Who's Racing & Who's Parking for '09?

[TOM KASCH]

As of now 8;15 am Jan 3 the NHRA winternationals pre -entries list says:

tf........................1
fc.......................7
ps......................9
ss.....................61 out of quota of 80
stk ....................55 ' ' ' 80
sg.....................87.....................130

With a month to go it should be full, I'm sorry to tell you guys It's going to get lot worse before it gets better in 3 to 4 Years....If you lived on credit that was 10 times more than your income what would you expect !!!!!!

[Gary Smith]

Shawn, I still plan to run the stocker, but am hesitant in spending money on stuff that could face heavy de-value if class racing takes a nose dive.

Doug you've said what I keep thinking...spend it wisely!!!

Tom, I called this one 3 years ago...credit is a drug.. use it wisely or it becomes poison. Good lenders are like doctors and pharmacists, where most other financial institutions had become like drug dealers (anyone know about the skeletons in Mike Ashley's closet !!??).

I definately would like to downsize from the vehicles and spare parts in my possession and focus on one race car. Most of the stuff is for the '65, which is a family heirloom I refuse to give up. My options would be to sell off the spares for the '65, 3 other vehicles, mothball the '65, and pour the money into the stocker. The other option is sell the stocker along with the other vehicles and some of the '65 stuff, update the '65 for sub-9 sec rules and install an FE motor to run NSS and Nostalgia A/FX match racing. My heart has always been in class racing, so I guess you could say I'm looking for a good excuse to sell the stocker.

[larry dowty]

don't forget comp. 6 entrys

[Bruce Noland]

The small number of pro entries at Pomona probably has a lot to do with sponsors and nhra getting the money right. Some sponsors are dropping like flies and nhra is probably having a tough time putting up the extra million they said they would pay the pros in 2009. More pro teams will sign on for Pomona but probably not enough to fill all the fields.

You know the very old saying, the Sportsman racers shall get their sport back after all the pros fade away. And fading they are. Good luck to nhra and IHRA for 2009. They sure will need it. We'll be watching.

[Larry Munk]

Traded in the Class A for a Class B dumped the dulley and the box trailer. Parked the Mustang got the front drive stocker and a Tow Dolly. Gas prices just got reasonable but it looks like the new Congress and Admministration will adjust that shortly. May not be racing large but we'll go where and when we can, tried doing the bracket thing and it don't cut it anymore for us. Happy New Year. There shoud be more room in the Pits as it sure looks like the Pro's are dropping like flys.

[greg fulk]

I pretty much have the same plan every year...I run the Div.3 races @ Indy,Norwalk & Columbus. I always like to go south in the spring to run either Mooresville or Farmington IHRA & I run Sun. @ Clay-City. I haven't got my Vacc back yet but I put in for the Norwalk Nat. with the Nat. @ Charlotte as alternate.

[Robert Swartz]

I know our IHRA stocker won't be ready next season. Maybe the Nova bracket car will get resurrected by late summer.

What I'm wondering, tracks? I'm sure ORP in Indianapolis will be running. I wonder about the smaller tracks. I'm going to be like someone else noted, if my work slows down, that translates into fewer dollars for other pursuits. If the tracks start going down due to the economy, that could become a problem.

I've got an "outlaw" 1/8 mile track less than 7 miles from my house. And then another 8-10 tracks all within 1- 3 hours drive. Imagine most of these will survive.

I guess I picked a heck of a time to get back into this?

Robert Swartz