in Ihra. I asked why not real good racers race Ihra. They said Ihra is a second class citizen. Damn must be nice for your **** not to stink. IMHO it's a huge EGO deal. In any event, they killed it for the rest of us. Thanks guys....

Steve1118 10-08-2017 06:18 PM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
It's sad, but if it won't be supported, then it won't be there. Simple.

Frank Castros 10-08-2017 07:11 PM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
It's the bean counters who make decisions like these, however the time has come to get back to the grass routes of class racing, which is now the "local" Stock/SS association events. Support theses and you'll be fulfilled.

Kenney Kelley 10-08-2017 07:28 PM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Carpenter (Post 547138)
Ihra sportsman program failed because of the "I'm too good to run ihra" crowd in nhra. Personally had racers tell me I'm not running my stuff in Ihra. I asked why not real good racers race Ihra. They said Ihra is a second class citizen. Damn must be nice for your **** not to stink. IMHO it's a huge EGO deal. In any event, they killed it for the rest of us. Thanks guys....

You are right Ed. Kenney Kelley

Bill Mitchell 10-08-2017 07:30 PM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Wright (Post 547122)
Tulsa went AHRA for a while. I never could slow my car down enough to run with that deal. Never saw so many cars with no front bumpers. Tulsa scedualed a National event with them. I ran off my own record in NHRA back then. I decided I would just set the AHRA record where I needed it at that race. Their tech guy, Vance Brady about had a stroke when I went down for the rear down. Told me I "was not going to screw our guys over like that". His whole little bald head turned red. And, said that if I was not happy running off the record as it was, to just take my ***** somewhere else to race. I was just going to knock it down 1.10 seconds. Slowest bunch of cars I had ever seen. Only good AHRA car I remember was Alan Patterson's '55. Very nice car.
Some of us used to call it the Arkansas Hillbilly Racing Association.

I well remember the AHRA having raced at many of national events around the the country, all the Tulsa races & even the one at Orange County. I may not have had a front bumper on my Gremlin but I did on my Camaro. Unlike Ed I have many fond memories racing with future NHRA national event winners & a Super Stock World Champion from Tulsa.

larrylomascolo 10-08-2017 09:21 PM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
A.H.R.A.tried to make a come back 8-10 years ago.It had a few tracks under their sanction ,but it fizzled out .With this stupid news it would probably be successful

BackMotor 10-08-2017 10:25 PM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
AHRA is still around, they have a few sanctioned tracks, maybe now is the time for them to really get it going again !! Proud Lifetime member of the AHRA here :D

MR DERBY CITY 10-08-2017 10:38 PM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Carpenter (Post 547138)
Ihra sportsman program failed because of the "I'm too good to run ihra" crowd in nhra. Personally had racers tell me I'm not running my stuff in Ihra. I asked why not real good racers race Ihra. They said Ihra is a second class citizen. Damn must be nice for your **** not to stink. IMHO it's a huge EGO deal. In any event, they killed it for the rest of us. Thanks guys....

Ed, I believe you are painting your statement with a pretty BROAD brush...As far as racers runnng IHRA events, it really depends on where the racers live...Back in the day, IHRA was really strong in the Carolina's, During Bader's regime, Ohio..Michigan , had races with extremely high car counts, ....Nick Morris touched on this sometime ago..If a racer runs a few NHRA national events ,5 or 6 points meets ,throw in a few combos if you are fortunate enough to have them in your area...well there's 14 race weekends right there...With business and family commitments there simply is NO TIME to run other races..

Mike Pearson 10-09-2017 06:17 AM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
My personal opinion for the failure of IHRA is not listening to what the racers were telling them. The vast majority want 1/4 mile races. Some just won't run 1/8 th mile. Also the demise of the divisional system was a death blow. Most of the IHRA racers were not big travelers. The tournament of champions format was good and the win and you are in was also a good program when they had it. Another thing was lack of any type promotion of the events to try to get some spectator money for the tracks. Down here in div 2 we had steady growth at the events including last year. Almost all of the racers at the div 2 IHRA races are the same racers at the NHRA div 2 races. There were very few if the IHRA only racers don here. I am really sad to hear they are dropping the class cars. I guess this makes my Iron Man trophy a little more valuable to me now knowing there will be no more chances to win another. The current ownership just ran the organization into the ground.

Mike Jones 10-09-2017 07:11 AM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
it doesn't look like they are failing. Just changing direction.They signed a new deal with Summit. Stock/ Super Stock hasn`t been part of the local track program for 40 years.
Bracket racing is drag racing for most participants. Local fans dont`t grow up on S/SS like we did. 50 year old race cars are headed to the nostalgia ranks before they are glorified by any "HRA", again. Its the FS cars going forward. Its probably associations that keep S/SS going. Who ever thought Pro Stock would be diminished? Get ready for outlaw 10.5, its here already!

Mike A114

jmcarter 10-09-2017 07:22 AM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Pearson (Post 547174)
My personal opinion for the failure of IHRA is not listening to what the racers were telling them. The vast majority want 1/4 mile races. Some just won't run 1/8 th mile. Also the demise of the divisional system was a death blow. Most of the IHRA racers were not big travelers. The tournament of champions format was good and the win and you are in was also a good program when they had it. Another thing was lack of any type promotion of the events to try to get some spectator money for the tracks. Down here in div 2 we had steady growth at the events including last year. Almost all of the racers at the div 2 IHRA races are the same racers at the NHRA div 2 races. There were very few if the IHRA only racers don here. I am really sad to hear they are dropping the class cars. I guess this makes my Iron Man trophy a little more valuable to me now knowing there will be no more chances to win another. The current ownership just ran the organization into the ground.

Agree with much of what you've said. While a few benefited from the new points program (again, way to go Myron in the ultimate crate motor killer car) I believe the Divisional and "win and you're in" format was superior. With the National system in play this year if you fell behind early in the year there was no way to recover without making some long tows. Too bad the crate motor and pure stock folks perhaps have fewer opportunities to race based on their proximity to association races and NMCA is probably not going to give them many shots given some long tows involved (if they keep crate and PS cars at all). My little iron man (albeit it in Hot Rod from several years ago) is still special to me and really hate to hear of IHRA abandoning the class structure. NHRA is headed that direction as well and I'm waiting on the quotas for next year to see if they're going to take the next step down that road.

Kudos to all the association organizers who are trying to keep class racing alive and affordable.

ALMACK 10-09-2017 07:37 AM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
So sorry to hear this.
IHRA Pure Stock was the most "Stock" class in class racing.

My first passes in class racing was in a bone stock, 17 year old car lot special '95 Mustang GT.

Add shorty headers, some rear gears, a trans shift kit, driveshaft loop, and run the index. ( barely )

But it was a fun build...

I sure hope the NMCA does not forget about the IHRA guys next year

Dan Fletcher 10-09-2017 07:44 AM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
Its really very simple, they tried multiple configurations of structure over several years and no one showed up. Not just stock and super stock, but index classes too. Period, end of story. Blame whatever you want, but people voted simply by their attendance in overwhelming fashion for NHRA over IHRA and now that's all you have (along with association races).

No need to bash them or make excuses anymore...

BKSG1198 10-09-2017 07:53 AM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
I will tell you one thing that drove me away from IHRA was the location of the tracks. For where I live I would love to run IHRA, 2 races in one weekend and pretty good payout for the entry fee. I mean some people are dead-set on having to win a wally and will only run NHRA but, for myself and dad we have 4 NHRA tracks within an hour and 45 minutes. The closest IHRA track for us is MDIR at a little over 4+ hour drive and the next closest is Empire and Keystone at a little over 6 hours. So for me it's a no brainier to go and run NHRA. I also saw that they said something about low car counts. I've found out in my series that you can't schedule something on top of an NHRA event, no matter what!! A few times they had scheduled MDIR on top of the Bristol NHRA National or the Empire Pro Am on top of the Cecil LODRS Race. The problem is IHRA releases their schedule months behind NHRA and it would be smart to see where NHRA has their events before you put one a few hundred miles away on top of it and make people choose. It's a real shame to see this happen and I hope if anything the little series that support these racers with odd combos will step up and welcome them. It could be a HUGE boost for the little series, so get out and support them!!

Daran Summerton 10-09-2017 07:59 AM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
The car counts suck because the purse sucks will we get a refund on memberships 😁

EricArrow 10-09-2017 08:59 AM

Re: IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing
 
5K bonus at Pittsburgh and Maryland in S/R and still no attendance? Sometimes I wonder what people are thinking. We cry when there's no payout...we cry when it's a one day race...we cry if we have to drive more than a couple hours. This is what we get for our crying. I don't know if I will go to NHRA or just sell my stuff and spend more time with my dogs. But I think there is room for some home grown series expansion at this point. I expect Rob's series to grow next year. Sad deal all and all. I really enjoy IHRA .


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