Should Pro's be seperated from Sportsman

[Pistol Pete]

Brett C has the right idea by Limiting car count to 64.

The only problem with that is: Most National Events have Stock & SS Class Run-offs.

I wonder if the future for Stk & SS will try to be 2 New Eliminators" ALL the New Cars Running Heads Up in there own Eliminator Quailifing 16 or 32 Cars.

Stk & SS will be a combined 128 Cars for their Eliminator with No More Class Run-Offs.

It would be nice seeing the New Cars going head to head on a Sportsman Level.
Quailify 16 or 32. It would be like a Jr. Pro Stock.
Or you can have them run like they do at the National Opens with 3 different classes
with Handicap starts, (probably a much fairer way for the Non-Professional Racer).

Yeah i like that proposal better. Handicap starts with break out rules in effect.

Just my 4 cents.

[chris3racing]

No. If sportsmen are pulled away that will be the end. If there were more cars and some paying spectator at division races NHRA would take notice of sportsman racing. Right now the only people in the stands are family and crew members and some of them never leave the big motorhomes or the pits.

[Bruce Noland]

nhra executives have pulled a few bone headed moves over the years and managed to survive, so far. But they know better than to attempt to separate the Pros and Sportsmen. nhra would be buried under Constitution Avenue.

[Wade Mahaffey]

Split them up. Sportsman nationals Sat-Sun the week prior to the Pros at each event. More room to park without all the pro cities and restaurants....more racing, less waiting, get it all done in two days....less need for days off work....more competitors per class back to over a hundred like I remember....class at each race....track prep tailored to sportsman needs...no clutch dust...sportsman credentials good for pro race if you want to stay...tear down selected cars after they loose in the eliminator...seal the selected cars at tech....if it rains, you got till next Friday to complete the sportsman portion...never have to come back for a reschedule...save fuel, time, aggravation, and Money. Classes for sportsman portion S, S/S, S/ST, S/G, S/C, Comp for the pros Use T/S, T/D, A/FC, A/D as fillers for the pros. Your boss would be happy with you missing less work. And racers families would be happier that your vacation days would be used for VACATION! LOL Just think about it....no more bitching and fussing about the pros....just racing and having fun again....keep the sportsman money in the sportsman race

Wade Mahaffey

[Bob Don]

Originally Posted by Mike Pearson

I say no. I think NHRA needs to figure out how to speed up the pro program. Not so much down time between the classes. There is too much non racing crap going on during the pro sessions. Better integration between all of the classes. Maybe even cut out one round of pro qualifying to make room for the sportsman during daylight hours. It was cool when they used to have a night pro session. Just need some better event management. The sportsman pay a lot of money to participate. Make the racing the show.

x2

[Phillip marvetz]

I decided a few years ago that running a national event is a waste of my time and money, Any chance we could just get rid of the pros?. Then people may actually show up to watch us race.lol.
Until things get better I'll just stay close to home, The cars are paid for and don't cost much to leave parked..

[Don Himes]

I have to agree with Wade. As long as NHRA and the track can make a profit doing it this way.

[Greenlight]

Originally Posted by 442OLDS

I think there are a lot of fans that also attend National events to see "regular" type cars.

In fact,there was a survey in National Dragster many years ago that asked fans...What is your favorite class?

The class that had the most votes was SUPER STOCK.

I don't think this would be a good move from the NHRA point of view.

I could see the end of National event payouts,if National events go away.NOT good for any Sportsman racer!

NHRA Fan Poll results: Favorite classes 05/01/2002

Funny Car 10.78%
Top Fuel 10.62%
Pro Stock 10.19%
Top Alcohol Dragster 7.58%
Top Alcohol Funny Car 7.55%
Pro Mod 7.46%
Pro Stock Bike 7.02%
Super Stock 6.80%
Comp 6.64%
Top Fuel Bike 5.93%
Stock 5.45%
Super Comp 5.03%
Super Gas 4.91%
Super Street 3.98%


Points values were assigned to all rankings 1-14. Percentages listed reflect the percentage of points earned of the available TOTAL, not the actual total of people who voted for the category or for that category’s position in the standings.

http://www.nhra.net/2002/news/May/050101.html

[boster]

Maybe Sportsman Thursday & Friday , Pro's Sat & Sun , that way everyone has a 2 day event

[James Perrone]

Im with Bo...finish by saturday.