IHRA Ends Stock & Super Stock Racing

[EricArrow]

Originally Posted by BKSG1198

Eric,
I hope all the series grow and not just myself. The problem that I find is that people don't really care about the $$$. I know that sounds really stupid but, it really is true. That Wally, Ironman, .90 Trophy, Etc. means more to some people then any cash. Unfortunately, a lot of racers are very old school and remember getting $15-20K in contingency payout and you didn't have to pull teeth to get and they still believe they will get that when they win an event in 2017. Little do they know that they will get 1/2 of that and have to prove their first born child's blood type to get paid. Hopefully we'll see you at some races next year Eric.

Rob

Rob...you will see me. Got nothing else to do lol. ..and I don't mind the ride.

[Jim Wahl]

Originally Posted by GeneNMCA

I have been following this thread the last couple of days and like many of you am sorry to see any sanctioning body make a move that leaves racers wondering what to do next year with their investment in a race car. As many of you know The National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) took the plunge this season with our Stock/Super Stock Combo (S-3) eliminator and as the season came to an end just a few weeks ago in Lucas Oil Raceway, Indy we crowned our first S-3 National Champion Ricky Pennington who will receive his Victor National Champions Trophy and Nitto Champions Ring at the PRI Show later this year. NMCA is very excited about the future of S-3 and hoping we can provide a quality environment for all of you wishing to participate in this series. We do understand that we cannot be all for all but will try our hardest to give you a fun exciting place to race. For us as we do every year we ask for the participation of all competitors to provide input into the following years rules process; we review every written request and discuss each one during the rules making process. So here is your opportunity to be a part of that process in developing next years S-3 program that will best suit the majority of competitors. It's a clean sheet of paper-- everyone lets start writing. You can send you ideas and input to: nmcarules@promediapub.com this will reach all of the general rules committe members.

Our complete rule book is available at NMCAdigital.com

NMCA believes S-3 has a wonderful future in the NMCA series and we look forward to seeing many of you next season.

Thanks,
Gene R. Bergstrom
Director of Operations
NMCA / NMRA

Two things Gene. 1.) I wrote you last year and offered help with your organization of the S/SS format. Never got a response. As I am the President of the SSSSA I would have thought you would want some input. Guess not. When you state that you want input and "please give me input", you really should mean it. At least you could have said "no thanks".
2.) Not sure what the thinking is to place a race 100 miles from an NHRA race on the same weekend, not just once but I see you're doing again this year. You know the definition of insanity don't you?
I ceratinly have nothing against the NMCA for sure! We (SSSSA) have been including your cars in our races for over 6 years. We were the first to do that as well as welcome all IHRA classes. I would certainly attend your race in Bradenton if it wasn't on top of an NHRA points race! I don't understand why you did this ....AGAIN! You waht to double of triple your car count? Change the date! I learned very early that you never try to compete with the NHRA races. Jim


..

[Detroit Bob]

We did the NMCA at Norwalk, and had a good time, we will do it again.

[Mike Jones]

Originally Posted by Lew Silverman

http://www.ihra.com/ihra-news/all-ne...racing-program

"The new Summit Sportsman Spectacular bracket events will be targeted to Top, Mod and Junior racers looking for a value-oriented and fun double-race weekend. The series will work in conjunction with the Summit SuperSeries to provide tens of thousands of grassroots bracket racers new opportunities and events that are designed to provide maximum value for the participants.*"
Summit looking out for their customers...

Mike A114

[Jim Wahl]

"The major change in the IHRA lineup will be the switch from the class racing-based Summit Sportsman National Championship series to the newly-created Summit Sportsman Spectacular. The new bracket racing-based program consists of 20 races over ten weekends. Summit Racing Equipment will support the program through a new multi-year sponsorship."

That's it? No "Thanks to all our loyal S/SS racers and we appreciate you"? Wow. I am really disappointed in Jim Dunn. Not surprised though I guess. Jim

.

[Ed Carpenter]

Originally Posted by GeneNMCA

I have been following this thread the last couple of days and like many of you am sorry to see any sanctioning body make a move that leaves racers wondering what to do next year with their investment in a race car. As many of you know The National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) took the plunge this season with our Stock/Super Stock Combo (S-3) eliminator and as the season came to an end just a few weeks ago in Lucas Oil Raceway, Indy we crowned our first S-3 National Champion Ricky Pennington who will receive his Victor National Champions Trophy and Nitto Champions Ring at the PRI Show later this year. NMCA is very excited about the future of S-3 and hoping we can provide a quality environment for all of you wishing to participate in this series. We do understand that we cannot be all for all but will try our hardest to give you a fun exciting place to race. For us as we do every year we ask for the participation of all competitors to provide input into the following years rules process; we review every written request and discuss each one during the rules making process. So here is your opportunity to be a part of that process in developing next years S-3 program that will best suit the majority of competitors. It's a clean sheet of paper-- everyone lets start writing. You can send you ideas and input to: nmcarules@promediapub.com this will reach all of the general rules committe members.

Our complete rule book is available at NMCAdigital.com

NMCA believes S-3 has a wonderful future in the NMCA series and we look forward to seeing many of you next season.

Thanks,
Gene R. Bergstrom
Director of Operations
NMCA / NMRA

Would love to try your venue but you offer no races in Division 4 i.e. Houston, Dallas, Belle Rose etc.

[Hacksaw]

The first IHRA race I ever competed at was in 1981 at Lancaster Dragway and I think I've been a supporting member every year to this day. This season I raced at Empire, ran at Grand Bend and even drove all Friday night from the Chicago Nat's to make the double in Pittsburg. Many great times and somewhat successful as well. Very sad day for all class racers. Reminds me all too well the day a letter came to say there would no longer be Modified Elim. Felt like Bader kicked me out of the family.

[oldskool]

This is a real simple deal, which I'm sure has been discussed here MANY times.

MOST racers cannot afford a really competitive Stock/SS car. And, if they can build a car that will barely run under the index, they know that they'll lose almost every heads-up race.

On the other hand, lots of guys can build a really competitive bracket car, for a fraction of the cost of a competitive S/SS car, of similar ET.

Also, there are LOTS of places to race, and LOTS of big purse races, where they will be welcomed. According to what I've read here, many of you guys have very few places to race, without long tows, and when you get there, the entry fees are high, you are not treated very well, and you run for small purses.

So, this is really a no-brainer. Bracket racing is the only thing that has kept MOST drag strips open. So, it seems to me that you guys who wanna race only Stock & Super Stock cars, will just have to be content to race at the current venues available to you, switch to bracket racing, or quit racing.

I've raced & won both class & bracket races. I enjoyed the bracket racing much more. Without bracket racing, most all the small tracks we ran would have closed back in the late '70's. Right now, I don't have a dog in the hunt. Just offering an opinion, which is what guys do on forums. So, there's no need for any badmouthing.

[Mike Schwartz]

2017 IHRA participation by Class

TS 105
TD 158
SS 143
ST 185
QR 129
SR 144
HR 202
JD 166

Why couldn't they have moved the classes other than SS/S to the new 20 event local schedule? Those aren't all that hard for local tracks to tech and race and they wouldn't add that many cars. You could still have a championship with only local travel needed.

[Andys dad]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

Tulsa went AHRA for a while. I never could slow my car down enough to run with that deal. Never saw so many cars with no front bumpers. Tulsa scedualed a National event with them. I ran off my own record in NHRA back then. I decided I would just set the AHRA record where I needed it at that race. Their tech guy, Vance Brady about had a stroke when I went down for the rear down. Told me I "was not going to screw our guys over like that". His whole little bald head turned red. And, said that if I was not happy running off the record as it was, to just take my ***** somewhere else to race. I was just going to knock it down 1.10 seconds. Slowest bunch of cars I had ever seen. Only good AHRA car I remember was Alan Patterson's '55. Very nice car.
Some of us used to call it the Arkansas Hillbilly Racing Association.

I only knew people mostly from California - I ran AHRA because we had Irwindale, Orange County, Long beach and Bee line. I only ran stock a couple of times and never took off the bumper but I guess I did not because I had a new car ('69 Z28). I do remember a little of the snipping from NHRA guys but to tell you the truth there were not that many in So Cal. I was hitting National events in a Pro car in GT3. I do remember Sox + Martin, Rod Shop, Bill Hielscher, Golden Commandos, Wally Booth, Gary Kimble (Kimble Brothers Chevrolet), Ram Chargers, Kevin Rotty, Dick Harrel (Fred Gibb Chevrolet) - the list goes on - none of them were junk. Seems I also remember Wheatly Brothers (from upstate NY) made a movie called "Two Lane Blacktop" - oh and Granny Goose (Hiner and Miller) both of those cars were NHRA competitors - man this is dredging up some old old memories - 45 to 50 years ago. Of course most of you are to young to remember most of those guys. Thank you for stiring the embers. BTW the pay outs were the same or better than NHRA and the contingencies were just as good. It is America and everyone is entitled to their opinion.