[Alan Roehrich]

Bruce, there is no doubt that the OEM's getting involved boosted the chances of getting the AA classes. However, we ran AA for a year before the Fords and Chryslers were accepted by NHRA (all of 2008).

Further, when AA was actually formed, many, including myself, were emailed directly by NHRA, asking us what the index should be. The current index of 10.90 was ALMOST universally accepted, the majority agreed on it. The exceptions were those who were worried that the index being that low would make it difficult to qualify at Indy, which was true. The idea behind the index being 10.90 was to allow the fast cars to actually go really fast before even hitting the evaluation trigger, much less getting instant HP.

In any event, although a few (myself included) have stated that the Cobra Jets and the Drag Pack Challengers have a ridiculously soft factor, NONE have said they wish we had not asked for, and been given, the AA classes. Live by the sword, die by the sword. We can all live with it, even if we don't like it at all. And despite the ridiculous factors, we wecome new cars into the class. We wish they were correctly factored, but still, welcome to the party.