Why Do They Keep Doing This?

[Michael Beard]

The Atlanta LODRS double will likely lose more cars to the Class Nationals than vice versa.

I've heard that Div. 1 was scheduling a National Open at Atco on top of us, too. It would make more sense to have it the week before, on top of the Indy LODRS. There were only two Div. 1 cars at the Indy LODRS this year.

Dedicated Stock and Super Stock race with a much higher payout, massive amount of sponsors, Class Eliminations, Quick 32 CIC races, Junior Stock Shootout, a Combo and a regular Eliminator for each class, with live video coverage... all at an NHRA-owned facility. It's in their interest for the race to be successful, as it's guaranteed money for them.

[Michael Beard]

The Div. 1 office called, and we talked at length about scheduling and events in general. There's just not another good spot for Atco's Open at this point due to the track's own event schedule, spring weather issues with pollen, and where Easter falls on the calendar this particular year. They've invited us to talk at the end of this year to work together on scheduling for 2015. I've always liked the Div. 1 staff, and appreciated the call. I got a chance to work with the guys maaany, many years ago when I developed the NHRA Div. 1 website before NHRA corporate took it over.

Not every racer on the planet will be at the Class Nationals (just most of them) It's not a bad thing for the racers who stay more local to have options. Yes, it'd be nice for it to be an even easier decision for our customers to make, but we will have a landmark event regardless.

That being said, we're getting to that point in the season where people will be looking at schedules. There are a TON of different association races/series out there, in addition to the regular gamut of NHRA/IHRA Nat'l/Div'l events. It's just my opinion, but I think it would do some good to get the heads of all the associations together to talk out some of the scheduling. For instance, I noticed two dates this year where two associations in the same region had races on the same weekend. Would it be beneficial to do a challenge race? ie., pick one of the dates where everyone travels down to the one association, and then on the other conflicting date, everyone travels up to the other association. You end up with twice as many cars and can support a much bigger purse.

Personally, I'd rather see a fair number of $2K S/SS races than a ton of $1K races all scheduled on top of each other.

Next year will be a big milestone year for the Lee Sherman Memorial S/SS race. I think there's an opportunity to make this even more of a destination race than what it already is.

\end random thoughts

[Mike Carr]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

Next year will be a big milestone year for the Lee Sherman Memorial S/SS race. I think there's an opportunity to make this even more of a destination race than what it already is.

\end random thoughts

I hope you're right, Michael. We've had over seventy cars (total weekend count) for that race two of the last three years. This year we paid $2,500 Win, $1,300 R/U, 500 semis, 200 1/4's and 100 third round, for a $100 entry (and that was with 'only' fifty-seven cars making first round). I think it was the second biggest paying S/SS race in the country this year (only the well sponsored $5K race in Bowling Green paid more).

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by Mike Carr

I hope you're right, Michael. We've had over seventy cars (total weekend count) for that race two of the last three years. This year we paid $2,500 Win, $1,300 R/U, 500 semis, 200 1/4's and 100 third round, for a $100 entry (and that was with 'only' fifty-seven cars making first round). I think it was the second biggest paying S/SS race in the country this year (only the well sponsored $5K race in Bowling Green paid more).

Numidia NitroPlate S/SS Shootout paid $3K.

Not my race, but since you've gotten established consistent support now, my suggestion would be to set an advertised purse for the race this year, set a schedule with whatever bonus or special event stuff you want to do, solidify the format (qualifying/ladders, etc.) then chase sponsors. I'll help with flyers. Get the word out early and often.