IHRA Pro-Am Schedule & D-1 Open Schedule

[Mike Carr]

Originally Posted by speed-rcr

Has no one noticed the "Win and You're In" part is gone. At least it's back to some form of a points chase.

That is a GREAT thing. I'm not a fan of the T.O.C. format, and glad to see the 'win one race and you're in' part go away. Imagine this scenario:

A) Most of the typical IHRA racers (Beard, Piatek, Bertozzi, Cummings, Folk, Stillings, etc) support IHRA like they always do. Win a Nat'l or two, win a Div'l or two, and, under a normal points chase, would likely win the World Championship, or finish Top 5.

B) Meanwhile, someone goes to a TOC qualifier in June. Drives well, gets a break or two, and wins the race. That person is (or, was) in. So they choose not to race anymore IHRA that year, or get a new job that doesn't allow them to, etc. They go to the World Finals, again, drive well, catch a break or two, win the race and the so-called 'World Championship'. While the ones who supported IHRA get a .009 package laid on them first round, and don't even get a Top 10 number out of the deal.

That scenario, which easily could have happened, was my #1 beef with the TOC. Had the person in scenario B been me, I would have a hard time calling myself (or anyone) a "World Champion", having only attended two races all year, while drivers who WON 4-5 races don't get a 1-10 number. Actually, had I only ran the one TOC Qual race and won, I wouldn't have gone to the World Finals at all, and would have preferred to let the deserving drivers run for it.

I'm still not a TOC fan, but I admit I like the new 'Top 3 in each Division' rule much better. You have to support, and succeed, first, before getting to go run for the big prize.