Super Classes Future

[H.A.A.C. Racing]

Dave, I totally agree with that, they do leave you hanging, it pisses me off when I could have been half way through a 6 pack by the time they figure it out and announce it, but I also have no idea what goes on behind the planning, maybe there are things going on that we don't know about, maybe I am giving NHRA way to much credit?? I bracket raced for 10 years before I ever did the .90 thing, and I love it. I love being with great people and hanging out, easing into the weekend and then going crazy on Sunday when you go rounds, comming out first thing in the morning and guessing the weather and hitting it, and being in a points battle without commiting yourself to 20 weekends a summer. I guess it's all in what you like.

[Mark Schmidt]

I'm sitting out this season and it isn't easy. Got tired of writing checks. I've raced for 39 years, the hassles at the track don't bother me, but I have to admit the more bracket racing and fast dragster racing I do the more I enjoy it. It's coming down to bang for the buck and what's the best value for $$$ spent. Hope to see everyone next year.

[BKSG1198]

I've been on the fence the past year or so about buying a dragster or driving someone elses 2nd car and going bracket racing. I think we all have a great point in why car counts are down. The Economy is one and a huge one at that, The weather has been crappy all year long and people who live long distances are not going to travel and burn gas to sit in the rain plus I think even if they tore down Leb Valley and rebuilt it people still would not come which is ashame to the new owners and what they have done with the track. I think even with the repaving job and no more water seeping up just the past races at that track have put a bad taste in many people's mouth. You still have the issues with parking when it rains and the mud pit, the dirt track next door starting a cloud after a certain time. I just think the car counts have always been down a little at that track compared to MG and Atco plus it's put right on a national holiday in which most families are traveling to the shore and racers don't want to travel in that mess (We all know cars don't realize what racers tow with and like to cut everyone off).

To me NHRA racing is not as much fun as it used to be and it's now run by non-racers and it's all about the bottom line rather then people having fun anymore. Sometimes you have to get your hands dirty to understand what the sportsman racer goes through and for the longest time thats how it was run. As Dave said the little associations and bracket racing is taking off because it's a "No BS" run league. You can go to a MASGA or NESSA race, get 2 time shots (Not get bumped to the next day or wait till 11pm to get a run) run the race in 1 day, have a great meal, leave if you want too or run a 2nd race again on the next day. There's no strings attached with the associations and you're seeing more and more of them popping up. We all know the sport we are in and no matter what or how much money we put in we will never get that back so complaining about the payout is senseless. Just bracket racing is looking better and better and the payout is great. Look at Atco on July 31st to the 2nd, $775.00 to enter the whole weekend and a chance to win $ 75,000.00 dollars. Now you have to be totally on your game and have to deal with some heavy hitters but you have to do the same at a NHRA meet for $ 1,800.00 dollars to win. Just my 2 cents...

[H.A.A.C. Racing]

Just FYI Howard Commander said that he had 40 more cars then last year. Might still be less then most tracks, but up is better then down.

[Chris Williams]

The Seattle National event has a full S/C field of 70 cars...

[Dave Steltz]

Originally Posted by H.A.A.C. Racing

Just FYI Howard Commander said that he had 40 more cars then last year. Might still be less then most tracks, but up is better then down.

Was curious so I looked at DRC and added up 2008 vs 2009 at LVD

2008 2009
TD 25 40
TS 25 37
SC 54 56
SG 48 44
SST 60 56
S/Stk 55 60
Stk 105 104

[Dave Steltz]

MG this year

TD 32
TS 35
SC 76
SG 64
SST 64
S/Stk 98
Stk 116

[H.A.A.C. Racing]

LVD +25 what was MG in 08? curious to see if it fell off

[Dave Steltz]

Originally Posted by Dave Steltz

MG this year

TD 32
TS 35
SC 76
SG 64
SST 64
S/Stk 98
Stk 116

2008

TD 25
TS 42
SC 80
SG 84
SST 66
S/Stk 92
Stk 115


485 in 2008, 504 in 2009

I think the car counts for the most part were worse last year, mostly due to gas being 4 bucks a gallon last year, and this year I think its a little bit of carry over, the bad economy, spending more time checking the weather (like alot did for Atco, and I'm sure some of that affected LVD)..

But back to the reason for this thread, note the car counts are up for TD and TS..I understand it, especially for the TD guys...I saw some local bracket racers runng TD at the valley, and some were running in "bracket" trim and a few added the blue bottle...So you can go fast, no throttle stop...Not so easy for TS as you need a fast door car to begin with...

THE FANS LOVED IT !!!!!!

Especially when the real fast cars were out there....Maybe it is time for NHRA to do something with the indexes...Again this weekend I heard statements that throttle stop racing was stupid, all them damn electronics, they're scared to run fast, blah blah blah...although there will still be 150 mph SST cars, 170 mph SG cars and they will use the stop unless there is some major change..and to tell you the truth I'm sure there are guys who dont want a change , and thats their right, and I dont think that the top guys at NHRA want to change it, cause cars will always show up and lets face it, especially at a National we are filler.....