Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA

[Brian Oakes]

I have towed 8 hrs to Orlando this pass Feb. and tested there, if you spin there, you have a problem with your Sh@%, it is the smoothest track out there, glad they are getting a Div. there and SGMP, BUT one should be a OPEN, south needs one , Northeast has 5 of them. and all of them HOOK better the Charlotte this weekend, and that whole race was another story, Thanks Ozzy, later Brian

[Stephen & Horace Johnson]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

I like SGMP, but I'd rather see a track other than Orlando get a race. Division 2 should really have a full schedule of LODRS races, at least 7, and maybe not so many in Florida. I don't have anything against Florida, but there are other states in Division 2 besides Florida and Georgia. Especially since, as my friend Mr. Derby City says, Division 2 needs cars outside the division to have a good count.

I Agree as well, it. Our division is hurting bad for racers . it would be nice to have a races in areas besides FL....I know montgmery always comes and,goes every few years...I do wish it was a stable event!! I can't understand why we can't,have a div race at Huntsville like back in the late 90s-early2000s

[Denny Steward]

It cost the track owners alot of money to have a LODRS event. I would think some owners are not willing to risk it.

[BKSG1198]

Originally Posted by Denny Steward

It cost the track owners alot of money to have a LODRS event. I would think some owners are not willing to risk it.

Plus as Denny said if you add in the Alky cars (I know right now only Gainesville has them in D-2) then that adds onto the "rental" fee as the insurance goes up and I think the track actually pays the purse.

[Robert Simpson]

I would like it if they do include SGMP and Orlando and GALLOT. I don't know why DIV2 packs the schedule so tight at the beginning of the season. (I know its to get the snowbirds that come down). I would like a little more consideration for people taking time off for races 3-4 weeks in a row. Space them out a little bit. I agree with having several if not ANY open's in the div. Our division has terrible marketing also. I say Orlando, then Gville, then the Gators, then SGMP then the rest of the schedule, Atlanta, AL, Reynolds, GALLOT, The Rock.

[Jim Bailey]

Skip Gallot ...sorry, It's a nice place .... But they need to ad 1/8 mile of racetrack .

[Dyno]

A points meet on both sides of the Gators makes the trip from Minnesota worthwhile. Having the double at Atlanta was a real bonus. Hope Div. 2 does it again!

[Adger Smith]

Denny is right about the cost of a Divisional race to the track owner. When it takes nearly 400 cars as a break even point a lot of track owners will opt out for something more profitable. I'm not sure what NHRA charges a track for their Divisional program now, but before the Alky classes were turned to a regional series and made optional for track owners to run in conjunction with Divisional the Nut to crack was nearly 400 cars. It takes a lot of racer attendance for a track owner to pay NHRA and make money. NHRA may be listed as a 501C organization, but these events are definitely not for charity.

[Wayne Totaro]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

We've spun more at Orlando than Gainesville, and we can hook in a car wash.

Alan, You must not have been at Gainesville this year (2016) Both the points race and Nationals , the starting line had ZERO bite!! I did not race at Orlando this year, but I was there in 2014 and 2015 and the traction was GREAT!

[Tracy Robbins]

I was under the impression that Rich Schaefer was trying to pull in new racers that live in the d-2 area's outside of Fla. and Georgia. There are lots of IHRA racers that have started going to NHRA races because of having a few divisionals closer to the Carolina's. Look at stock and super stock this weekend at Charlotte. CJ McDonald was the winner and it was his first NHRA national...he couldn't have entered if he hadn't been to a couple of divisionals. Lynwood Daughtery made it to the semi's and this is the first year I can remember him ever running NHRA. (I'm sure he has at some point in the past) The car count at the Charlotte divisional was really good this year and I think Galot will be better within a couple of years because Mr. Wells will make it his mission for this race to be a success. The Rock should have a good turnout this year because of the timing of the event, it should be very fast! I just hope the division doesn't take steps backwards just because the track owner decides to come back to NHRA w/ all of his tracks.