[JRyan]

Jeff,
The records are not the standard in all cases. Look at Nitro Joes stats over the last year. There are a few runs that are faster then current records. The SS/K record is a pefect example. The record is about .40 slower then it could be. Records mean nothing to NHRA so most don't worry about setting them. In several classes the fastest run of the year is within a .10 but what do you do about the classes that are .2-.4 faster.
Nobody has answered the question what do you do with the couple classes where the stick is at an incredible advantage. I run both stick and automatics so I don't think I have an agenda one way or the other. Our stick car doesn't have really any of the newest tricks yet it's capable of running with the majority of the automatic cars in the same class.
Last year there were more SS/JA cars then there were stick cars in all of the traditional SS classes. Yet between SS and GT classes nine times the stick car had a faster best actual ET. Now these were all done in different weather conditions and altitudes but that gives you a more broad persceptive then looking at the record page. It is feasable currently in several classes but you can't make the assumption that sticks and autos run the same in A/S so let's combine all of them.
Plus tell me this if they were to combine classes what do you do with cars that either didn't come as a stick or those that didn't come as an auto? Personally I'd love to make my Olds a stick car.

Rick Ryan