How important is qualifying???????????????

1320racer · 02-04-2025, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMcAllister

If it's nothing more than bracket racing, why on Earth would you spend all the money, source the good/fancy parts, do all the work, all the travel, all the long weekends, deal with all the people with a lot more resources than you?

Checked all those boxes too bracket racing!

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMcAllister

Why not just put something together out of a catalog, save all the other crap, get a bottle of shoe polish and just go bracket racing?

Right, like ordering a COPO, Cobra Jet or Drag Pak out of a catalog/online order form as thousands of racers have since 2008.

Meanwhile bracket cars today cost around $40k on the low end to $175k on the high end to build and my 2 cars would cost about $125K each to replace. Nothing cheap about bracket racing today either. Oh fyi, most today don't use shoe polish, electronic dial in boards have been all the rage for at least 15 years.

Rich67stang · 02-04-2025, 10:18 AM

Gentlemen,

The heading is "How important is qualifying" not bashing Bracket racing or class racing. Both Bracket racing and class racing has its +/-. Race what you enjoy and dont place judgement.

If you have never been 4.40 in 1/8 miile bracket racing dont judge, its bad ***.
If you have never been heads up in a SS modified dont judge, its bad ***.

On Topic: Qualifying is important if you want or not want heads up races as well as preferred opponents.

1320racer · 02-04-2025, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich67stang

Gentlemen,

The heading is "How important is qualifying" not bashing Bracket racing or class racing. Both Bracket racing and class racing has its +/-. Race what you enjoy and dont place judgement.

Agree and I’ll add don’tt judge as well those that post here that are bracket racers and/or throttle stop racers too.

Stan Weiss · 02-04-2025, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1320racer

Checked all those boxes too bracket racing!

Right, like ordering a COPO, Cobra Jet or Drag Pak out of a catalog/online order form as thousands of racers have since 2008.

Meanwhile bracket cars today cost around $40k on the low end to $175k on the high end to build and my 2 cars would cost about $125K each to replace. Nothing cheap about bracket racing today either. Oh fyi, most today don't use shoe polish, electronic dial in boards have been all the rage for at least 15 years.

Maybe someone running one of these can tell us just how it would qualify as delivered, without all of that extra work done.

Stan

Dan Bennett · 02-04-2025, 01:24 PM

I've closely watching the factory stock cars since they came on the scene. The qualifying sheets make it crystal clear as to who is racing what was delivered and who is racing something where tweaks and improvements almost doubled the original cost.

Coming back to edit for another example that was in my wheelhouse. Don't forget the year that Enders and Anderson were neck and neck coming into Pomona. Greg managed to qualify 15th as I remember which meant he was in control of his own destiny and would meet Erica first round. Seems like he caught a bit of flack for that. I was impressed that he was able to do it, though yes it was easier to qualify near the bottom instead of a specific place in the middle.

KennyAnderson · 02-04-2025, 01:50 PM

IMHO having the ability to move around the Q sheet is a big plus. You may want to gain a possible bye run or avoid a heads-up or avoid racing friends/family first round. That being said... in my usual schlep-rock style when I do try to manipulate the ladder I get the exact scenario I'm trying to avoid! LOL!!

02-04-2025, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stan Weiss

Maybe someone running one of these can tell us just how it would qualify as delivered, without all of that extra work done.

Stan

Gump? I?m sure he knows.

JP1738 · 02-04-2025, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1320racer

Meanwhile bracket cars today cost around $40k on the low end

You know you can bracket race literally anything, right? I once bracket raced my mom's Ford Freestyle

You can spend as much or as little as you want to go bracket racing, that's what makes it the most beautiful form of motorsport in my opinion. Don't gate keep the gateway into our sport by saying you need $40k to enter, it's not true.

1320racer · 02-04-2025, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP1738

You know you can bracket race literally anything, right? I once bracket raced my mom's Ford Freestyle

.

I'm not talking about your nor your mom's daily driver, they ain't showing up to compete at BIG $ bracket races like the flings and if one does show up they ain't winning.

I'm talking about dedicated, purpose built bracket cars, top bulb race cars and they are not street legal. So yes about $40k on the low end and $175 on the high end. Yea you can do it cheaper, just like you can race a "dime rocket" in stock but who really wants to and those cars aren't winning races much less championships in either venue today.

Mike Taylor 3601 · 02-05-2025, 11:18 AM

How important is qualifying? Is a good question, with lots of answers, many have no right or wrong answers. If you like to be fast, then #1 is your spot and always give you the highest possibility of a bye run first round..
full field qualifying definitely is important or you don't race, so that probably be when it is most important..
Playing the ladder for possible bye or avoiding someone can help, but is a crapshoot that you can get one of the spots you need, no harm in trying.
I understand all these strategies, for the most part.
Alot of my strategy is really simple..... keep it simple, don't overthink it.....drive the best I can....none of it matters if you don't have some luck...then some days or years I just can't drive...

02-04-2025, 10:18 AM	#2
Rich67stang Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Jackson, NJ Posts: 313 Likes: 3 Liked 116 Times in 27 Posts	Re: How important is qualifying??????????????? Gentlemen, The heading is "How important is qualifying" not bashing Bracket racing or class racing. Both Bracket racing and class racing has its +/-. Race what you enjoy and dont place judgement. If you have never been 4.40 in 1/8 miile bracket racing dont judge, its bad *. If you have never been heads up in a SS modified dont judge, its bad *. On Topic: Qualifying is important if you want or not want heads up races as well as preferred opponents. __________________ Richard Preiser 1613 FGT/I 1510 C/SA 161 F/DA

02-04-2025, 01:24 PM	#5
Dan Bennett Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 439 Likes: 853 Liked 595 Times in 136 Posts	Re: How important is qualifying??????????????? I've closely watching the factory stock cars since they came on the scene. The qualifying sheets make it crystal clear as to who is racing what was delivered and who is racing something where tweaks and improvements almost doubled the original cost. Coming back to edit for another example that was in my wheelhouse. Don't forget the year that Enders and Anderson were neck and neck coming into Pomona. Greg managed to qualify 15th as I remember which meant he was in control of his own destiny and would meet Erica first round. Seems like he caught a bit of flack for that. I was impressed that he was able to do it, though yes it was easier to qualify near the bottom instead of a specific place in the middle. Last edited by Dan Bennett; 02-04-2025 at 01:35 PM.

02-04-2025, 01:50 PM	#6
KennyAnderson Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 290 Likes: 38 Liked 357 Times in 119 Posts	Re: How important is qualifying??????????????? IMHO having the ability to move around the Q sheet is a big plus. You may want to gain a possible bye run or avoid a heads-up or avoid racing friends/family first round. That being said... in my usual schlep-rock style when I do try to manipulate the ladder I get the exact scenario I'm trying to avoid! LOL!!

02-05-2025, 11:18 AM	#10
Mike Taylor 3601 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Somerset,Ky Posts: 1,372 Likes: 355 Liked 307 Times in 103 Posts	Re: How important is qualifying??????????????? How important is qualifying? Is a good question, with lots of answers, many have no right or wrong answers. If you like to be fast, then #1 is your spot and always give you the highest possibility of a bye run first round.. full field qualifying definitely is important or you don't race, so that probably be when it is most important.. Playing the ladder for possible bye or avoiding someone can help, but is a crapshoot that you can get one of the spots you need, no harm in trying. I understand all these strategies, for the most part. Alot of my strategy is really simple..... keep it simple, don't overthink it.....drive the best I can....none of it matters if you don't have some luck...then some days or years I just can't drive...