2009 IHRA Championship Format Announced

[Jason Oldfield]

I'm surprised nobody has posted this yet...or did IHRA just post it and I'm the only one up???

"In 2009, each Nitro Jam national event (and select other events) will become individual tournaments, with the winner of each tournament getting a spot in a select field of racers that will race each other for the world championship at the end of the season. This race, during the World Finals at Rockingham, will crown a national championship as well as the national top 10 in each class. "

Read the full "Open Letter" here:

http://www.ihra.com/article/3597.html

[mcaruso]

Here's the problem I see.....A person could potentially NEVER support a divisional event, win one national event & become the WORLD CHAMP! I don't see how that is good for the sport?!

They should ATLEAST implement something that states you have to attend a minimum divisional events within your division just like you have to attend a minimum to claim a division.

[BKSG1198]

I see what Marc is talking about. When you think about it most NHRA D-1 Super Class guys only run maybe 1 or 2 IHRA races. Epping, Budds Creek and Maybe Pittsburgh depending on when they fall in the schedule compared to NHRA races. So you get an NHRA guy who might just be bored sitting around the house cause there is no races that weekend and say "Heck, I'm going to Budds Creek". He goes to Budds Creek and wins the race and is able to win the world championship. To me something just does not add up for that. I mean you still have to go to Rockingham if you qualify but you race 2 races and can win the world championship. To me where is the loyality to IHRA and the racers who go to all their races. You get someone who supports IHRA 100% goes to 10-15 races per year and maybe dosen't have the best car at all the races but dosen't win a race and he get's kicked out but someone who maybe runs 1 race gets into the world championship hunt. Oh well, I'll just stick to local MASGA races and local NHRA events thats enough for me.

[Eddie Arnold Jr.]

Hey Guys and Gals

Love IHRA or hate it but these are some very sobering facts !!

"The question they must ask themselves is how good is the current points system when just 47 out of nearly 2,000 racers max their claims? How good is the current points system when only 5 gold card holders (free entry) could afford to go to 5 or more races? "

You have to give them credit for doing something ,,,, and with the way the economy is going / forcasted
sales etc.....for 2009 it may be worst next year with even less racers having the $$ to particpate !!

Just my 2 cents
Colorful Racer

[Jason Oldfield]

I agree Eddie. I personally am not a big fan of the existing points structure. As it stands now, "you MUST attend 4 in division events to qualify for any season ending points championship or award program" (as per the rulebook). From there, it's the same as NHRA, best 3 of 5 nationals, and 5 of 8 divisionals. But, how many of us actually have the money to maximize our chances by attending 13 races, let alone hit the minimum 8?

Granted, I'd like to be able to one day say that I was world champ, but unless I win a couple of those national events, that's a losing proposition from a money standpoint, unless I lived in NC ("Yippee, look how dumb I am...I'm the IHRA world champ, and in the end after you subtract my winnings it only cost me about 10 grand to be able to say that!") Now granted, none of us are doing this for the money, but at some point you have to say enough is enough (unless you're independently wealthy, which unfortunately, I am not).

So, from that standpoint, I like the change. But, that said, I'm not really fond of the "win and you're in" philosophy. How about reduce the number of races that you can claim points at? Rather than best 3 of 5 and 5 of 8, how about best 1 of 3 and 3 of 5? With some double and triple events like last year, most racers wouldn't need to travel but more than two or three times (I could have gone to Pittsburgh and Skyview, 12 hours of total round trip road time, and had 1 national and 3 divisional races to my credit).

If IHRA is really enamored with the run-off at the end of the year idea, have all the division winners go to Rockingham and run off for the championship (I personally don't think that the guy that finished 2nd in their respective division should be able to be world champ, so I would not include them in the runoff). The other problem I have with the Rockingham runoff is the travel cost associated with it. For a lot of racers, it would cost more for them to travel to Rockingham than to meet their best 1 of 3 and 3 of 5 race quota. And this change is supposed to be about saving money, right? Though, I'm sure everyone that was in the title hunt would find their way there, one way or the other.

So, I applaud IHRA for making a change, but I'm not sure this is the change I would have made (and with that, I will stop writing before I start getting more hate mail).

[R&S Motorsports]

Originally Posted by BKSG1198

I see what Marc is talking about. When you think about it most NHRA D-1 Super Class guys only run maybe 1 or 2 IHRA races. Epping, Budds Creek and Maybe Pittsburgh depending on when they fall in the schedule compared to NHRA races. So you get an NHRA guy who might just be bored sitting around the house cause there is no races that weekend and say "Heck, I'm going to Budds Creek". He goes to Budds Creek and wins the race and is able to win the world championship. To me something just does not add up for that. I mean you still have to go to Rockingham if you qualify but you race 2 races and can win the world championship. To me where is the loyality to IHRA and the racers who go to all their races. You get someone who supports IHRA 100% goes to 10-15 races per year and maybe dosen't have the best car at all the races but dosen't win a race and he get's kicked out but someone who maybe runs 1 race gets into the world championship hunt. Oh well, I'll just stick to local MASGA races and local NHRA events thats enough for me.

If you notice at the very end of the letter it states that less than a dozen racers contacted IHRA regarding this matter personally I was never notified other than the rumor mill. I feel that they should have contacted the racers for input on this... I don't necessarily disagree with parts of this but I do very strongly agree with what Marc and SG1198 said There should have been a minimum divisional requirement in order to qualify for the race perhaps must be in the top ten in divisional standing or something. I don't understand how it is fair to win the national championship and take the money and pride by winning only one race than the run off.. But it is what it is I guess if we don't like it there is always another rodeo in town.

[Fowler Racing]

I could not agree with Marc more. There needs to be a minimum Divisional requirement. I doubt that it would ever happen, but even the possibility of a person going to 2 National races and being a World Champion should never be on the board. Other than that, the change was probably needed. Getting more input from the racers that travel the circuit all the time would have provided more insight. I did get a survey type email from Scooter, but this subject was not addressed. We still have a place to race and that is the important point. I feel sure this will get tweeked as it moves forward.

[THE LEGEND]

Everyone is complaining about the win1 and could be the champ deal. Everybody has that option. This is the most level playing field ever offered.
I finished 10th in HR last year and only went to 3 nationals. I missed the summit shootout by less than a rd. If I could've went to more nationals I might have finished higher. Who knows. I did win a national and would've been in the shootout. I also finished 3rd in div 2 in SR and would've been in the shootout with that car also. WOULDA COULDA SHOULDA.
I did'nt like the format when I heard the rumors. The more I think about it the more I like it. I can't wait for 2009.
Chip Johnson
HR10
SR23

[mcaruso]

Chip- Don't get me wrong. I to believe there was a need for a change based on the currnt state of the economy.

However, I just think like Greg said it needs a little tweak to eliminate the POSIBILITY that someone could POSSIBLY not support there division & by attending one national, win and get the opportunity to be the world champ.

Just my $.02, for whatever that's worth -probaly not much in this econmy

[GaryGoFast]

Originally Posted by mcaruso

Chip- Don't get me wrong. I to believe there was a need for a change based on the currnt state of the economy.

However, I just think like Greg said it needs a little tweak to eliminate the POSIBILITY that someone could POSSIBLY not support there division & by attending one national, win and get the opportunity to be the world champ.

Just my $.02, for whatever that's worth -probaly not much in this econmy

This format would entice me to schedule at least 1 IHRA race minimum next year, If the format is still 2 Divisionals in 1 weekend, I have double shot at getting in the hunt. Epping isnt doable if they keep stacking it on Etown D1 race but I'd do MIR if I had to do at least 1 Nat to qualify.
More racing, less miles, still great competition, the hot setup.