"Live" from the IHRA World Finals at Memphis International R

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by Bill Bogues

head's up: If I remember right a couple of years ago at the pine valley pro-am for the sunday race they drew cards for pairing and didn't have heads up runs. I don't remember the reason for it (weather?) but we haven't been to any other pro-am's where they did this.

Bill, that is the Texas track I was talking about. Could not remember the name. They pulled that at Memphis once too. If the other guy in my class had made it past round 1, I would have had an easy heads-up in round 2. No weather problems either place. More than a couple of years ago, if it's when I was there. Had to be four or probably five. I gave up on them after the second time.

[j gardiner]

Out of the 60 or 70 races I have been to I have only seen 2 or 3 times where they didn't have heads up and it was because of scale issues or random pairing for whatever reason. But you guys probably already knew that.

[HR9121]

The thing that's really funny to me is alot of guys that will not race IHRA will go run a combo race which is nothing more than a bracket race. Then turn their nose up and say no way carry their car to a bracket race, I guess its easier to go to a combo than to get your 50k stocker smoked by a 5k bracket car by the local hitters .015 package at the local dump.

[treekiller]

Preach it cooter. Hitting the nail on the head

[Chris1529]

I've seen IHRA do a random pair no heads up when they ran two pro-am races on the same day due to weather problems.

[Ed Wright]

I don't run "combos" either.

[Hagen Gary]

When you only have 8-10 weekends a year to spare, you have to choose. If I wanted to Bracket Race I would. It would be much cheaper and less time consuming. But I would rather go spend a few days camping with some Friends and Family while playing a Gentleman's game. That is how I want to race. I'm not mad at anyone for the way they want to race. If I decide to start bracket racing, I'll be back at IHRA. Turns out, 2 good Stock and Super Stock drivers won this race and I didn't see to many bracket cars in the late rounds.

I think the majority choose not to go to an IHRA race because when we do take our 50K Stocker out, we want to race against other Stockers, in Stock Eliminator. You know, a Gentleman's Car Game. Where Gentlemen play by a strict set of rules. A place that has a Competent Governing Body who enforce rules that are clearly laid out for all to read. Where you can, as Gentlemen often do, show how much money or how knowledgeable you are by outrunning another Gentleman who played by the same rules as you. A place where you don't have to question if the rules are being followed. That's what separates Stock & Super Stock from Bracket Racing. IHRA puts on a good bracket race. But Bracket Racing is not Stock or Super Stock. You can Bracket Race at hundreds of tracks across America, but you can only Stock and Super Stock race at a few select places.

[HR9121]

Hagen I understand what you are saying I really do. I have tremendous respect for what you and Mr Wright have done I just do things differently but do you really think all them gentlemen are playing by the same rules. The top 10 qualifiers at Maple Grove sure didn't have the same rules you and I go by.

[Rich67stang]

Unfortunately EGOS (and there are ALOT of them on this board)get in the way of rational thinking. I race any and all stock/superstock races I can, (local combos to Nationals). A race is only as important as you personally make it to justify racing the event. The fun factor is the same for all races (maybe NHRA Nationals is like watching paint dry!, lol), but nevertheless, racing is racing.

[Ed Wright]

James, what were the top ten SS cars doing wrong at Maple Grove?

Richard, it's great that you like bracket racing, and can go race that often.