How Realistic

JP1738 · 11-25-2024, 12:26 PM

It has been announced that IHRA plans to continue there bracket program/bracket finals in 2025, with the hope of bringing Pro-Ams and Nitro Jams back in 2026. They also announced division restructuring and Next years team finals dates locations.

Does anyone really believe IHRA will bring back class racing? I am personally very hopeful. Despite never having run an IHRA pro-am event (outside of juniors), I am a huge fan of IHRA and I really wish they would bring it back. I was too young to race Super Rod but it was always my dream to compete in it. It folded up before I turned 16.

I know there will never be another hay-day like there was in the 90s and 2000s, but I think it would be so awesome to bring another real sanctioning body back to compete with NHRA at the grass roots class racing level. Give racers another alternative. At the very least, maybe it could spur NHRA into improving conditions for Sportsman Racers. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but I'd do almost anything to bring back the glory, honor, and prestige there used to be to hoist an iron man.

JP1738 · 11-25-2024, 12:28 PM

Also, if you are willing to input some helpful ideas on how you'd bring back class racing, by all means share. I'm trying to get in touch with the new president at this time and I would love to bring racer's opinions and ideas to him.

If you brought it back, how would you do it? What would you change? What works and doesn't work from your own experience? How do you get interest from guys that have jumped ship to NHRA and how do you create new class racers from the plethora of bracket racers there are?

Hacksaw · 11-25-2024, 03:44 PM

They need to up the payouts. Of course that is hard to justify with poor car counts but, when you travel 5 or 6 hours and get beat in the 5th round and walk away with 80 bucks ...... well it's tough to take.

HR9121 · 11-25-2024, 04:06 PM

I hate to say but I don't think the old Pro Ams make a return but we sure had some good times. I guess it's possible they could come back with the super classes top dragster and sportsman but I don't see where they could find the tech officials to run Stock and SS. NHRA has enough problems with having knowledgeable officials for our classes right now and they aren't getting any younger. If they wanted to try Stock and SS I would suggest whoever is in charge over there to call Dave Ley and beg him to come over and help them get it going and pay him whatever he wants if they are sincere about making a go of it.

JP1738 · 11-25-2024, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hacksaw

They need to up the payouts. Of course that is hard to justify with poor car counts but, when you travel 5 or 6 hours and get beat in the 5th round and walk away with 80 bucks ...... well it's tough to take.

Well no offense, but that's the easy answer. Nobody on this forum races for the money. Don't get me wrong, winning money is great, but if that's all you cared about, you wouldn't be running STK/SS or drag racing in general. Excellence should be rewarded, and the trip needs to be justified before you go. Payouts and contingency need to be defined and sufficient, but there's an amount of prestige the iron man holds that I believe is great than 4th round loser's round money.

What kind of payout is reasonable to you? Be specific. Entry with expected car count, winner, r-up, semis, quarters, etc.

GUMP · 11-25-2024, 04:57 PM

If they could find a way to work with the CCRA...

Mike Taylor 3601 · 11-25-2024, 05:43 PM

It won't be easy..
I don't know how or what they need to do...
most likely,I would have to pick one or the other...
stock and super stock with class and heads up
good payouts...
In my opinion maybe go for quality over quantity....
at least starting maybe less races but larger event.. it seems to me that
3-4 really good races...would be better than a dozen, not so good races..

4543 · 11-25-2024, 05:43 PM

What Daren said!

Mike Taylor 3601 · 11-25-2024, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP1738

Well no offense, but that's the easy answer. Nobody on this forum races for the money. Don't get me wrong, winning money is great, but if that's all you cared about, you wouldn't be running STK/SS or drag racing in general. Excellence should be rewarded, and the trip needs to be justified before you go. Payouts and contingency need to be defined and sufficient, but there's an amount of prestige the iron man holds that I believe is great than 4th round loser's round money.

What kind of payout is reasonable to you? Be specific. Entry with expected car count, winner, r-up, semis, quarters, etc.

128 car field,$350entry($44,800.00 split half purse-half to IHRA )IRONMAN and 10K win ,5K RU, 1K semi, Quarters $750 $100per round won starting with 1st round win...

As I said to start... I don't anything about how to do it...
this is just quick math that may or may not be correct LOL

j gardiner · 11-25-2024, 08:09 PM

I would love to see it,but some of their tracks that would bring a lot of class cars are no longer IHRA sanctioned. But if they clear those hurdles, they could have it as a stock/superstock combo until they can build the car count. Pay decent money honk outside the box and give away products for best losing package etc. They will have to build it from scratch.

11-25-2024, 12:26 PM	#1
JP1738 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 564 Likes: 1,599 Liked 1,169 Times in 331 Posts	How Realistic It has been announced that IHRA plans to continue there bracket program/bracket finals in 2025, with the hope of bringing Pro-Ams and Nitro Jams back in 2026. They also announced division restructuring and Next years team finals dates locations. Does anyone really believe IHRA will bring back class racing? I am personally very hopeful. Despite never having run an IHRA pro-am event (outside of juniors), I am a huge fan of IHRA and I really wish they would bring it back. I was too young to race Super Rod but it was always my dream to compete in it. It folded up before I turned 16. I know there will never be another hay-day like there was in the 90s and 2000s, but I think it would be so awesome to bring another real sanctioning body back to compete with NHRA at the grass roots class racing level. Give racers another alternative. At the very least, maybe it could spur NHRA into improving conditions for Sportsman Racers. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but I'd do almost anything to bring back the glory, honor, and prestige there used to be to hoist an iron man. __________________ Dawson Pauley #2827 N/SA 1980 Malibu SW 2S 305/180 #2827 S/ST 1978 Mazda RX7 w/ 383 sbc/glide

11-25-2024, 12:28 PM	#2
JP1738 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 564 Likes: 1,599 Liked 1,169 Times in 331 Posts	Re: How Realistic Also, if you are willing to input some helpful ideas on how you'd bring back class racing, by all means share. I'm trying to get in touch with the new president at this time and I would love to bring racer's opinions and ideas to him. If you brought it back, how would you do it? What would you change? What works and doesn't work from your own experience? How do you get interest from guys that have jumped ship to NHRA and how do you create new class racers from the plethora of bracket racers there are? __________________ Dawson Pauley #2827 N/SA 1980 Malibu SW 2S 305/180 #2827 S/ST 1978 Mazda RX7 w/ 383 sbc/glide

11-25-2024, 03:44 PM	#3
Hacksaw Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 881 Likes: 206 Liked 308 Times in 173 Posts	Re: How Realistic They need to up the payouts. Of course that is hard to justify with poor car counts but, when you travel 5 or 6 hours and get beat in the 5th round and walk away with 80 bucks ...... well it's tough to take.

11-25-2024, 04:06 PM	#4
HR9121 Live Reporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New Bern, NC Posts: 3,467 Likes: 146 Liked 3,363 Times in 731 Posts	Re: How Realistic I hate to say but I don't think the old Pro Ams make a return but we sure had some good times. I guess it's possible they could come back with the super classes top dragster and sportsman but I don't see where they could find the tech officials to run Stock and SS. NHRA has enough problems with having knowledgeable officials for our classes right now and they aren't getting any younger. If they wanted to try Stock and SS I would suggest whoever is in charge over there to call Dave Ley and beg him to come over and help them get it going and pay him whatever he wants if they are sincere about making a go of it. __________________ James Williamson W200 J/SA. SS/JA

11-25-2024, 04:57 PM	#6
GUMP VIP Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Shelby, NC Posts: 1,817 Likes: 2,153 Liked 2,336 Times in 549 Posts	Re: How Realistic If they could find a way to work with the CCRA... __________________ Daren Poole-Adams NHRA Stock/SS 2007

11-25-2024, 05:43 PM	#7
Mike Taylor 3601 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Somerset,Ky Posts: 1,369 Likes: 348 Liked 292 Times in 101 Posts	Re: How Realistic It won't be easy.. I don't know how or what they need to do... most likely,I would have to pick one or the other... stock and super stock with class and heads up good payouts... In my opinion maybe go for quality over quantity.... at least starting maybe less races but larger event.. it seems to me that 3-4 really good races...would be better than a dozen, not so good races..

11-25-2024, 05:43 PM	#8
4543 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 638 Likes: 57 Liked 634 Times in 139 Posts	Re: How Realistic What Daren said!

11-25-2024, 08:09 PM	#10
j gardiner Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: waldorf Posts: 220 Likes: 14 Liked 53 Times in 28 Posts	Re: How Realistic I would love to see it,but some of their tracks that would bring a lot of class cars are no longer IHRA sanctioned. But if they clear those hurdles, they could have it as a stock/superstock combo until they can build the car count. Pay decent money honk outside the box and give away products for best losing package etc. They will have to build it from scratch.