Where are the lower class cars?

[Dwight Southerland]

Looking at Stock qualifying at Bristol. Only seven cars in classes lower than G/SA. I guess everybody's need for speed trumps again.

[Michael Beard]

No altitude factor (the 4-cylinder is massively effected by the altitude. I was almost half a second slower at Bristol than even Numidia!) and unrealistic weight breaks (225 lbs heavy for DF/S, 400 light for EF/S) makes it an impossibility for me.

[Mark Yacavone]

Lots of reasons, Dwight. Most of them attributable to NHRA policies.

I'll give you one, but I'd like to hear other's opinions.

Class money...non-existent . Many lower class racers depended on it to help offset travel and entry expenses.

[Jack Matyas]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

Lots of reasons, Dwight. Most of them attributable to NHRA policies.



Class money...non-existent . Many lower class racers depended on it to help offset travel and entry expenses.

Mark - Class money is the same for every class - that being said if you had 5 in a lower class only one would benefit from the class money for expenses and entries - so they ( the other four ) would still not be able to afford being there .....Or is it that you would like to reopen the single class deal again ?

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Jack Matyas

Mark - Class money is the same for every class - that being said if you had 5 in a lower class only one would benefit from the class money for expenses and entries - so they ( the other four ) would still not be able to afford being there .....Or is it that you would like to reopen the single class deal again ?

Jacko,
Yes it is , but if you can afford a quarter million operation, you don't worry about a little bit of class money.
The reason there were singles in class was not the racer's fault. There were just too many factors that kept people from building for the lower / slower classes.
What they did about was just a band aid for what they created.
That being said, if you can qualify no.1 , you should be able to win a combo class about anywhere.
You just don't necessarily need new slicks every month, twice the pistons, rods, rings, ceramic bottom lifters, etc.
Oh, and sorry I disparaged your Homies today and got your dander up!

[Chuck Beach]

It's a lot of things but the bottom line is if you can afford to build a 'new' factory car then you have the money to race it. And if you have spent the time and money to build one then you are going to race it. Most new cars fit in the upper classes and are fast. Hence top qualifiers.

[Jack Matyas]

Mark - My dander is fine ..........And as you know I raced lower class cars for almost thirty years so I fully understand but its not the NHRA's fault either that racers started liking fast ( as in speed ) cars .And you're right - a slow class car can easily win the combo deal along with the pewter Wally and whatever money .

One last thing - a racer can run a late model LT1 FI combo in A - B - C - D for a lot less than your quarter mill budget . Just ask Santangelo or Simmons who are competing this weekend at Bristol .

[Billy Nees]

Little cars don't like Bristol.

[Dave Ribeiro]

Billy ,

You are dead-on , heat & no - factor for hauling all that weight ..
Slower & Heavy cars don't like the Mountain ... Good luck to everyone.

[Michael Beard]

You ain't kiddin'... even with the turbo, Moller was more than .60 slower at Bristol than zMax. I was at Bristol for the K&N Spring Fling a few weeks ago, and was about .70 slow just in the 1000'!

In similar air (DA and correction factor), Farmington Dragway (which is around 1100-1200' physical altitude if I recall) was still .15 quicker than Bristol in the 1/8th mile alone. I made a jet change at Mooresville the following week and found .05 or so.... but not .50.