ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Was at the race in the spectator parking lot on Wednesday the day before the race. Heard the fuel cars and pro stocks testing, wouldn't allow anyone in as it was private sessions. Thursday schedule had Pro Testing at 10:00 AM and the gates opening 12:00.
So the parking lot starts to fill fast and the word comes out that the gates will open at 2:00 instead. Tons of people standing outside listening to the announcer inside of what's going on. Surprise, gates open at 1:30. Right side of track for T/F and FC and vendors. Behind staging lanes for P/S and VIP stands, left side of track along fence for motorhomes and travel trailers inside finger road for T/S and a couple of Stk, S/S. Most all Stk and SS parked in front of Freedom Factory oval track near end of drag strip, no speakers out there to hear.
From here on out the schedule becomes a guessing game. SS was is in the lanes and was called back twice in the event. No first round of eliminations on Friday evening.
Round 1 Saturday morning, 4 bye runs.
The pro show starts and it was great. After 1st round of the top 8 qualifiers was done, then the non qualified cars ran a handicapped start between T/F car vs FC.
As the event went on there was quite a long period of just standing around with nothing going down the track. I couldn't figure out why they weren't running the Stk and SS cars. Well the finals came around and the pros put on a show. The crowd went wild and after the finals the crowd started to flow out of the stands and out the gates. THEN, they ran the finals for Stock, Super Stock and Top Sportsman.
As a side note Bobby Fazio busted his butt getting results to you all despite the schedule.
Great race, but the sportsman were not treated as they should have been. It should be noted that the fantastic BMP crew assisted in the event but was not in control. Hope to see another race like this with a little bit of respect for all the racers.

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

And have heads up runs in S/SS.





Bret Velde
2003 I/SA

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

This race wasn't about sportsman racing! It is the The PRO Superstar Shootout—a $1.3 million event put on by the Professional Racers Owners Organization and not sanctioned by the NHRA

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

1320racer, we know it was a pro race, but they added 3 sportsman classes only, no alcohol, no super categories, no bikes, no juniors, not an NHRA race, never said it was.
When you set up a schedule with only 3 other categories, you use them as an opening feature to the big show, filler if you want, not after the show.

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Every spectator that was there was there for the PROs, the show, not for sportsman racers.

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Whatever.

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

I'm certain that Matt Dadas and Monty Joe Bogan who actually competed unlike you, and who each won $30k had no issues with ho0w the program was run.

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Were there any S/SS racers that turned down the invite ?

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Big Head Ed, NOBODY likes you or wants you on here!

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Wrong, Ken Miele does:p

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

I think ed has a point $30k is pretty respectable! You guys are too high strung, this was something different than nhra, maybe ask the racers that ran how they felt? Idk

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Get you a Top Sportsman ride and drive from West Texas to Bradenton Florida per an Invitation. Congrats to Darian Boesch from Louisiana another D4 Guy who won T/S which is a little more close. My friend Lance Abbott made it to second round and just lost a good race. Him and his Dad Kenneth are still on the road home.

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

I heard a little bit about someone trying to split the payouts down by rounds. Lance left with nothing. That doesn't mean he won't get anything. It wasn't done by the Promoter

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Keith 944… KNOWS!

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Wes Buck quote before event.who was big partner in event..just as much about promoting sportsman racers as pro's

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Quotes don’t mean squat, it was an event for the Pros by the Pros!

You stock guys are delusional thinking you are the show anywhere. You ain’t and of course the ones bitching weren’t competing. Too funny.

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Trying to find the YellowBullet pics of Big Head Ed, the most banned, full of dog waste their has ever been! Ed, GO AWAY! Your USELESS!

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

typical another hater that only posts to attack me because he don't like my opinion. Go cry in the corner little man:p

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

You know Ed...I don't recall seeing you, your World's Fastest, Longest, Highest Wheelie Chevelle... or your Wanabe SS Car there.

I wonder why you were not invited.
🤔

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Bill, you were there, what are your thoughts?

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Tune in Tuesday night 9PM EST if you want to know how the race was run.

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Keith,
Well...other than a broken rear shock on the Stocker...We had a blast !!!!!!!

Obviously, they wanted the Pro Show to go off without a hitch. That is what the fans were there to see. They gave the Pro's three days of testing. Everyone wanted to make sure they put their best foot forward when the fans came through the gate. They would be stupid to want otherwise. Does that mean we were an afterthought? No. It just means they didn't know what they didn't know, and they were focused on ensuring the future viability of the event.

If/When there is another event of this type, I'm sure there will be some changes. From my small point of view the event was immensely successful! We are happy to have been even a small part of the event.

I would however have wanted our results to have been better. As it was, even with our performance...we learned a lot, had great discussions with some very knowledgeable people...and had a blast!

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Great, thank you for replying. I would have assumed it was a good event and an honor to be invited. Just from what I was able to see, it looked like the place was packed.

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Also...It had the vibes of Bill Bader Sr's IHRA National Events. One thing that took me a while to notice, but really made the event IMHO was...
No hospitality tents/trailers. This made for a much more compact event. Dare I say...it was more intimate, and made the Pros seem more approachable.

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Any place to see the round-by-round results of the Sportsmen classes? DRC only shows the first round winners and then the finals.

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Bill, I would have thought a hater such as yourself knew that the best working, stock suspension, small tire Chevelle that I built and raced for 3 decades has resided in France since January of 2009.:p

Further, I was not invited because I have not, nor do I have any interest in racing the entry level sportsman class in the NHRA LODRS.:p

Last, my Firebird, built by the best, MPR was a GT/AA - HA super stock car competing in D1 from 2004 through 2008 and with a swap of engine and trans can be again.;)

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Yes.

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

I was lucky enough to attend the race Fri-Sat. I will say that with any first time show there are some improvements that they can take into account for the next go around.

However, when it comes to S/SS at this venue versus a standard national event, when the pros finished you STILL couldn’t get an open seat in the stands to watch the sportsman classes. I had to stand next to Bobby along the fence 2nd round of Super Stock just to catch a view of the round. The sportsman competitors put on a heck of a show for the fans.

Hoping to make the trip out again next year!

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

https://youtu.be/7GMRPvJIDi0?si=1SbHbjDZ41WTpwND

https://youtu.be/XheTYiEEJc0?si=74QIBsSwp3NQ-hq3

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

What is so special about a race that pays 30K to win,when the entry fee is 1K to enter and there’s a 32 car field? This was a self funded race and a Bracket race also with none Bracket race cars. So what am I missing!!!!

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Just for context, the Gatornationals will have 70 cars in Stock at $350 entry which is a $24,500 intake and paying out $8200. Super Stock intake is $24,500 and paying out $8950. This race took in $32,000 and paid out $30,000. Top qualifiers also got $1000 although it came from sponsors. This race introduced us to a new audience at a packed venue. Pair that with Bill Bader speaking very highly of Stk/SS last Tuesday, maybe some good things are on the horizon.

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

that audience, that packed venue was not there to watch stock and super stock cars. They were the filler no different than a national event. Hence the finals after the Pro program was done.

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Bobby:
I am very glad to see the purse issues at NHRA events being brought up It is not right that the purse now is less than it was many many many years ago

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

the NHRA payouts have been discussed ad nauseum here for years YET the quotas are always met, filled sometimes in minutes and you have racers posting here looking for an entry. Clearly class racers don't care about the payouts and the NHRA knows it!

All sorts of groups are able to organize thousands in a minutes using social media for flash mobs, looting, rioting, etc. If only the old guys that largely make up the NHRA LODRS class racers could do the same and sit out just ONE national event, the NHRA would shyt themselves. Instead you waste bandwidth here complaining and no one at the NHRA is listening no mind cares. :D

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

I can't help but agree with you here. I've had the same thought many times. If racers keep showing up no matter what, why change anything? Apart from the small payout, we are almost free income for the NHRA at national events. It will never happen, but if all Stock/SS guys came together and decided to not enter one of the national events, the $40,000 plus in entry fees that never shows up in the bank will get their attention. I've heard someone mention it before, and it seems to be more plausible as time goes on. The NHRA legal team would probably not advise them to kill of Stock and Super Stock completely. However, if they gradually make us more unhappy with them, we may just go away on our own, which may be part of their plan.

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Doug, happy that you see it.

That said, change will only happen if you, your generation makes the NHRA listen but the problem is, there is not enough of you to take the lead on this and the old guys are just happy to race, most have long ago stopped thinking they can actually win a race so the payout is moot to them.

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

AARP - We are all familiar with that logo. Here's my version:

A - absolutely

A - always

R - remain

P - positive

If everyone followed Bobby's example and did all they could to promote stock and super stock racing you guys and gals just might get someone to listen. If you don't try, you will never know what might happen. Good luck.

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

Bobby is just the latest, all good but as far as increasing the purses, NOTHING will change unless/until the racers force change but with the majority of class racers being AARP card holders, that ain't happening.

Re: ProStar Shootout observations.
 

I’m all for positive thinking. I don’t see Stock and Super Stock “going away” anytime soon. However, there’s a difference between being positive, and delusional. The writing is on the wall that we are not the “up and coming” class that NHRA is promoting to get people in the gates. Case and point. The Sportsnationals are the only national events I’ve competed in. Not only are there no “Pros” what else aren’t there any of? Spectators.