My eyes opened up a bit after the gatornationals on how nhra treats sportsman racers.
We ran the divisional and parked for the week to race the gators.Towards the middle of the week the pros and vendors where starting to set up and my crew chief and I watched and realized what a massive undertaking it is to set up for one of these shows.Not only for the pros but the nhra and track staff as well.
Then we heard the announcement that the gators where going to be postponed due to the virus BUT they where going to allow the sportsman racers to finish our race.They gave us one day to get it done and it went smooth with most finals over by 5pm.
Nhra could have easily sent us packing and rescheduled the race knowing a lot of us came from 1000 plus miles away...but they took care of us and allowed us to get the race completed.They didn't allow spectators in nhra most likely incurring a major loss financially.

PARKING!!
We where some of the first racers in the gate and track officials made us park in what I considered and undesireable spot,loaded with fire ants.My crew chief and i where even more angry after we saw people coming in much later getting better spots.
But after we saw the massive undertaking it was for nhra to put this thing together,along with a facility that is only so big,we started to get it.
In the end we actually came to like our spot and just made it work...and the fire ants really weren't that bad of neighbors.
GRADE POINTS
Last year we made the choice to travel and acquired 9 grade points.It was a ton of work and very expensive.I made this decision knowing ther where descent series at nearby tracks which we could have ran far easier.
I think the grade point system makes sense knowing I put a huge effort into traveling so someone with 8 grade points should be allowed earlier entry than someone with 2 grade points.The argument dosent work that divisionals are not close to me.Our closest was 5 hours the rest being 9 to 24 hours away.

I think nhra does an overall great job especially knowing racers are difficult to please...just a final case in point we had a local td/ts race that was 1 to 3 hours away from everyone local here.It paid 10.000 to win and was 5 rounds total.Everyone complained and complained and complained about anything and everything.Then certain teams refused to show and the series collapsed.So no matter what is done or paid..everyone complains.

Very well written and I agree 100%. It is my choice to run the NHRA events and if not happy no one is forcing me to be there. I am there to race my car and always try and stay positive and have a good time no matter what the situation. After all isn't that why we race?

sadly too many just like to ***** no matter the promoter or the event.. well said and i completely agree with yall

Nice look with open, fresh eyes.

I have often wondered why people race at the national events. Sacrafice half a week at work, travel, enter a race that doesn't pay worth a hoot, hassle with contingencies, take a back seat all weekend to the show, all to complete 1 race. But then I realized, some people have more time or are retired, some don't like hustling from round to quick round, money isn't the only driver for many racers, and being around a diverse group of racers who are usually well invested in the sport can be pretty fun! Plus, some folks are so busy at home, taking 5 days away from the duties of home to concentrate just on what you love can be a real vacation of sorts.

I have also seen in recent years, bracket racers saying they can't afford or wouldn't take their car out for a $1000 to win race. Or that there isn't good competition at the local races. I don't know when traveling more, spending more to enter, and getting less in the way of round money for the long shot at a big payout became a better financial decision. Or when good financial sense had ANY role in drag racing lol.

My point being, there are different flavors of ice cream for a reason. Trends come and go, but everyone likes something different. And that something often changes at different point in one's racing career. Just like Jevanet's different perspective watching the NHRA folks getting ready for a national event. It's sometimes good to talk a walk in someone else's shoes and see what the scenery looks like.

We have been away from racing for a few years, and when we decided to make a return, now that we have the time, money and equipment, we looked at NHRA divisional s and Nationals only. Yes there are other series with higher payouts, and we may look at attending a few of those as well as time and $$ permits. For us NHRA has always been the big show, It is more about the friendships we created years ago with others still racing and making new ones along the way. We look at it as a weekend or in some cases a week long camping trip with friends where we take the race car and make a few passes.

I am just curious as to what the NHRA National event format will look like.I posted that question a few weeks back,and people probably took it as bashing,but it was a serious question.

First,I am wondering about the size of the Pro fields.Most every team was relying on some sort of corporate backing or sponsorship.This is going to be EXTREMELY difficult, if not impossible to get out of many companies right now.
The Lucas Oil Series are very well attended events across a broad area of the country.Sportsman racers are also affected greatly,but there is a much larger pool of racers to draw from to compete.
I can see a Lucas Oil race almost having the Pro cars instead of vice versa.
Will grading points be that much of an issue?I think it will come to a point where anybody that can and wants to come to an event will be welcome.
I have raced at National events and bracket races and I will say this:

There is no feeling in the World that compares to winning a National event vs a bracket race.

I hope all types of drag racing survive,but I think there are some folks in certain parts of the country that are not 100% aware of the seriousness of the financial crisis that we are currently in.

I'm still planning on racing,but no friggin way will I be traveling to try and get 8 or more grading points!

Jenavet, great post. I thought it was a "class act" by NHRA to allow the sportsman racers to stay and race on Friday. Give NHRA credit when credit is due!

I am at the age where I am going to race where I enjoy it the most. the thoughts of big money bracket races personally does not appeal to me. I enjoy nhra racing so that is where I want to waste my money. I ran a pdra race last year at darlington. was down to 6 cars in the bracket race. it was 1am. I had been ready for bed for 4 hours. so the big brackets where they race til all hours of the night is not my cup of tea. those that enjoy the thrill of chasing big $ purses and racing all night, have fun and good luck to you. I hope you win them all. as for me I will do what I like as well.

ep-well said OP

quote:

Originally posted by pauley:
I am at the age where I am going to race where I enjoy it the most. the thoughts of big money bracket races personally does not appeal to me. I enjoy nhra racing so that is where I want to waste my money. I ran a pdra race last year at darlington. was down to 6 cars in the bracket race. it was 1am. I had been ready for bed for 4 hours. so the big brackets where they race til all hours of the night is not my cup of tea. those that enjoy the thrill of chasing big $ purses and racing all night, have fun and good luck to you. I hope you win them all. as for me I will do what I like as well.

ep-well said OP

I hesitate to ever say that because I end up sounding like an old man. But by some hour, it's just a marathon and it has lost its fun for me. I'm too tired to perform my best and the youngsters are still rippin.

It is not just NHRA but same thing with local tracks. They work hard to give us a good place to race and some people do nothing but complain. With that said it is a business and when one track treats us better, has better payout, cleaner restrooms then those are where we choose to give our business to.

I do not like to complain too much about NHRA or tracks but it sure seems like NHRA is going out of their way to run off spectators, sponsors and racers.

I was thoroughly confused when I saw all the complaining on Facebook that day about finishing the Sportsman classes. Things like "Shows how much the NHRA cares about Sportsman racers" etc. I guess people would have rather put their cars away and drove 12 hours home. Actually, the people that were complaining weren't there and are probably just conditioned to complain about any and all decisions made by NHRA.

quote:

Originally posted by Bucky:

I have also seen in recent years, bracket racers saying they can't afford or wouldn't take their car out for a $1000 to win race.

I've often wondered how finishing out of the money at a big $$$ race differs financially from finishing out of the money in a local low-$$$ Summit Series bracket race.

(HINT - there's no difference)

With one round of buybacks, even a race that pays round money beginning with a 3rd round win only pays money to 25% of entrants. 50% are gone after 2nd round, and half the remainder (another 25%) are gone after 3rd round.

The best financial deal going in racing is your local track's weekly bracket series with low entry fees.

quote:

Originally posted by SlyFox:

I've often wondered how finishing out of the money at a big $$$ race differs financially from finishing out of the money in a local low-$$$ Summit Series bracket race.

(HINT - there's no difference)

With one round of buybacks, even a race that pays round money beginning with a 3rd round win only pays money to 25% of entrants. 50% are gone after 2nd round, and half the remainder (another 25%) are gone after 3rd round.

The best financial deal going in racing is your local track's weekly bracket series with low entry fees.

The difference to me would be the amount spent to get there and entry difference. So I believe there is.

Your last statement is absolutely true. Plus it helps in keeping us a place to race close to home.

Great post Mr Kalin......well put. Sometimes you have to keep things in check and look at the big picture......Hard to please everyone..........................Howie

Very well done!

Larry, nhra really went to bat for the sportsman racer to convince the governor’s office to let the sportsman racers run

I agree with Freddie. It's about the friendships and a camping trip with a side of racing!

I have been racing for over 30 years. I have chased points locally, chased some of the big money footbrake races with good success. In 2010, I wanted to try something different and started running some throttle stop races. It was a new challenge, a chance to meet a new group of racers, and try a new kind of competition. I have won a few Ironmen, now I want a Wally!

And now, with the cancellation of the Atlanta event, NHRA has announced that the Sportsman portion of that event will run at the rescheduled Gators along with the pros.

Probably financially motivated but still looks like a rare move made to actually accommodate sportsman racers.

quote:

Originally posted by Lenny5160:
And now, with the cancellation of the Atlanta event, NHRA has announced that the Sportsman portion of that event will run at the rescheduled Gators along with the pros.

Probably financially motivated but still looks like a rare move made to actually accommodate sportsman racers.

First I've seen that they are running the Atlanta sportsman at the rescheduled Gators. Other than racing in Florida in June, that seems like a fantastic idea! Good on NHRA for at least trying to look out for their sportsman racers.

thanks michael for keeping my head straight

2020 is going to be very challenging for the NHRA it's affiliated tracks and it's competitors with all the event cancellations. We ALL need to help them or we will ALL suffer. Conducting a Lucas Oil Divisional or a Mello Yello National event is a major undertaking and not for the faint of heart. When these Series return (and they will) those folks will need all the help we can muster to support them.

Don't think that the NHRA is invincible and can survive any calamity, they are just like any business in America today. Give this a thought, if they went out of business think about the consequences, no really think about it!

Bob