ProStar Shootout observations.

[Bobby Fazio]

Just for context, the Gatornationals will have 70 cars in Stock at $350 entry which is a $24,500 intake and paying out $8200. Super Stock intake is $24,500 and paying out $8950. This race took in $32,000 and paid out $30,000. Top qualifiers also got $1000 although it came from sponsors. This race introduced us to a new audience at a packed venue. Pair that with Bill Bader speaking very highly of Stk/SS last Tuesday, maybe some good things are on the horizon.

[1320racer]

that audience, that packed venue was not there to watch stock and super stock cars. They were the filler no different than a national event. Hence the finals after the Pro program was done.

[Don Kennedy]

Originally Posted by Bobby Fazio

Just for context, the Gatornationals will have 70 cars in Stock at $350 entry which is a $24,500 intake and paying out $8200. Super Stock intake is $24,500 and paying out $8950. This race took in $32,000 and paid out $30,000. Top qualifiers also got $1000 although it came from sponsors. This race introduced us to a new audience at a packed venue. Pair that with Bill Bader speaking very highly of Stk/SS last Tuesday, maybe some good things are on the horizon.

Bobby:
I am very glad to see the purse issues at NHRA events being brought up It is not right that the purse now is less than it was many many many years ago

[1320racer]

the NHRA payouts have been discussed ad nauseum here for years YET the quotas are always met, filled sometimes in minutes and you have racers posting here looking for an entry. Clearly class racers don't care about the payouts and the NHRA knows it!

All sorts of groups are able to organize thousands in a minutes using social media for flash mobs, looting, rioting, etc. If only the old guys that largely make up the NHRA LODRS class racers could do the same and sit out just ONE national event, the NHRA would shyt themselves. Instead you waste bandwidth here complaining and no one at the NHRA is listening no mind cares.

[Doug Hoven]

Originally Posted by 1320racer

the NHRA payouts have been discussed ad nauseum here for years YET the quotas are always met, filled sometimes in minutes and you have racers posting here looking for an entry. Clearly class racers don't care about the payouts and the NHRA knows it!

All sorts of groups are able to organize thousands in a minutes using social media for flash mobs, looting, rioting, etc. If only the old guys that largely make up the NHRA LODRS class racers could do the same and sit out just ONE national event, the NHRA would shyt themselves. Instead you waste bandwidth here complaining and no one at the NHRA is listening no mind cares.

I can't help but agree with you here. I've had the same thought many times. If racers keep showing up no matter what, why change anything? Apart from the small payout, we are almost free income for the NHRA at national events. It will never happen, but if all Stock/SS guys came together and decided to not enter one of the national events, the $40,000 plus in entry fees that never shows up in the bank will get their attention. I've heard someone mention it before, and it seems to be more plausible as time goes on. The NHRA legal team would probably not advise them to kill of Stock and Super Stock completely. However, if they gradually make us more unhappy with them, we may just go away on our own, which may be part of their plan.

[1320racer]

Doug, happy that you see it.

That said, change will only happen if you, your generation makes the NHRA listen but the problem is, there is not enough of you to take the lead on this and the old guys are just happy to race, most have long ago stopped thinking they can actually win a race so the payout is moot to them.

[Carguy49]

AARP - We are all familiar with that logo. Here's my version:

A - absolutely

A - always

R - remain

P - positive

If everyone followed Bobby's example and did all they could to promote stock and super stock racing you guys and gals just might get someone to listen. If you don't try, you will never know what might happen. Good luck.

[1320racer]

Bobby is just the latest, all good but as far as increasing the purses, NOTHING will change unless/until the racers force change but with the majority of class racers being AARP card holders, that ain't happening.

[Jim Caughlin]

Originally Posted by Doug Hoven

I can't help but agree with you here. I've had the same thought many times. If racers keep showing up no matter what, why change anything? Apart from the small payout, we are almost free income for the NHRA at national events. It will never happen, but if all Stock/SS guys came together and decided to not enter one of the national events, the $40,000 plus in entry fees that never shows up in the bank will get their attention. I've heard someone mention it before, and it seems to be more plausible as time goes on. The NHRA legal team would probably not advise them to kill of Stock and Super Stock completely. However, if they gradually make us more unhappy with them, we may just go away on our own, which may be part of their plan.

No one would love Stock and SS boycotting Natl events more NHRA, they would love to find an excuse to kill our classes once and for all. Do you think for a minute that they couldn't fill the time by adding to quotas for Top Dragster, Top Sportsman, etc and not have to deal with the extra tech issues? Not trying to be negative here but the days of the Wally Parks purist attitude is over, this is all about the Pros, we have no clout to call the shots. Remember the Modified protest at the US Nationals and how much good that did?

[1320racer]

Sportsman racers could bankrupt the NHRA if they had any balls! Sportsman racers are their cash cow. Further, nearly 17 years ago on May 30, 2007, HD Partners entered into a definitive agreement with the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) to purchase substantially all of the NHRA’s professional drag racing series/assets as well as a broad set of exclusive commercialization rights, NOT the sportsman!

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/d...608_ex99-1.htm