2008 SportsNationals Racer Input
 

With a new year comes some new ideas for the 2008 JEGS.com Cajun SportsNationals, and I would like some input from other racers. Last year, we ran a free Stock/Super Stock CIC no-breakout index race on Thursday. From the way it was run, I was able to gather enough data to present my 2008 ideas to NHRA.

We are proposing a change in the 2008 format that would give the spectators a chance to see ?first to the finish line wins? on Saturday. I have suggested that on Thursday, we hold a test-n-tune and contest the King of the Bayou for the super categories that afternoon. I would like to see stock & super stock get two qualifying hits on Friday morning, then go into class eliminations Friday afternoon (except for SS/AH running on Saturday).

On Saturday, we would random pair all of the class winners to participate in a no-breakout (no-AHFS) index race, with CIC for each driver running faster than 1.00 under his/her index. This would allow our 10,000+ fans an opportunity to see no-breakout door-slammer drag racing. Stock & super stock would be combined on a sportsman ladder when 8 or fewer cars remain. NPR will pay the winner $1,000; runner-up $500; semi?s $250. Jeff Teuton of Southland Dodge has sent me the money to double the purses, and he will add a 50% bonus to all Mopar money winners. Other sponsors are sure to join in for the race.

Racers arriving Saturday would be allowed 1 qualifying time trial, but class winners will be determined on Friday. As in the past, NPR will provide a free CLASS WINNER tee shirt for stock & super stock class champions.

For the past 4 years, NPR has found sponsors to cover our ?King of the Bayou? purse for the best package during time trials in Super Street, Super Gas, and Super Comp. The best package in each category received $500 cash, and the three winners were given one more chance at their respective index for a bonus $500. The result was that two of the racers walked away with $500 and one received $1,000, BEFORE 1ST ROUND! Jeff Teuton of Southland Dodge in Houma, Louisiana is sponsoring the 2008 $1,000 winner purse. Laris Insurance Agency (Ross & Big Rudy) will sponsor Super Gas, and David Boudreaux of Boudreaux?s Automotive will sponsor Super Street.

Please address your private comments to me at patjoffrion@hotmail.com or I can usually be reached on my cell at (985) 665-7145.

Pat Joffrion
No Problem Raceway Park
6470 Hwy 996
Belle Rose, LA 70341
(985) 369-3692 ? track office

Re: 2008 SportsNationals Racer Input
 

Hi Pat! Happy holidays!

My only input would be to change the date to AFTER April 15! ;-)

Re: 2008 SportsNationals Racer Input
 

Pat, We would hope to contact you about having TOP/STK this year. It would pay itself out of entry and provide a GREAT heads up Stock race. Div 1, 3 and 2 cars are heading your way and could make a good field. Please contact me Dick Butler 937-623-8126. Woodro and Alan Roerich can fill you in also....
TOP/SS would be great if enough cars are ready.

Re: 2008 SportsNationals Racer Input
 

Pat,
Can you come up north and show the dimwits in columbus how a race should be run??

Re: 2008 SportsNationals Racer Input
 

Pat:

It will be hard for a lot of racers to understand why this race was put on top of an IHRA National event in San Antonio.No doubt it will affect the car counts at both races. Your race is farther south for MOST racers, so driving time and fuel costs could sway racers to go to San Antonio, or they could skip both races, who knows. Obviously you have a great facility and we have a awesome time racing there, but San Antonio is a very entertaining city also. Hopefully the peeing contest between both sanctioning bodies will eventually pass and both races can enjoy the full benefit of having a race on seperate weekends.

Bigshot

Re: 2008 SportsNationals Racer Input
 

isn't the IHRA race 1/8 mile? if so I doubt the SprotsNationals will be the reason for the low car count

Re: 2008 SportsNationals Racer Input
 

It was IHRA that made the mistake of not checking with Pat when they put their 1/8 mile San Antonio race on top of his highly successful Sportsnationals. Birdshot can only hope IHRA is smarter when they start looking at their 2009 schedule.

Re: 2008 SportsNationals Racer Input
 

Correct me if I was wrong, but the official IHRA national event schedule was out long before the Sportsnationals date was out. By the way why did Pat change the date from last year? San Antonio is a 1/4 mile race, last year they had a major track issue during the race and the track was repaired but IHRA and the owner felt it would be safer to run the event 1/8 mile instead of calling the race off.

Bigshot

Re: 2008 SportsNationals Racer Input
 

If you go back and look at the last three years, San Antonio was run in March up against the Memphis Divisional. The Cajun Sportsnationals was run in April for 2005, 2006, 2007. Now explain why you think that Pat and the NHRA put their race on top of the IHRA Nationals in San Antonio. Sounds like it was just the opposite to me. Seems like someone didn't like the March date that they had been running on and moved it to a better weather date to me.

Big tire belong on the back !!

Re: 2008 SportsNationals Racer Input
 

Sluggo

You ought to check the dates in April. They were never the first weekend in April. NHRA changed the date on Memphis and they plugged in Belle Rose. Sounds like to me NHRA didn't like the weather in Tennessee in March/April. Calling the kettle black?

Bigshot