NHRA Releases New Class Indexes

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by Jason

There are many who have campaigned NHRA to combine stick and automatic classes for years. Well it has happened to the new factory classes.

Let the whining begin.

And let this be a lesson to the racers in all the other stock and S/S classes. When classes get combined, looks like the index will change to the stick index.

Be careful what you wish for.

Well? People also wanted harder indexes so they could run their stuff all out without fear of getting "punished" by the AHFS. People also wanted the Factory cars to get brought a little closer to the right zip code... since there's no will to do it via proper HP factoring, the indexes were the next best thing.

There's a difference between personal agendas and what's good for the sport. Aren't we always saying how this a performance-oriented sport? More potential heads-ups are a good thing... granted, there will actually be LESS with addition of Factory classes, but if they do combine 'traditional' classes down the road, there would be more... Which would yield half the cost of Class trophies, virtually eliminates the 'need' for a Class "Combo", more competition for a Class win, etc. If it's really that big of a deal, they could institute weight breaks for automatics like they do in the GT Truck categories, etc. Could probably use some tweaking in the lower classes, but right noe you've got higher classes with often only .05-.10 difference between the indexes.

Yeah, my index is .20 lower for next year. I just spent a bunch of money on the car, so I'll be right back where I was... at the bottom of the sheet, a danger to no one but myself.

$.02,