Grade Points

[John DiBartolomeo]

"It just is what it is and I hope we get through it quickly. Just keep praying there will be plenty of time in the future for us to congregate; hopefully at the races."

https://dragracingedge.com/the-blog/grade-points/

[MikeMoller]

Sad to say, but it has really become a rich man's sport. It gets expensive if you want to get 8 grade points, I have six grade points, spent 4700 to get those(entry fees, race gas, motel, food, tow gas and tolls, etc). And i'm an open trailer, stay in cheap motels, eat cheap kinda guy, The division 2 1/8 mile series helped in getting some with minimal travel. Then the 'priviledge' of attending a national event typically costs minimal 600-800 all in. I'm retired, so not missing any work days, so I feel for those who do. Be nice if NHRA would give a grade point or 2 for those that have competed for many years, or some type of consideration/exemption for being a competitor for many years.

[Tim Barrett]

I understand the complaint,,but I don't understand why people are complaining!! The grade point system is the rule that rewards us guys that support the Divisional races,,period. If you can only attend 2 or 3 Divisionals then don't chew cause you can't get into a National Event. Yes it does cost $$$ to compete but it also costs alot to do anything where traveling is involved. Why do I have to spend $25,000 plus for a 255hp 350 to be competitive in my class?? We are competing for points in Divisional and National events,,it would really suck if someone lost a National Championship because someone with 2 or 3 grade points ended up filling the quota because the person couldn't enter in time. Let's face it,,if there was no grade points system a National Event would fill up in less than an hour. Of course that would be another complaint!!

[MikeMoller]

Just a thought, maybe NHRA could increase the field by 20-40 cars but limit the race to top 50-60 qualifiers - whatever their current quota for each race is.

[Carguy49]

I am pretty sure that no answer will satisfy everyone. For those that can race often, congratulations. For those that can't be thankful that you can race at all.

I would love to have a race car and compete with my friends. It is NOT possible for me to do that due to finances. I am NOT complaining, just stating facts. I make up most of my frustration by going to races and hanging with my friends and helping them wherever I can. This doesn't fix the problem, but helps me be a part of the show.

Thanks for letting me vent a little. Be thankful that you can race at all and enjoy what you can do and not complain about what you can't.

[Andys dad]

If you can earn 11 grade points - you do not have a job like mine or an income like mine - or maybe you are retired and you saved money instead of racing your whole life.


Ron

[1matcoman]

Originally Posted by MikeMoller

Just a thought, maybe NHRA could increase the field by 20-40 cars but limit the race to top 50-60 qualifiers - whatever their current quota for each race is.

Mike, while an awesome thought you have here, pit space is the reason for the car count limits. The allowance of 20-40 more cars, per class, would equal well over a hundred more entrants. That is not possible at any track to my knowledge.

[Jim Caughlin]

Originally Posted by 1matcoman

Mike, while an awesome thought you have here, pit space is the reason for the car count limits. The allowance of 20-40 more cars, per class, would equal well over a hundred more entrants. That is not possible at any track to my knowledge.

Not always the case, Las Vegas for instance has a ton of extra space. I agree with the idea of allowing quotas more in the 80 range and having a 64 car qualified field. No extra time req'd for elims and a lot of the sandbagging for qualifying spots gets eliminated.

[Carguy49]

Many of the tracks were built several years ago when the sport was in it's infancy. There is no room for expansion, so we must live with the space available. Like Jim said Las Vegas has extra room but that doesn't solve the problem for the other tracks.

As the sport has grown the method of transporting our cars has evolved, also. The racer that uses a pickup and open trailer is down to very few compared to the past. Many races use large multi-car trailers (stackers and such). As the transports have become bigger the space for those rigs has remained the same at most tracks.

There is no perfect answer, just living with it as it is. Good luck to you all and have fun racing when you can. See you at a track near me in the not too distant future.

[Mike Pearson]

Originally Posted by Jim Caughlin

Not always the case, Las Vegas for instance has a ton of extra space. I agree with the idea of allowing quotas more in the 80 range and having a 64 car qualified field. No extra time req'd for elims and a lot of the sandbagging for qualifying spots gets eliminated.

Gainesville also has plenty of room for more quota. The use of the available pit space is not used wisely since they have no real parking plan or qualifies people to expedite the parking. Many take way more room than is needed. I am happy to work off the back of my trailer and only need enough room to put my canopy out and slide. I know most don’t like to be parked in the back 40 at Gainesville but it is actually pretty nice back there. They could have easily parked anothe 100 rigs back there. The baby Gators had more total cars than was expected at the big Gators