Big sportsman payout increase at IHRA National Events

[Keith 944]

I am a bit confused, the div 1 schedule says MIR as a national but div.9 can claim it as a in div. points race. will div 1 be able to claim it as well? and if so, as an in div or out?

[Jim Wahl]

Nobody is going to go to West Palm for a one race national event as opposed to a two race event at Darlington. Stupid decision. All they have done is make it tougher for the D2 racers. Jim

.

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by Myron Piatek

Hmmm. Anybody know what happened to Darlington, SC in Div. 2?

The facility has gone downhill there. A shame.

It looks like Div. 2 racers will have to travel to 2 out of division races to get their max of 8.

That is the case with every division except for Div. 3, but we'd have to travel quite a bit to get 8 "In" as most of the races are singles.

I am a bit confused, the div 1 schedule says MIR as a national but div.9 can claim it as a in div. points race. will div 1 be able to claim it as well? and if so, as an in div or out?

There are several events that serve as a wild card which can be claimed as an In-Division claim for two different divisions.

MIR 1 & 9
Carolina 2 & 9
Pittsburgh 1 & 3

Nobody is going to go to West Palm for a one race national event as opposed to a two race event at Darlington. Stupid decision.

Palm Beach and Darlington were never on the same date, so there is no basis for comparison. Darlington was dropped on its own merits (or lack thereof). Again, I like the place, but it's sorely in need of a lot of attention. And for the record, when I lived in NC, I attended one-race national events at Palm Beach more than once.



After attending 0 IHRA events in 2014, I'm looking forward to next season... so far I have 6 LODRS, 4 NHRA Nat'l, 5 Pro-Ams, 4 IHRA Nat'ls, 8+ big money races, 3 expos/trade shows, and 5 Loose Rocker events on my calendar... with a couple of holes to fill yet!

I'd let my membership lapse in October. I'm going to sign back up now.

$.02,

-MB

[TGould]

Bad news for me was the loss of the Darlington race and Rockingham. Great news for me is quarter mile racing returns to Rockingham (NHRA).

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Mike Graham

Gary. Do you know something about Tucson that is not posted? The way I read it is that Tucson is running Stock and SS. Considering going there instead of Pomona because we can run both cars.

Mike, the good news is that SIR will be running Stock and Super Stock as their own categories at their Nitro Jam Race. However, the bad news is IHRA's D7 "Gunslinger" division (thanks for the website to see their 2015 Schedule, Michael Beard), is not a part of the Pro-Am series (comparable to NHRA's Lucas Oil Drag Race Series), so if you run that race you may have to claim points (if any will be offered), to D4 and run other races in that division. I'm instead (since that's not financially feasible for me), hoping to race Pomona, and then run the NHRA D7 points (their schedule and locations are the best they've ever been since I moved here). If I don't get to race Pomona, no skin off my nose....I'll run the divisionals, likely the Fontana Sports Nat's, and possibly another national event. Good Luck in Tucson if you two go there, and HAPPY THANKSGIVING also!

[dragracer2011]

IMO ( which probably isn't worth much), I say kudos to the IHRA for stepping up their program and trying to help out us sportsman racers, what I don't understand is this...... Everyone has a right to choose what and where they want to race, if you don't like something in their programs or just prefer a certain sanctioning body, big money bracket racing etc., then just go race where it makes you happy, why all the negativity? why must people get on these message forums and bash people and companies that are trying to support our sport, why complain when the schedule don't fit your schedule exactly how you wanted it to. The schedules are posted, pick where you want to race and lets go support those events, It doesn't matter what they do, they would never get 100% of us racers to agree on anything, so with that in mind, Happy Holidays to everyone and good luck in 2015!

[Jim Woods]

x2

[Dana Fitzpatrick]

Originally Posted by John Nechiporchik

I am pleased the IHRA has stepped up their purse structure AND re-instated the Sportsman categories to their "National " events. This action indicates an organization with leadership that is not afraid to tap into past successes and marry those with a go forward strategy to create a model that fits the present economic and demographic make-up of racers and spectators.
It was not long ago that the IHRA National events at Milan, Martin, Grand Bend( probably others) had crowds five deep at the fences to watch the Fuelers and Pro Stock qualifying and racing action. The stands were packed and the pits were chaotic....but awesome! The Stock/ Super Stock fields were healthy. Hopefully, we can move towards that excitement level again.
We were all waiting to see what the new team at IHRA had planned. Now we are getting a look at their thinking and it appears to be in the right direction for drag racing as a whole.
As indicated in some other posts, it is incumbent on the racers to come to the table and support these efforts by attending these races. If we don't, we'll be cranking out posts on various websites complaining about how IHRA failed.
Personally, I have raced in IHRA divisionals, nationals and NHRA divisionals only. I like racing in both organizations and will prepare my 2015 schedule to participate in both where practical.
I wish IHRA great success as they take positive steps to move forward.
As this week is Thanksgiving, I say thanks for being able to race and make the choices we desire.
Happy Thanksgiving to all on the Class Racer forum.

John

AND Top Stock!!

[Mike Keener]

Top Stock especially Dana. Nice catch there!!

[Lyn Smith]

Did the payouts go up at the pro ams also?