IHRA vs NHRA

[Crew Chief]

This is a touchy subject but now is the time for racers to get it out in the open.

There has to be a reason NHRA racers do not attend IHRA events. It has been stated enough times by enough people that IHRA races have a friendly atmosphere. Probably very few would dispute that fact. Still NHRA racers stay away.

Some in the past have stated that they do not trust IHRA tech. Could that be the reason NHRA racers stay away? A few IHRA top guns have been tossed when they attend NHRA events. Why? Does NHRA pick on IHRA cars when they show up or had the cars been wrong all along in IHRA and just not caught?

How does IHRA tech compare with NHRA tech?

[RJ]

I don't think too many care for all the IHRA 1/8th mile races, I know I prefer the 1/4. As far as tech, I know IHRA have pulled heads on stockers before. I wouldn't say IHRA or NHRA are looking as close at stockers as they should, heck, some of NHRA guys have motors they run most of the year with, and then they have an "Indy" or legal motor. And there are some NHRA top qualifiers that travel to a lot of races and rack up the grade points, but manage to skip Indy? - Hmmmm

[greg fulk]

@ a div. race the tec is about the same...I run both...I would run IHRA more but most of the tracks around here have either quit having Div. races or went to NHRA. That being said quite a few guys in NHRA don't like the "crate motor" cars! Me I think the rules should be change some mainly the carb & intake rule but most all "crate motor" cars are fine high quality cars.

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by greg fulk

@ a div. race the tec is about the same...I run both...I would run IHRA more but most of the tracks around here have either quit having Div. races or went to NHRA. That being said quite a few guys in NHRA don't like the "crate motor" cars! Me I think the rules should be change some mainly the carb & intake rule but most all "crate motor" cars are fine high quality cars.

I really don't understand "why" there's such a problem with the crate motor class. The allowed motors all have technical specifications, just like any other engine. Due to the vortec heads, you are somewhat limited in the intake department. That leaves the 750-850 cfm carburetor, typically a double pumper Holley, that seems to be a rub.

The chassis, interior, fuel system, all have to be built like any stocker combination. Big difference I see with IHRA, they allow roller rockers, 10.5 inch tires, aluminum driveshafts and deep sump oil pans. that is pretty much all stockers, unless you're building a crossover car.

I guess to pose a question. What, today, really defines a car as "stock"? Is it compression ratio, because you're allowed aftermarket replacement pistons. Is it cam specs, you're allowed to manipulate all but the lift. Is it intake and carburetor, you're allowed replacement carbs for some that are no longer available. Many cars are running transmissions that were never offered for those cars, ie; metric transmissions in older GM's.

I'll freely admit. I wasn't real enthusiastic about the class initially myself. My partner convinced me to sit down and read the rules regarding the class. The concept suddenly became very clear, these motors very much resembled the same kind of street motors we were building 30 some years ago. A motor, the SBC, that I understand, with a Holley carburetor. The car stilll has to be built, tuned, sorted out and run below it's index.

I know another argument I've heard, too many classes. A class of this nature, might allow people to get their feet wet.

Just a few late nite rambling thoughts,

Robert Swartz

[treessavoy]

There are a large number of NHRA racers that have, by osmosis I guess, have adopted the purist attitude of the mother association and therefore look down on the IHRA as the "redneck racing association" and beneath their consideration.

This was told to me by an NHRA racer who sneered when I told him I raced in the IHRA......wonder how he feels now?

[Paul Precht]

Running IHRA was less of a challenge for me. My first IHRA Nat was at Epping and there were about 32 cars. I lost fourth round. My first NHRA Nat was the Keystones and I qualified 130 out of about 155 cars. I never got to run the show. They took one alternate and I sat there knowing I had to put up a much bigger fight to play this game.. Bigger challenge = more satisfaction, Paul.

[herbjr]

NHRA has only one divisional within 400 miles of where I live. I prefer IHRA, the races run smooth tech guys are always nice, and they at least give you that warm and fuzzy feeling feeling that they want you back.

Think about this.....Lets say 30% of you guys dont get a number or cancel your membership. NHRA is still ahead money wise in the end. We have 1000's of dollars in our cars we arent going to quit over this. Yes I think its a piss poor decision especially since my stuff is here for renewal as I plan on running Petersburg next month, but I'm still going to do it. YES ITS SUCKS but thats they way it goes.

[Ed Wright]

Anybody that thinks it is easier needs to show up for an IHRA race. If you can't win an NHRA race, you aren't likely to win an IHRA race. Same cars, just normally not as many of them. If you find the Folks, Emmons and Cummings guys easy I want to shake your hand. Last couple of years (can't say about before that) IHRA track prep has been equal, some of the best startng lines I have been on. Many know I don't have big tires and a four link, my low-dollar stock suspension and 10.5" tire car won't always hook just anywhere. Tech seems about the same to me, biggest difference is I have to have a fire extinguisher in the car for IHRA, NHRA asks me to take it out when I run with them. Big deal. Oh, and IHRA didn't give the last 4 hp to the SS LT1, so I get to pull 40 lbs, that doesn't make racing the shoe polish bottle any easier.

Still can't outrun Sonny's red Dodge at 40 lbs lighter. I see than thing in my sleep.

[Brandon Peterson]

Lets see where i can start with this post.....First NHRA racers that are true to NHRA don't like crate motor stockers....wipe your tears off who cares...we are racers racing the race..just like anyone else that goes to a sanctioned event.... Second i hate hearing excuses like IHRA has too many classes...IHRA is catering to there racers and fans...not raising entry prices saying the sportsman classes don't pay for themselves....IHRA is proud to have us as racers.....who cares if they have over 100 classes....when you show up at the track you better worry about hitting the tree and driving the stripe not how many cars are there...or they have 35 different classes at that event...if you like taking a week off and making a run every day don't race with IHRA...you might not be able to handle making 2 or 3 time runs in a day...Third alot of IHRA racers in D 9 wish they would give us some 1/4 mile races but around here there are too many 1/8 mile tracks that would kill for a div race...i always think the rock should be a 1/4 mile points race..but oh well...we might not bring in the cars a NHRA race does but the competition is just as hard and just as tight....i never go to a IHRA race and wonder if there are more crate mtoros than trad. stockers..i go to race and win..and have fun..to me IHRA is a great place to race have fun and enjoy a weekend away from the man....

[Joe Pinkston]

I dont know if this is a question just for Stock/Super Stock racers, but here is my prospective from a .90 racer. I choose to run NHRA simply because of the locations of the Div. 2 LODRS races in relation to where I live. 4 of the 6 races are all within 3 hours of my home here in north central Fla. Bradenton is 3 hours away, Gainesville 45 minutes away, Orlando and South Ga. each 2.5 hours away. As for the other 2 races, Silver Dollar is about 5 hours and Commerce is 7-8 hours. This travel time is calculated driving in a older motorhome traveling a little slower down the highway than most of you probably travel. My wife and I own a small business that requires us to be on hand when the doors are open, so when we go away the business is simply closed. We do not take a real vacation during the year, so going off to the division races is our vacation for the year. When the schedule is released usually during the first part of November we mark the dates off on the calendar, then make our plans in our work schedule and plans to have the money on hand to travel when those dates arrive. For comparision, the current IHRA Pro-Am schedule for Div. 2 has 4 race weekends a year, but we would rather have 6 weekends of vacation than 4. The distance to travel would be a little longer over all also.

I would have no problem at all running IHRA races and I wish we could run both series. I went along with a friend to an IHRA national event some 10 years ago or so , and it was one of the most pleasurable experiences I'd ever witnessed. He had a stocker and used Bud Rowe for his engine builder. His car was at Bud's place in N.C. to have the engine freshened, so we went to pick it up and planned to attend the NHRA divisional race that weekend at VMP. When we arrived at Bud's we learned about the IHRA national event at Rockingham that weekend, so we decided to go there instead. My friend wasn't a member of IHRA and didn't have an IHRA competition number, but we were able to take care of that all at the gate at Rockingham. This was the year that Bill Bader purchased IHRA and I remember him standing at the head of the staging lanes shaking hands with every racer that came through and thanking them for attending the race. I was in the middle of building my S/ST car at that time, so I wondered down to the tech area and met Mike Baker. I asked him some questions about how the IHRA rules for H/R compared with some of NHRA rules for S/ST and found him to be very friendly and willing to answer any questions I had. I have also had dealings with IHRA tech official Danny Waters, Sr., purchasing a car from him sight unseen, and found him to be one of the most honest and up-front individuals I've ever delt with.

If and when I've finally had enough of the NHRA enhancements, or NHRA sportsman racing goes the route that some people here are predicting, I will be the first one sitting in line to get into the next IHRA race.