What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

Anybody know why the Divisional schedule release was delayed or when we might see it? Thanks, Mike McMahan 2543 H/SA

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

I'm wondering how many races we will get in D4. It seems like everything is up in the air right now with Tulsa and Noble. I would like to see us get 2 doubles at the Tx Motorplex.

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

Maybe there was a mistake and got deleted. It must have been there 3 days ago

2023 NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES DIVISIONAL SCHEDULE. NORTHEAST DIVISION. Cecil County Dragway. April 14-16. Maple Grove Raceway. May 26-28. Lebanon Valley Dragway. ...
2023 NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES REGIONAL SCHEDULE. EAST REGION. Gainesville Raceway. March 2-5. Maple Grove Raceway. May 26-28. Lebanon Valley Dragway.

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

Well I was hoping for more activity in division 7.

Paul Haszlauer
7019 C/SA

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

National Trails LODRS, Jegs Sports Nats now 5 days long!

Ridiculous

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

No Division 5 Points Race at BIR?

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

No Chicago Race either ??
Just like no Brainerd ??

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

In D2 we have the baby gators then the next weekend is the National event. The weekend after that is the divisional at SGMP. Thats tough to do when you are not retired or independently wealthy. I am neither. What were they thinking? They did fix the schedule and have Orlando early in the year and finish up the season at Rockingham. That will help both tracks with car counts. Time to get working on my car for next year.

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

I would think that the first day, Wednesday July 12, is the usual test and tune.

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

Anyone know why Mission (D6) isn't on the schedule? I thought the borders were open. Always have enjoyed racing there.

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

what happened to Div 3 RT 66 in August???

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

No Brainerd, unbelievable. Well, that's a lot of extra miles. Let's at least
make Earlville a double. Div. 6 has 3 doubles. And while we're straightening
things out, it's time to put Denver back in Div.7, they need more tracks. And NHRA
should go knocking on doors (Tracks) and get some tracks on board while
Div. 5 still has great car counts. If you need help with this, call me. Some racers
may be able to help get things done. Thanks.

JR

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

Western Colorado Dragway is a D7 track and could hold a divisional race. Decent track ran by racers. 5miles from I70.

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

Its been 5 days the last 2 years at least. Wednesday is a test and tune and a Stock Super Stock association race, unless that's now on Tuesday.

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

I would like to blame Mission for no points race, but as usual it is the mighty dollar that determines what happens. They have always said they made no money on nat. opens or divisional races. To bad-they seem to want circus acts.
Jim Johnston GT/QA

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

Those "Circus Acts" make money. Class Racing used to be a big deal. Now, a lot of racers prefer to bracket race. Bracket racing is boring to watch...

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

It doesn't fit their business plan. What business endeavors to take a loss on an appropriation of capital that will certainly compromise the bottom line.
I'm sorry to continue to rant on the NHRA, but they deserve it because they continuously fail to see the path to prosperity at the expense of the members.
Are they progressive to preserving the culture of "What wins on Sunday, sells on Monday", revisited? Car people are brand centric.

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

Always been listed as 4 day event with test and tune on Wednesday. Would assume that test and tune would be pushed back to Tuesday..

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

A very wise young lady told me weeks ago that there was a very good chance that Brainerd would not be hosting a Lucas oil series race in 2023. What a shame for the racers in that area. The sad reality is that there is a so much work involved in hosting the race AND very little IF any $$ to be made. How much longer can we EXPECT tracks to host these races ?

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

[QUOTE=Regan Wilson;670533]I'm wondering how many races we will get in D4. It seems like everything is up in the air right now with Tulsa and Noble. I would like to see us get 2 doubles at the Tx Motorplex.[/QUOTE
It was announced last year 2022 would be the last year for Houston Raceway Park,yet they are on the 2023 schedule. Hopefully that will happen.

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

Again I will say, back in the good-old-days when the NHRA had some influence over it's tracks and owners, if you had a Natl. Event then you had to have a Div.. Apparently, Natl. Events don't make the money that they used to that it's worth having to have the Div. race.

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

In 2013 the price to rent Charlotte for one day was $10,000.00.

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

While it has been pointed out to me that Points meets do not make the
tracks a lot of money, I have trouble with the financials. Bracket cars are
run at most of these events. The pits in Brainerd were quite full this year.
I will suggest there was 400 cars total there. If they average 250. a car
entry money(Which is Low) we have a 100,000.00. If we give the track
25,000.00 for rental and staff, we have 75,000. 00 left. If the racers are
paid 25,000.00, we have 50,000.00 left. If we split that between NHRA
and the track, 25,000.00 each. This is before beer, food, souvenir sales,
etc. I know my numbers are off, BUT, keep in mind that Lucas pays
the purses. Now, it may be time for a change in some areas of Points
Meets. I love Comp more than most. But 5, 8, 11 cars showing up
doesn't make it pay, same with alcohol cars. Maybe they have to be National Event only, I haven't thought it through. If tracks and NHRA can't make money on 100,000.00 small event, then someone's being greedy. I agree that Points Meets used to be a one size fits all, maybe it is time to
review that. If some divisions average 3 comp cars, 3 T/AFC and 4 T/AD,
or 6 Stockers for that matter, it is time to review that. We wouldn't run our
business' that way. And in the meantime, if a National Event track only breaks even or loses a little on a points meet, for now, that's the cost of admission for having the National Event, where they have a good(But Deserved) return.

JR

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

Don't understand the logic here.Two races at Earlville,but on separate weekends.Could have just done a double for one tow,and then they schedule one of them on top of the Norwalk Divisional.It's almost like they are purposely trying to kill car counts.

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

It is no secret that the tracks are not making money on pts meets in many cases. It is a fact.
Heck, Virginia dropped their National event because it was not financially paying it's way. They met with NHRA and could not come out with a profitable contract with them.

The tracks make more money on a good specialty event then a pts meet or national event. Sad but true

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

The track operators/promoters have gotten lazy with trying to promote their events. They get almost no spectators at the divisional events across the country. It’s not the racers fault that the tracks are not putting effort into getting people other than racers and crew to the track. Give out cheap or free entry and sell them a coke and hot dog to get some more capital in the gate. There is plenty to see and hear at the divisional races. Just no reason for them to be so poorly promoted. NHRA also does a poor job with their social media, TV coverages. They are so backward on that stuff. Their websites are not user friendly and mostly only showcase the pro classes. Specifically TF and FC.
Some tracks are nasty places with filthy bathrooms or portolets. Clean up the facilities and give spectators a clean bathroom and have some decent refreshments and food there. Make it an all around clean fun environment that you can bring your wife of kids to.

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

The Norwalk Divisional usually has a good number of spectators. Are they just good track operators or what?

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

There are track operators/owners and then there are promoters. Promoters put people in the seats.

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

Perfect example of the opposite of what Mike was just saying about the track operators being lazy and not promoting the events and giving the spectators a clean family friendly environment and making it an experience. Some of these tracks are not located in very populated areas and it's harder to draw big crowds of spectators but it can be done in most cases with some effort.

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

Funny thing but when I saw Brainerd hosting a NPK race the first thing that crossed my mind was/is there anything going on between them and NHRA?

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

The Baders know how to promote. Their Points meet is also their "Night Of Fire" Annual Funny Car event. They generally have a packed house. At the Brainerd NPK race, they had no other cars. They also ran well into the evening. It was 2 weeks after the points meet. Wouldn't it be better for the track, and better for the spectators if those 2 events were combined. We would be 1/2 through our day before they take their 1 time shot. They like to
run Friday and Saturday Evening, it's their's! We'll be the filler. Not that we need a lot of practice to learn how to be filler. We come pre-trained! Should be a win-win.

JR

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

Why are there not more doubles? You would think after the car counts at St Louis maybe ad one per division.

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

In Div 5, if Tri State hosted a national open before the Division races, it could make it more profitable for the track and increase the car count. Everyone would come out ahead on a schedule like that.

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

I know that VMP turned down the National Event so I was surprised to see them with a Divisional, especially a regional with the alky cars. I was told most track owners don't want a LODRS cause its tough to make any money.... a regional is even harder cause the track has to provide the purse for the alky cars.

I know the management at Bradenton is less than pleased that they didn't get a race......

I think these tracks should be begging for a National Open race. Anyone with a calculator can see that at $160 to enter and the dismal payouts, they are a money maker!

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

Lebanon Valley had an open this year and they don't in 2023, I believe it was a loser for them. If it is on the same weekend as a lodrs race it is a bigger draw, changes the bottom line greatly

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

Dave - Where did you see open schedule? Thanks.

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

Is this a commentary on divisional event track prep?

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

There are a ton of doubles on the 2023 schedule. It seems to really vary by division; if a division has 6-8 tracks that want to host a race, it will limit that division’s ability to have a double event.

Re: What happened to Divisional schedule release?
 

Long range doubles here. Would like to get Bakersfield and Sonoma….