Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

I feel the time has come to change the format for the National Championship Points race. In my opinion, I would like to have a year-end Race with Super Stock, Stock, Super Gas, and Super Comp. The top five in each class and in each division would all show up for the playoffs or I mean National Championship.
In all sports, there is a Playoff series at the end of the season to see who earns the right as the champion. This way an amateur would only have to travel to 5 division races. to win the right to the playoff race to crown the champion.Maybe everyone is ok with the way it is now ? any other opinions ?

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

I soured on the “playoff” format long time ago when Mike Edwards lost the PS championship after running away from the pack during the ‘regular’ season. It adds more drama of course but to me the racer who has the best season should be the champ and the current format provides that. Also think the JEGS Allstars provides the opportunity for racers to gain recognition and still stick to running Divisionals. Under the suggested format a class racer could win every National event they enter, have no success at Divisional races and not make the playoffs.

Actually like the current format even if sometimes there’s not much drama at the Pomona Finals (the Vegas LODRS did; however, provide plenty of drama to the Divisional championships).

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

I don't like the whole playoff/ countdown idea . imagine yourself dominating the early part of the season , and then having all those points dismissed and having to start over? I also believe the racer with the most consistent strong finishes should win the title.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

Dumb idea.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

They do it in the Summit ET series. Finalists from all 7 divisions come to Pomona to claim the national championship.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

Lets have the final race in Gainesville, and Stockers can start at 7 AM...you know 4 AM west coast time... Yea that's the ticket.

Or maybe Epping in November...we can stay until the weather is nice enough to race...
The winner would be whoever could stay the longest. Kind of like whoever is the last person with their hand on the car wins it.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

No, only the Division Champions got to Pomona. It is a 7 car race. And they get paid to show up and purse is winner takes all.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

What’s so unfair the way the system is now?
It seems fine the way it is.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

No change needed.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

I think IHRA did that and was great for the most part (I think the Top 3 in each Division got in) then they made it whoever won a race made it in and I think that put the kabosh on it because guys would run one race, win and then not support the series the rest of the year till the finals at VMP or Memphis and a lot of racers were like WTF. I do think the way the points & car counts are calculated should be changed. For example in Top Sportsman & Dragster in D7 they take 48 & 64 cars at some divisional races which turns into a 105 to win whereas a D1 race takes 32 and its 95 to win so a 10 point swing can mean a lot in the final standings.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

So unless NHRA is paying all these people to take time off and drive across the country it is a bad idea.

Current plan may have people driving across the country chasing points but that is totally there choice. In your plan the far east coast people would have no option but to drive to California to race for a title.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

It appears to me the National Champions of any Sportsman class puts plenty of traveling miles on their tow vehicle and lots of time away from home. It shows 1074 cars were entered into stock class this year. I'm sure 1/3 were grade points only for other classes. The points total for national championships takes the best 8 out of 14 races basically. To take on 14 races you would have to be fairly well off, sponsored, maybe own your own business or on a great retirement. Good luck to those who can.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

Playoffs are for the Stick and Ball crowd .
NASCAR started this crap and NHRA had to play follow the leader .
Pro racing lost it's appeal to many because of it .

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

Sounds like the Bracket Finals. The top 6 cars from each D6 track converged on Pacific Raceway for a final shoot out. It was great fun but I don't know if it is a workable format on a National level.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

I say leave it the way it is! here’s my story, IHRA did this very thing and I believe, like many others that it did not make the best racer the champion
I was fortunate enough to win my first world championship under the old point system, yes I traveled around many miles but when I became the champion I had more round wins than anyone else in my class
Now my second IHRA world championship came under the playoff program. I was only third in my division and did not have a very good year but it got me into the one race playoff. I went to Memphis and was fortunate enough to win that race . it made me a two time world champion.
Did I feel like I earned the championship? absolutely not. I just felt that I got lucky and won on the correct day.
And just a sidenote, when they took my interview they never said anything like that. they changed my whole wording around to say I loved the idea!
I thought I had at least earned the right to tell them how I thought of their playoff points system!!!!!

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

Okay, I should have said the winners go to Pomona. Yes, they get paid 3750 bucks to win their division and they have to win the championship to get the balance of the 5 grand. The allstars is another one that pays them to go.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

Floyd , the All Stars only get a fuel allowance . mine didn't cover the fuel bill to get there let alone home.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

If I recall correctly didn't Mike Neff miss the magic cutoff one year yet out point them? So he wasn't awarded the National Funny Car Championship.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

^^^^ Got that right!

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

Leave it the way it is.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

Isn't everyone going to Pomona to decide the champion the way it used to be? Top 10 in each division got to go if they had time or could afford to go. Seems a step back and would tilt the odds to the other coast. There is a gentleman there who lives 100 miles from me who is competing this weekend at Pomona who wouldn't be allowed to live his dream. Its one long haul from Moncton New Brunswick to Pomona California.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

Also from what I was told the bracket final contestants get the same amount of cash no matter where you live. So Joe Blow who might live an hour from Pomona gets the same amount of cash as Tom Goldman who’s traveling from Pennsylvania to California. Like Tom said the cash given for travel doesn’t cover it all.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

Never been a contender for a Nat.champ.(not even close..lol).But FWIW the format now seems alright.If it ain't broke,don't fix it!...gsa612

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

That is correct. Everyone that qualifies (is their Division Champion or a wild card) and runs in Pomona receives $3500 and races for the Summit Nat`l ET Championship regardless of travel. The race on Sunday is a winner take all event for $5000 and a shiny NHRA National Event Wally in each class.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

I am just wondering a couple of things > The playoffs could be anywhere? and why is it that every major sport has a playoff to decide the champions? And just maybe Racer who does not chase points or travel a lot or may not have the budget could stand the chance of being the Champion? Just how much money does it take to win the championship every year is a question also ? Just maybe a major sponsor could be found to sponsor the playoff race . Also just maybe a racer would not have to travel as much to get into the playoff just stay in his own division?

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

Just something who bailed out 9 years ago due to NHRA bull****. I ran Stock for 9 years on a poor mans budget. Had a few good years. On my budget if I hit the divisionals hard all Ineeded to do was do well at 3 Nat'ls near Div. 1 without breaking the bank. I don't begrudge guys with deep pockets, but this playoff crap takes out any chance of low buck guys from competing for the championship. I hope Billy (that crusty old millionaire) comes on here with his take on it.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

Actually when they added the wild card to make an 8 car field they reduced it to $3000.00.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

Sports-ball does do the playoff, they also do player substitutions mid match/game and except for tennis and golf are team sports. Apples to pineapples comparisons. NHRA sportsman are individuals with support volunteers (at times).The current system seems ok. The nascar & NHRA playoff systems make it less fun to watch as everyone just drives around for a top 5 with no urgency to push the car, not to win or go home like we all want to watch.



One thing I don't understand is how if win the Denver NE with ~20 or less cars, you get the same points as Gainesville or Vegas with ~80 or more cars in your class. Maybe a base points system then each 10 cars qualified over 60 cars or whatever number, everyone gets 5 more points?Just a thought

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

Division champions in Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman, and Motorcycle receive a division champion's trophy, jacket, and purse. They then advance to the NHRA Summit Racing Series National Championship at the season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona, where they receive $3,000 travel money for attending the event in California and compete for a lucrative Summit prize fund, the national championship trophy, and jacket and contingency awards.

This is the check for Div 7 Sportsman champ given in Vegas to Kevin Cox.
https://i.imgur.com/c9y7ur6.jpg

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

Thanks for the heads up Darrel! I haven't run the ET Finals in a while but still run my local program.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

I would consider some points based on performance like number one through five qualifier points. Maybe it would help accelerate AHFS a little as well.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

In my opinion, if you want to be a champion. you need to win or finish well often.
My thoughts are that if you win the playoff race , you did well at 1 race. not a championship.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

Another question I have in order to win The National championship Do You have to win by spending the most money ??? Or in other words the person who spend the most wins the most all for the Purse of $10,000???

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

I sure like the Jody Lang approach, primarily stays on the I-5 Corridor except for Boise and Vegas, fills his dance card quite nicely and seems to be in National and Division contention every year. So no, you don’t have to travel all that much or spend a fortune to win, but being a great driver always helps! (Brad Burton is another example).

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

Correct they are good drivers for sure

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

It should be noted that Allison got earned all of her points east of Columbus ,Ohio.
That being said, 8 and 6 is still a lot of races for a part-time racer.
If I were King of NHRA, I'd make it 6 and 4 , with two toss outs, total.

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

I like that idea!

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

Of course King Mark would lose a lot of cars in the divisional scam, and would probably be impeached and removed by a coup. ;-)

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

Small price to pay for such a good idea Mark LOL. But seriously I liked your post and if we could get some more positive feedback perhaps our SRAC reps could float it to the competition committee. Or has this been floated before without success?

Re: Change the Way the National Championship ?
 

IHRA tried that and look where they are now. I didnt like even though I won it 2011.