Have you heard what IHRA is thinking of doing with the points?

[FLEMING]

I havent heard anyone that has liked it... Matter of a fact I have been told by some that they will only run the 1 points race close to the house and run NHRA if it does happen..

I am thinking that larry morgan needs to sale some of those "cant fix" shirts on the other side...

This is stupid to say probably... say I go out and win the whole deal.. I would be glad I did, but I wouldnt feel like a world champion.. What have I done ? Lucked up and won 1 race... World champions like bertozzi, fletcher, biondo, cook, cummings, waters jr. furr... have all EARNED there championships by traveling and chasing the points as needed to get it done.. You should have to work to get it.. The prestige of being a world champion would be basically thrown out the window..

Just my .002

[THE LEGEND]

Steve,
I have a new outlook on racing. There is only 1 World Champion every year, but how many national events?
I'm going for the wins baby. The heck with the points-the runoff or whatever else they throw at us. I'm going racing to turn the W on and bring home Checks and Trophys. A buddy of mine says the race pays more than the points don't it. I'll bet your upper crust will whine about this but they will still go to the races.
No I don't like but yes I will be there.

LEGEND- CHECKS & TROPHYS TOUR 2009
Chip

[Angela Macy]

I agree with you Flemming, even thought it would be more obtainable and more affordable for Scott to win a World Championship under this new format, it wouldn't be nearly as big of an honor if he never left his backyard to do it and it came down to one races performance.

So theoretically, lets track the progress of two racers.

Racer A who lives in NC goes to the Spring Nationals and wins. They don't go to any other National Event or even go to any Divisional races.

Racer B who lives in NC goes to the National events at Rockingham, Maryland, Milan, Martin, Tulsa and the one in Texas. He or She wins one of them, gets a runner up in two of them, gets to fourth round in two of the other ones, and is a second round loser in the sixth one.

At the runoff, Racer B loses in the semi finals and Racer A wins. Racer A is your World Champion. But who had a better season? Racer B did.

Here's another scenario for you - not IHRA racing, but the first year the Carolina Coaltion was ran, Bob Tatum won the Footbrake Class. You know how many races he won? NONE!!! But he runner uped in like 5 of them. That's what I always found cool about Championship chases - it wasn't about how many races you won, but your overall performance at all of them.

[luckydog]

If this is true, I think we need to look at it from IHRA's propective. Car counts are decreasing at an alarming rate. Last season I attended two double divisional weekends where the car count in HR was less than 16 cars, and HR had more cars than most classes. That can't happen. I'm not saying that THIS would be the answer, but something needs to change to insure the future of the sport. How about, instead of complaining about a RUMOR, we discuss REALISTIC ideas to help car counts. I'm sure someone at IHRA watches the internet.

[dannyw]

I will be there too Chip. I guess we will have to see how it goes. If it will increase car counts and make IHRA sportsman racing stay alive, financialy that is, then I am all for it. 1 National win pays more than winning the championship does. If I win the first one, I will still run a full schedule of races to try and bring in some money (if luck will allow it!). Best of luck to all over the winter, 2009 and beyond.

Danny Waters, Jr

[Angela Macy]

Damien - the race you speak of, had you attended it years previously, and if so, what was the car count like previously? I'm trying to get an idea how low the car count was exactly. Also, what month was this race in?

The Divisional races we attended this year all had decent car counts, probably down some from the previous year - but none of them were a huge difference. Kinston had a bad turnout, and I think maybe Carolina did too. We went to those last year but not this year. Note - they were after August.

Anyways, what I'm trying to figure out is if the low car counts are equal across the board, or if some divisions suffered more so than others.

Does it seem like more people attend races in the beginning of the year then they do late in the season to you guys? I guess the logic is that everyone has a clean slate at the first of the year, if someone has a couple bad races, they see themselves out of championship contention hopes and don't see any point in going to the rest of the races. Maybe a solution to this would put more reward on finishing top 10 in your division. #1 and #2 are the only guys who get $$$ currently. Maybe even do a Divisional Shootout for the top 8 finishers - work on getting someone to sponsor this kind of stuff - like well known Engine Builders or local racing related businesses within that Division.

And I'd also like to add that car counts aren't down just at IHRA events, Divisionals and Nationals, but also at local stuff. We're all very aware of all the factors why - the economy, gas prices, etc. Stuff that is out of the hands of IHRA and track owners.

[Angela Macy]

Expanding on my thoughts with the Division Race car counts. Each division should have a Sportsman National, the top 8 finishers from that Divisions points the previous year get to participate in a Shootout at that National event the next year. Kind of a spin off of the National points Summitt Allstar race.

[THE LEGEND]

Angela,
you are real close in some of your thoughts.

Car counts were decent at most of the events I went to except Clay City. I think that was due to the Pittsburgh race the following weekend. The Clay City deal was bad for them (schedule conflicts). That is a nice track with a ton of spectators too.
Chip

[luckydog]

The division races I'm speaking of are Grand Bend which I don't believe they had in 07, and Osceola, which I believe had lower car counts this year, but not by much. Car counts are also low at a lot of Nationals. I know this is a problem across the board, probably in all forms of motorsports. This is why I don't think a change is such a bad thing, and am willing to support it if it happens.

[THE LEGEND]

Damien,
I'm with you.
I supported it since 2002 and will continue. I ran 15 events with 2 cars this year, and planing on doing te same next year.
Chip Johnson
HR 10
SR 23