[Myron Piatek]

I still can't understand why some people won't go to an IHRA race because of the "no heads-up" clause at the invitation-only World Finals.

There are still heads-up possibilities at all of the IHRA national and divisional events plus a few class eliminations. I'm sure that there have been many event winners, IHRA as well as NHRA, who did not have any heads-up races through the course of eliminations. I'm also sure that it did not dilute their satisfaction or status of their accomplishment, which, for most, is the ultimate goal at an event. But I do know of racers who have the resources and put most of their emphasis on being a top qualifier or winning class, particularly at Indy. If that's their goal, fine. But sportsman racing has always been a compromise and the handicap system has been an integral part of it for decades. It's been a necessary part to allow more racers to participate and keep the Stock and SS alive. The World Finals are a shootout for qualifiers who have already run the gauntlet of possible heads-up runs to make it there. Once they have earned a spot, IHRA has provided them an incentive to attend and still have a shot at a world championship based on their skill, not their already depleted wallet. Many people can't afford to try & fight all year to get a spot then see that there are several faster cars in their limited field. The bottom line is getting more racers to participate so the sportsman classes can survive. So this format that IHRA is trying with the final race only "compromise" is better than not having a Stock or SS class at all. I appreciate their attempt at trying to raise their car counts so they can keep Stock and SS in their programs and keeping the door open and more affordable to participate - WITH heads-up runs in regular and class eliminations until the invitation-only World Finals.

More cars = more sponsors = more contingency and for a smaller initial investment.