Entry level class?

[JP1738]

Originally Posted by 1320racer

Mike, we already have a farther son team that has been very successful over the past 5 years competing in the NHRA LODRS.

That said, the Firebird, will not see super stock competition as long as I own it. It's a very good top bulb bracket car and Super Street car.

As to stock, no class is easy however on average, the reaction times, packages in stock are easy for an accomplished driver to get in on and when you consider that many in stock can't drive or don't want to drive the stripe, it makes it easy for driver's that do.

From what I've seen, there is some truth to this. I think you can get away with more in Stock depending on the round, but it's so tough to actually WIN. You might get by a round or two with a .050 bulb, but sooner or later you are going to run somebody who knows what time of day it is. Besides, most of what stock is and what makes it so difficult is everything that happens in the garage and at the trailer to make a 305, manually shifted, quadrajet carbureted in my case vehicle consistent, fast enough, and raceable. This isn't like a blueprint engine with a electric shifted powerglide and a 750 holley. The constraints of the class is what makes it more difficult than just being a decent footfeeder.

[1320racer]

Originally Posted by JP1738

what makes it so difficult is everything that happens in the garage and at the trailer to make a 305, manually shifted, quadrajet carbureted in my case vehicle consistent, fast enough, and raceable. The constraints of the class is what makes it more difficult than just being a decent footfeeder.

It's the year 2024, you build/buy a car that takes full advantage of the current rules and the state of stock eliminator. That means a late model factory stocker that runs well in the 9's, setup like a bracket car and with a driver that owns both ends of the track more often than not and you've got a winning combination!

[Doug Hoven]

Unpopular opinion on this thread, but I think that Stock Eliminator is probably the closest thing to an "entry level" class at the NHRA divisional/national level. If you aren't too concerned about going fast, there are still quite a decent number of combinations that can be built for less than 5k and be competitive. IMHO Super Street has gotten out of hand, even more so than Stock. To be honest, I think it really just depends on what you already have/don't have to work with. Building a car from scratch, you can build a competitive M/S or lower Stocker cheaper than what I would consider an "entry level" Super Street car(mid to low 10s without a throttle stop). Not saying it can't be done, but more "slow" stockers turn on win lights than low budget super street cars.

[Jim Caughlin]

I'm a little confused as to why no one here is discussing that most of us started out bracket racing before advancing into either the Stock/SS route or the Super class route. In both cases, you can slowly build a bracket car chassis that meet those types of scenarios and then later build an engine to advance into actual class racing. If your budget doesn't allow advancing into class racing, there is nothing to be ashamed about if you just stick with bracket racing for your entire racing career. Quite honestly, I sometimes think I had more fun back in my flatbed trailer and half ton pickup days.

[Keith 944]

Originally Posted by Jim Caughlin

I'm a little confused as to why no one here is discussing that most of us started out bracket racing before advancing into either the Stock/SS route or the Super class route. In both cases, you can slowly build a bracket car chassis that meet those types of scenarios and then later build an engine to advance into actual class racing. If your budget doesn't allow advancing into class racing, there is nothing to be ashamed about if you just stick with bracket racing for your entire racing career. Quite honestly, I sometimes think I had more fun back in my flatbed trailer and half ton pickup days.

Yes, I think we all can agree on that, only issue is the question was entry-level class for NHRA, divisionals and nationals I believe

[Jim Caughlin]

Originally Posted by Keith 944

Yes, I think we all can agree on that, only issue is the question was entry-level class for NHRA, divisionals and nationals I believe

My point is build or buy the car, it might not be competitive (as in not under the index) but totally viable for bracket racing until it is. My car was not sub index when I first built it but I bracket raced it and thrashed on it until it was. If you think this isn't a viable way to get into class racing, maybe talk to Jody Lang, that's how he started out with his car and it seems like it worked out pretty good for him?

[Keith 944]

I get it, and agree.
At my local track there were no stock or super stock cars running so I really had no idea whatsoever about the class or how to begin it as an entry level into nhra racing but my bracket car could run 10.70s flat out and fit the s/st rules so that’s where I started. Now if we had people like Billy Nees racing at that same track weekly maybe things would have been different. But again like you said I think almost all started at the bracket level