Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver

[brian schuetta]

The track at Roswell NM is down or having problems for now. Just saw it on the El Paso area website. Partnership didn't work out.

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Dyno

I think BIR will fill up. Most racers wait, rather than to give NHRA the entry early.

I certainly don't blame them either for waiting, and I also think BIR will fill up. They always field a very strong bracket team, and the semi pro (aka sportsman categories), generally always do well out there. I'd consider living/racing there, if it didn't get so dog gone cold and snowy in the off-season!!!

I'll enjoy my desert area, Denver was bad enough during the winter (and they seldom get as cold as Minnesota does), give me the sunshine and the triple digit heat, over that any day...however Brainerd is a nice track, and I enjoyed being there to visit!

[Winklovic]

Originally Posted by Dyno

I think BIR will fill up. Most racers wait, rather than to give NHRA the entry early.

I'm looking forward to the event. I'll be there Friday to Sunday, taking pictures like crazy.

[GarysZ24]

Cool Brent, and hopefully lots of Stock & Super Stockers....

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by GarysZ24

Gary, I just looked at their website, and it seems like they're very happy with flying the IHRA banner, and quite honestly I don't see them wanting to switch back. Their Nitro Jams get hundreds if 1k + spectators every year, and it's only a 1-2 day race! Last I heard, it's possible the new IHRA owners might try to cement their presence there so as to keep NHRA from having a chance at getting it back?

Looks like that was correct...
IRG Sports + Entertainment acquires Southwestern International Raceway in Tucson
http://www.ihra.com/ihra-tracks/trac...eway-in-tucson

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

Looks like that was correct...
IRG Sports + Entertainment acquires Southwestern International Raceway in Tucson
http://www.ihra.com/ihra-tracks/trac...eway-in-tucson

That's some really good news to read about Michael, and thanks for sharing that here! Now there's greater hope that D7 will create a Pro-Am series, and thus us western sportsman racers will now have a viable option for our class racing dollars...and if diehard NHRA types will not give the IHRA a try for their racing dollars (now), then I will enjoy racing with the Tucson based Hawk Bros. (who by the way already proved how tough they are by winning an IHRA World Championship in the No-Box category, 2yrs ago)! Hopefully the Pro-Am series will get started next year too!!!

Welcome IRG to SIR!!!

[Harry 6674]

What exactly is an NHRA type?

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Harry 6674

What exactly is an NHRA type?

I will quote from "The Miz" of WWE fame by saying...really? REALLY? Really? I think you've been around the drag racing block Harry long enough to know what I mean by this...diehard NHRA types are those who no matter what the IHRA presents them (and no matter how much better a bang for the buck they can get by stepping out of their more expensive NHRA comfort zone), won't place their operation in an IHRA sanctioned pit area, let alone run their car/truck down an IHRA sanctioned track.

Have you forgotten how dismal the entries were at the San Antonio "Summit Sportsman Spectactular", last year? It was awful! Although the entry lists were better for the other ones they had further east, in comparison to Indy, and some other east coast national/divisional events, even their turnouts were subpar! Why? My best observation is the diehard NHRA types didn't care about racing for $5,000 bucks instead of $1,500 to maybe nearly $2,000 from the NHRA sportsman categories...ohh, and only paying $200 bucks instead of the then $305 for an entry fee! I guess there are those who would rather spend more and race for less, just for the glory (or nowadays lack thereof) of being in an NHRA national event?

Perhaps the next time you see Mark Faul in your area, ask him how he feels about not being a diehard NHRA type, and what it's done for his racing budget???

p.s. I'll excuse those of us who (per geographic location) don't have that option, but for those of you who do, it doesn't make sense to me....however, it's your money and you'll spend it as you please....I just don't see the logic in overlooking another sanctioning body who places more significance on us sportsman racers, than the one who lets us know (numerous times), that we're the "FILLER CLASSES" for the down-time between each pro session/round...I would think we should want to be respected and appreciated more than that, imho...

[Harry 6674]

Mark is in a little different situation than most class racers. It is how he makes a living. In the north west we don't have a lot of big money bracket races that other parts of the country have so if you want to make money and have the ability you have to travel. I'm sure if IHRA could draw the pros NHRA has you would be filler material there to.

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Harry 6674

Mark is in a little different situation than most class racers. It is how he makes a living. In the north west we don't have a lot of big money bracket races that other parts of the country have so if you want to make money and have the ability you have to travel. I'm sure if IHRA could draw the pros NHRA has you would be filler material there to.

Sorry Harry I don't buy that different situation comment for Mark, and you have a big money race in Boise, Id., that people where I live would have to travel to 'Vegas for the nearest race of a similar nature. Mark also races IHRA, because they offer him a good return on his investment.

I personally am glad that IHRA doesn't offer what NHRA does, because they continue to prove that they care for us sportsman racers more than the NHRA does...don't believe it, compare the new look of National Dragster (where sportsman racing coverage is concerned), to how Drag Review Magazine expresses us as opposed to the pros they have at their Nitro Jam races (furthermore, take additional note as to how IHRA does race coverage at their divisional Pro-Am series races compareds to NHRA's divisional race coverage! Ask Michael Beard, or the guy who just won Martin Michigan who also runs NHRA with the Dodge what they think. IHRA cares more, and they always prove it!