NHRA Stock Elim Car Counts Highest Since 2008

[Rsmith38]

The economy is still not back to 2008 levels in parts of the country - cars are still sitting until owners recover or improve their finances.
Comp is a different story - the days of average individuals or teams being able to compete are gone. Spoke to a team owner a couple of years back - he said I couldn't do this now if I hadn't accumulated all this stuff over the years. He mentioned an acquaintance was building a comp car - had spent approx. $300K - not many people can do that without a Sponsor of some kind!

[Rsmith38]

Nitros stats are by car number. You will sometimes see the same car run by different drivers at another race. So a very few (10?) cars will show up twice in the stats. So the total count is very slightly higher.

[Dan Fahey]

For all the doom and gloom how Stock is dying.

Steady is good.

New car builds are still going on. Matching those being retired.
Some of the retired cars are sold and updated.
Tread line is increasing a bit. Which is a good thing.

D

[Greg Hill]

To me this is good news. It shows that new folks are coming in to the sport to replace some of us old guys that have quit. For me, I sold my car over a year ago but continue to haul my son, Andrew's car around, so I get to see most of my racing friends. I think 2016 should be even better as the economy continues to improve and gas prices stay low. I also think the new cars,2008 and newer, have contributed to improved car counts, but they also made some folks stay home.

[Bruce Noland]

There were 1,125 named racers that competed at national and divisional races in Stock last year. Not sure how the Opens and other races (if any) can account for the remaining 500.

[Mike Delahanty]

Tony, this is some good work. Would you be willing to take on the assignment of cutting that data by Division? That could be interesting and speak to what's happening to the regional interest as well as some tracks coming and going.

Thanks.

[Nitro Joe Jackson]

guys give me a chance, I'll give you numbers
805 SS drivers in 2015
Stock & Comp coming soon

[SSDA Hemi]

Originally Posted by Rsmith38

Comp is a different story - the days of average individuals or teams being able to compete are gone. Spoke to a team owner a couple of years back - he said I couldn't do this now if I hadn't accumulated all this stuff over the years. He mentioned an acquaintance was building a comp car - had spent approx. $300K - not many people can do that without a Sponsor of some kind!

Thats debatable..... The Comp championship was won with a front engine dragster with an alky fueled, iron headed small block chevy. Very simple combo that took time, $ and knowledge to refine, but not a high dollar combination to build.

Another friend placed very well in Comp in Division 1 this season, and also a very low dollar to build pipe rack.....

Comp is just like any other class. Its how expensive you make it. A dragster is much more budget minded than a new A/AP 750ci Jerry Bickel door car. Not as exciting to watch, but much more competitive and cheaper to build and run.....

And Tony and Nitro Joe, thanks for the numbers. Very Interesting data!!

[Nitro Joe Jackson]

total Driver count for 2015 (includes Nat, Divisional & Nat Open events)
Comp : 223
SS :805
Stock :1183

I'll work on doing divisional stuff and post that soon, just sit back and enjoy your time off, I know I have been.

[Nitro Joe Jackson]

ok gang, I spent my sunday morning doing some numbers again, here we go........
These are based on qualifying sheets from every event in each division. Like in Div #1 Comp, in the final points, it shows 44 cars, but 55 drivers ran a D1 Comp event, means 11 outside the division drivers. Hope this will help. Going back into hibernation, lol

Div 1
Comp: 55
SS: 203
Stock : 290

Div 2
Comp: 40
SS: 118
Stock : 147

Div 3
Comp: 57
SS: 228
Stock : 323

Div 4
Comp: 38
SS: 85
Stock : 150

Div 5
Comp: 46
SS: 106
Stock : 223

Div 6
Comp: 28
SS: 59
Stock : 100

Div 7
Comp: 48
SS: 159
Stock : 196