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

[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

[Bobby Zlatkin]

Everyone goes to the first points meet of the year tied for first place. Everyone is a contender at that point.

Have a couple of bad races and you lose the incentive to travel to the points meets at the end of the year.

[Adger Smith]

After reading & thinking about this I'm of the opinion it will be a good thing for car counts. The former track owner in me sees That will translate into Money/ Profit for track owners & IHRA. They have to make money to keep our sport going. The economy/expenses are big factors in touring for a National Championship under the current points system. I do agree it is a large Change and Change can sometimes be hard to accept. There have been some good points made about the current points system, but I'm still not convinced it is fair to all participants. Money & Time off work play a big part in Sportsman racers & Championships. If you don't believe that statement just spend some time talking to Champions like Anthony, Kevin Helms & Beard.
Assuming that IHRA lets you run at "ALL" National events & "ALL" Divisional events to "win"your way Into the Chapionship race it keeps eveyone equal until the last race. "Racers thought", All I have to do is win one race! So you keep chasing races until you win or run out of time & money. Similar to what you do with the current points system, except you never get so far behind that you give up or there is "No Way to win" With the current system it comes down to: I'm 8 th in points. I can go to another race, but I could only move up in points to 7 th. Why spend the time off work & the $1,200 it takes to go?
Remember, Beard we had that discussion. It is human nature to resist change, but think about the other possibilites this change might bring.