Entry level class?

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Keith 944

You guys are funny, the only real entry-level class now is super comp
And as for taking away throttle stops, big motors, and all that crap you’re delusional they run an 11 50 850, and 10 flat class with no electronic help and hardly ever get very many cars. They even tried to run those classes at Nhra divisionals a few times what a joke so don’t think that’s gonna happen. We race by NHRA rules that’s it. Of course I want the best car within the rules. If you don’t like it, don’t play.

Super Comp is entry level?

[Randy Wells]

I/Stock, quit counting at 50K and still looking for more. I do 95% of the work, have at least 5k of parts that didn't work, or didnt fit, goal is to qualify top 10 on ladder, did it in Denver then had tranny problems, another 7k spent . Nothing cheap about Stock.
Probably would of been cheaper to buy a factory car by the time I am done. Thank God I don't gamble , drink or do drugs one bad habbit is enough, I still fish. lol.

Randy Wells
I/S 5628

[Regan Wilson]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

Super Comp is entry level?

A lot of the kids aging out of Juniors don't want a door car.

[Paul Merolla]

We see this term, "Entry Level" come up over and over on this site...what does it actually mean?
Other than a handful of times racing in Trophy with my street car, I had never entered a drag race before starting in Stock.
It just depends what you want to do, how bad you want it, how much knowledge and skill you possess, and how much money you can spend. If you don't have enough of any of those, it's going to take some time to gather resources.
Does "Entry Level" mean that anyone can wake up one day and decide they want to race NHRA, go get whatever equipment they can get their hands on, and be competitive that weekend? If so, it doesn't exist...in drag racing, or any other form of competition, there is a learning curve.
If I was going to label any class in drag racing Entry Level, it would be one of the bracket classes like Trophy or Sportsman...but even in those classes, when you show up for the first time, everyone else is going to be better than you!

[Keith 944]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

Super Comp is entry level?

Alan, I don’t believe any NHRA based class is entry-level, although for the cost and what I’ve seen I do believe super comp would be a less expensive class for a total start-up
like Reagan said most of the kids coming out of Jr dragsters don’t want a door car.
of course they don’t want an old dragster with a small block that can barely run 890 or a door car that can barely run 1090 they’re entitled to better. lol

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Keith 944

Alan, I don’t believe any NHRA based class is entry-level, although for the cost and what I’ve seen I do believe super comp would be a less expensive class for a total start-up
like Reagan said most of the kids coming out of Jr dragsters don’t want a door car.
of course they don’t want an old dragster with a small block that can barely run 890 or a door car that can barely run 1090 they’re entitled to better. lol

I understand that may be where kids from Jr. Dragster go (and they're used to expensive cars there, too), my point was Super Comp is mostly populated with $50K+ 4 link dragsters, with $30K+ 598 big block Chevy engines, $4K PowerGlides, and $5K of electronics and throttle stops. Hardly "entry level".

[Keith 944]

I just looked in the 2024 rulebook and I could’ve swore at one time in the past super Street was listed as an entry level class that wording is not there anymore. I guess even NHRA knows better.

OK here’s another question. How did you get started in drag racing?
For me, I went with my father and watched a funny car show at US 13 dragway after that I wanted in! so we ran my daily driver in the trophy class the very next weekend that was my beginner class
And yes, after years and years of bracket racing my introduction into NHRA class racing was with super Street and at the time it was a 4/10 tree, which made it very difficult with any 10 second car

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Keith 944

I just looked in the 2024 rulebook and I could’ve swore at one time in the past super Street was listed as an entry level class that wording is not there anymore. I guess even NHRA knows better.

OK here’s another question. How did you get started in drag racing?
For me, I went with my father and watched a funny car show at US 13 dragway after that I wanted in! so we ran my daily driver in the trophy class the very next weekend that was my beginner class
And yes, after years and years of bracket racing my introduction into NHRA class racing was with super Street and at the time it was a 4/10 tree, which made it very difficult with any 10 second car

I saw my first LODRS event (it wasn't LODRS then) about 1976 at Bowling Green.


I literally "walked on" to a team of guys racing Super Pro, Super Gas, and a class called "Jr. Pro Stock" while I was in high school. I moved up to building the engines and transmissions, and setting up the rear ends, as well as being a crew chief. They bought a dragster and went Super Comp and fast bracket racing. I literally learned from some of the very best, Jimmy Bridges, Harry Vineyard, Ronnie Duke, Mike Lynch, Sonny Elliot, and a host of others.

[Lenny5160_v2]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

Super Comp is mostly populated with $50K+ 4 link dragsters, with $30K+ 598 big block Chevy engines, $4K PowerGlides, and $5K of electronics and throttle stops. Hardly "entry level".

These cars are certainly out there, but if you showed up in the Super Comp staging lanes with $30K in your pocket you could probably pick from at least half the cars there.

There are reasonable ways to get into just about any class if you don't mind being on the slow end. Everyone keeps going faster and faster, but it isn't necessary to be competitive.*

*applies more to Super-classes; there are actual competitive advantages to being fast in S/SS.

[1320racer]

Originally Posted by Lenny5160_v2

if you showed up in the Super Comp staging lanes with $30K in your pocket you could probably pick from at least half the cars there.

Everyone keeps going faster and faster, but it isn't necessary to be competitive.*

I disagree on both points. $30k super comp turnkey cars are few, everything old and mostly junk and competitive is not winning a round or 2 but being a threat to win any race and the championship!