"Live From" Virginia NHRA Nationals
 

Hey guys, we are at the Virginia NHRA Nationals... its overcast today, and I'm sure as most of you know the weather forecast is not looking good. I just looked the entry list and WOW... did a ton of racers drop out. I guess between fuel prices and the not so good forecast... its the perfect storm, no pun intended.

After talking with so many racers at the previous national events, many have decided to cut back on their racing program for the rest of the season. Staying close to home seems to be the consensus. Not many rigs are here, no surprise after seeing the entry list. I guess parking won't be an issue. I will be back tomorrow with more updates and info.

Re: "Live From" Virginia NHRA Nationals
 

Rename post. "Dead from". My fuel allowance going to Lemons. Phish

Re: "Live From" Virginia NHRA Nationals
 

Plan on being there to watch Saturday with family in the area. One grandson's first drag race. Hope we at least get to see something.

Re: "Live From" Virginia NHRA Nationals
 

Hey guys, not many cars out... we have had some light rain. They cleared the stacking area. Even with the entry list as low as it is, parking seems to be an issue. The parking crew is doing a good job with what they have to work with, but making it work is a major project for sure.

Anyway, I don't like to let parking issues ruin my racing experience, so I will move on. The weather looks like its going to be the main issue for this race, lets hope there is a window to get it done.

I'm surprised that there is not much talk about the car count here, is it fuel prices or just the weather?

Re: "Live From" Virginia NHRA Nationals
 

We've sat in hurricanes at Maple Grove. Rain until Tuesday at Englishtown.

It's the fuel costs.

Re: "Live From" Virginia NHRA Nationals
 

Ken,

I think Fuel costs and so many races in a row for many. Knowing that sportsman will be pushed to probably Monday "if" the weather does stay as predicted to finish and having Cecil, Maple, Epping and Leb Valley the next 4 weekends is having people rethink their plans. We also all know that once Memorial day comes around your going to see gas prices spike since it's the holiday and everyone will be traveling.

Have fun and good luck...thanks for the live from!

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401K’s getting hurt by the markets isn’t helping anything…face it, a lot of us are retired.

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Paying record high diesel prices to sit in the rain and race Sunday night or Monday is an issue. Tough to miss 2 to 3 days of work for that.

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Climate Change Ken. ;)
The answer is D, all of the above.
Todd is on, Who can stay with work , weather and fuel prices?
Hope you get to race guys.

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I sat through the bad weather at the Gatornationals and had to finally withdraw due to the race being postponed to Monday. I had to be back to work on Monday morning. At a minimum NHRA should postpone the sportsman portion of the program early on to another weekend date if the weather forecast is that bleak. Fuel and time is way to expensive these days..

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I'm sure Ken will have more but, from what I have seen online looks like the everyone will get 2 time runs and 1st round tomorrow. With the low car counts you'll have less then 20 cars left going into Saturday and should be an easy fix to be able to knock at least 2 -3 rounds out Saturday and get down to the final 4 on Sunday but, either way if Saturday is a wash they could run that little amount after the Pros are done on Sunday and not have to hang till Monday.

After R1
Stock - 17
SC - 14
SS - 17
SG - 15
TD - 5
Comp - 7

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Here is the updated schedule for tomorrow... who knows what will happen. I am rethinking my race schedule for this season, there comes a point where you just have to say enough is enough. Staying close to home seems like the logical choice for the near future.


https://classracer.com/q/vnsch.jpg

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I see the price for diesel is nuts, try this, I am waiting on a 150 gallon delivery for our furnace, $6.15 a gallon, 150 gall. minimum for off road fuel, no road fuel tax. FJB, John Kissel

Re: "Live From" Virginia NHRA Nationals
 

How many dropped out ?

Re: "Live From" Virginia NHRA Nationals
 

Almost 1/2in every class. I believe Stock, Super Stock, SC & SG were all at the 55 car quota or above. Comp had 19 and I think TD was 17 at the high point if I remember. Once the forecast came out and NHRA allowed till Tuesday to drop it was like the mass exodus

Re: "Live From" Virginia NHRA Nationals
 

@ 7:30 am Friday 05-13-22

temperature = 60.16 deg f
relative humidity = 100 %
uncorrected barometer* = 29.91 inHg
corrected barometer* = 30.12 inHg
wind speed = 6.37 mph
wind direction* = NE (29°)
more info: current metric | historical | forecast | help
dew point = 60 deg f
saturation pressure = 0.525 inHg
vapor pressure = 0.525 inHg
grains = 77.7
air density (w/o water vapor) = 100%
air density (w water vapor) = 98%
density altitude = 624.09 ft

Re: "Live From" Virginia NHRA Nationals
 

NHRA.TV says it'll start at 11:30. Does that mean they won't be broadcasting Sportsmen or that you are also at 11:30?

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Good morning everyone, it rained over night and into the morning. It has stopped for the most part... its overcast and damp with a mist here and there. They are pumping water off the track, and just started the track dryer.

No word on when we will start racing today. My opinion... it does not look good. The weather is coming off the ocean, there is so much moisture in the air. i would be shocked if we get anything done today, but lets hope we get a break in the weather.

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Drag Race Central reports track drying now.

The weather app on my phone shows a dry window until 2:00 pm then a chance of rain the rest of the day.

NHRA.TV shows "Please stand by, event starting soon.

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Dragracecentral is reporting that the pros get on the track 1st. I hope Sportsman get a shot today.
Casey Miles
248H Stock

Re: "Live From" Virginia NHRA Nationals
 

Hey guys, track is just about dry. Pros out first, but rain is minutes away. It looks like another rain delay coming soon. I tried to get some pictures, but no one has their cars out. Lets hope tomorrow is a better day.




*Update* It just started to rain.

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Another update folks, just like Gainesville... if you want to pull out now and go home, you will still get a refund. Wie still have light rain.

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Rain has stopped for a while now, the track is almost dry. No word on when the sportsman will go down the track. The pros will be out soon.

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Here we go guys... pros out at 4:30, followed by the rest of classes. It looks like everyone is going to get one shot down the track. I would have never thought they could get us in today. The sun is starting to come out, but you never know... keeping fingers crossed.

I did find a few cars out...

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Another rain delay... but the sun is back out. We should be back to racing soon with pro bike.

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My guess would be one run today, they create a ladder, then elims tomorrow.

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And they would like another $50 or $100 for entry or Jet fuel, LOL

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Have sportsman even hit the track yet ?

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Yes, DRC shows Comp, Top Dragster and final order after one round for the 33 SuperStock cars so far.

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Hey guys, well we just finished up around 9:40pm. Stock was the last class down the track. It was a little dewy out, but the track was in good shape. Super Stock qualifying and ladder are up on DRC. Stock should be up soon. If its not raining in the morning, Stock should be out first.

I have some photo from the Factory Stock Showdown cars, There was no time for me to get Super Stock. They were running us pretty fast, along with low car counts it was hard to get my car ready and then get up to the starting line for photos.

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I would guess there's a lot of wet cars even with the rain stopped.

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Good morning everyone, we get three rounds today all before the pros... that's if the rain stays away. They are prepping the track, and we should start at 9am with Stock first round. Weather forecast calls for rain today, so it will be another long day.

Here are FSS from yesterdays qualifying...

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A few more FSS cars...

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The rain is back, we got Stock first round and I believe one pair of Super Comp, and than light rain came in. Drying the track now, but lots of moisture in the air. I'm sure they will be starting with the pros once the track is ready.

Sorry for the lack of photos, but with low car counts and bad weather it was a tough week for the sportsman as most just stayed in the trailer. Next National for me will be Bristol.

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Thanks Ken for all the photos and updates. I was just checking DRC and they said it was misting and there would be a re-run in Stock. Any info on why a re-run? Just curious, pretty rare for that to happen at a National event, correct????

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So here we go again Ken! Your thread about improving our classes. I mentioned the way we get treated. So if you don’t get it by now, not sure what it will take. Stock only 1 hit and the last ones down the track in iffy conditions, first out the next morning for E1. Ridiculous!
What an experience for what we pay to get in and time away!

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I do not know the reason for the re-run, but i have seen it happen before at national events.


Not sure what else they could have done with the weather conditions. I was the only really fast car for that late night qualifying. The super gas cars coming off the throttle stop I think would be more of an issue so they sent stock out last.

I don't know what to say, I have a much better experience at the divisions races, but winning a national is special. Nothing has changed over the years, so we can accept it or we just don't go. Its not what racers want to here, but there is not much we can do about it.

The thread was started to see if changes could be made. Will changes happen, I just don't know. Do I want to stop racing... no, so I deal with. Do I get pissed off at times... I sure do, but they are the only game in town.

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Their not the only game in town, just the only game most everywhere in US.

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Lot of racers on here from time to time wondering how NHRA would fund their Natl event extravaganza s without our entry fees. With fuel prices being what they are,they might find out this year

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Where is there a better game??