The Future Of Stock

Sorry Evan, I don't agree with any of it. MHO. Adding more complication that needs to be policed? Not going to happen. The new cars (all factory race cars) need to stay in FS. A, B, C, D, E and F or more conventional cars will have to spend 30-40 or more K trying to keep pace if they can..? I don't think so. Call it like it is.....

[Paradigm Shift]

I'm not sure NHRA has a real interest in those platforms either. As soon as you hang the term Stock onto a vehicle, it presents the same set of problems that exist at this point. Once again, the performance capabilities remain somewhat mundane, at least in comparison to the crowd drawing race classes. While fewer staff maybe needed simply due to a lack of vehicle diversity, it would still require some level of monitoring for rule veracity.Even Pro Stock is considered too conventional without even mentioning the fact that there are likely a dozen Camaro and a few Dart participant entries.Youthful competitors remain unlikely and unmotivated to participate in what today must be considered an esoteric, sanctioned hobby .

Sidling up to certain OEM manufacturers that are willing to participate ($) within the NHRA environment is the sole benefit.

[ALMACK]

Originally Posted by fredjohnston

Combining automatic and manual classes will end up costing racers more money and in turn participation will suffer.

Let's look at A, B, G, and H for example, the most popular stock eliminator classes. Stick racers today rarely have heads up runs. If the stick cars are now mixed in with the autos the probability of a heads up race, per race goes up exponentially. Hypothetically speaking where you were once the 2nd or 3rd fastest or even the fastest in your class in your division when the classes are separated, you could now be 5th or worse when its combined. For these stick racers it sounds like you need to either spend more, work more or walk away.

On the flip side, some of the stick HP ratings vs automatic HP ratings on the same car are laughable. Look at the LS1 stick cars for example (Firebird, Camaro and Corvette). Look at the Shelby Mustang stick HP. For the auto racers to keep up they will either need to spend more, work more or walk away.

Leave this one alone.

What does it solve anyway? Less class contingency payout which is peanuts anyway? Less class trophies? Less administrative work for NHRA or Nitro Joe to keep track of? Give me a break.

What does it create? A few more heads up runs per race. Big deal.

I am currently building a J/stick Stocker.

If the autos and sticks are combined, then I will abandon the build and just turn it into a NMRA/NMCA/bracket car/index racer.
I've tied up enough money already in the P/Q Stocker.

As noted above....the probability of a heads up run goes up exponentially with combining them, especially in the "roll bar required" classes.

[Gary Smith]

Originally Posted by BRETV

Why make more classes when NHRA keeps lowering the quotas for Natl's?? Stock is one of the most populated classes. I think we need to move the Factory cars to Comp and combine sticks and autos and have less classes. I've been around stock and superstock for 40 years and I can't even keep up with all the classes. So how can a newbie?? Less is more!!




Bret Velde
2003 SS/LA

Very good point.

[Bill Diehl]

Get the indexes as close to what the ***** actually runs...then they would be lucky to fill the 65 field..a newb can never figure this cluster out...and I can't even begin to imagine guys complaining about how much it costs to build a top shelf "stocker" when they pulling it to the track in a 1/2 million dollar rig.

what the h am I missing?...I hope its still here by the time I get my junk out there

There is only 3 things I care about....what's my car weigh, what class does it fit in, and what's the national record

[Adam Strang]

I'm a stick shift racer and I'm all for combining the classes. Always thought the only thing that sucked about running a stick is the lack of heads up runs. The fastest car doesnt always win.People in the stands don't give a s**t about bracket racing,they don't understand what goes into all that.

[Gary Smith]

Originally Posted by Evan Smith

Bret,

Please re-read my story. Combining sticks and autos would cut the classes in half. It's time. The cars, for the most part, are equal in performance. As far as my other ideas, I didn't say add new classes, instead, let the cars fall within the current structure where they would based on hp and weight.

These are just ideas to create dialogue amongst racers to keep our style of racing attractive. I see so much negativity on the 'net in terms of racers complaining about NHRA, but hardly anyone has suggestions to improve anything. Maybe there is nothing wrong with the current format, but it never hurts to toss ideas around.

My crate engine idea was not to make racing cheaper, but to get the manufactures more involved and to offer an option for racers not wanting to run a 30-, 40-, or 50-year old engine, but still race a car they currently own. A byproduct would be less time spent sourcing old parts and cost savings to those with expensive engine combinations.

Thanks,

Evan

Evan, just wanted you to know I wasn't totally against your ideas either. In fact Bret and I talked about this same issue a couple weeks ago, but more about NMCA bringing S & SS in as a viable NHRA alternative, or suggesting (at the very least) NHRA move FS into Comp (which we all know needs a shot in the arm). And like Bret said get that Cobra back out there again!!!

[Frank Castros]

How many twenty or thirty somethings are racing Competition, Super Stock or Stock Eliminator today?
The sustainability of class racing is suspect and I believe short term solutions will be brief.
The NHRA could care less because their marketable product (T/F, F/C & P/S) currently sucks.

[BRETV]

I have an 18yr old son who has been going to the races since he was days old. He's always lookin for cars in my class for heads up races and he loves class at the Natl's, could care less about the bracket racing part. When he brings friends they don't understand the bracket racing but always enjoy the heads up runs. These are performance based classes always have been and always should be.




Bret Velde
2003 SS/LA

[HR9121]

Originally Posted by Frank Castros

How many twenty or thirty somethings are racing Competition, Super Stock or Stock Eliminator today?
The sustainability of class racing is suspect and I believe short term solutions will be brief.
The NHRA could care less because their marketable product (T/F, F/C & P/S) currently sucks.

There's more than you might think. I'm 45 and look around sometimes and feel a little old, Adam Davis, Brad Plourd, Kenneth Stott, Kaitlyn Adkinson, Allison Smyth, Bubba Linke, Justin Picillo, Doug Doll, Stephen Smyth,Joel Warren, Cody Phillips,Jeff Longhany..... I can go on and on, that's just off the top of my head and mainly division1 and 2. Oh Cooter Hildalgo and the Cummings boys.