Pro Sportsman Racers

[Kevin Panzino]

I just am not a fan of the concept of a 'professional sportsman racer'. thats all.

I feel ideally sportsman classes are intended to be a hobby to us, not a source of livelihood. The very nature of having so many professional racers in the sportsman ranks makes it that much more difficult for hobby racers to compete in classes that are inteded for them. Thats just an unfortunate fact.

That being said, I am not suggesting anything can or should be done about it. The races are open for anyone to enter, and they should be.

And there is no class in the Professional categories aymore for anyone other than mega funded teams, or extremely wealthy folks, so I do understand that as well.

Finally, I do also agree with you folks, that the article was very poorly written.

[Ken Miele]

Originally Posted by Kevin Panzino

The very nature of having so many professional racers in the sportsman ranks makes it that much more difficult for hobby racers to compete in classes that are inteded for them. Thats just an unfortunate fact.

Kevin, with all due respect, how many so called pro sportsman racers do you think are out there. There are close 4000 sportsman racers competing on a national level this year. What would you say is the percentage of so called pro sportsman. I would say is less then a 1/2 percent, and I am being generous. How could anyone possible think that such few could be hurting our sport. And even if it was half of the racers competing, does it really matter? Everyone that races can hit there local track to stay sharp, they don't have to travel to be good.

They are racers just like all of us, there good at what they do, and it makes us better drivers. Hurt our sport, on the contrary, it brings it to the highest level possible.

[ChevyII]

I am curious to see what Fletch has to say about this one?

Dan, give us your spin on this one as I am always intrigued by your responses.

Mike

[voltdr]

I've been racing since the early 1970's. Back then you may have been able to make a case where anyone racing more often had a "much" greater chance of winning. Back then we didn't get RT's and interval times on our time slips. Most of what you learned was by "seat of the pants" feel. Now with index racing (no breakouts), most racers can cut a good light and run their index. No one one out $$$ you. You just have to pay attention to details, weather, track etc. That's what makes us better racers and makes it a fair place to race. We all remember about having to re-race to local racer (several times) until he wins. Most of those days are behind us.
Dan

[chevy620]

Hey guys I didn't just throw out a "problem" without solutions or at least some ideas for solutions.
The follow-up article will outline several ideas of ways that will offer Divisional racers a much more level playing field chance to actually have a chance at a national Championship without travelling all over the Country or having to have two or three cars to increase your chances of a payday.
The primary idea of this article is not to tear down people but to figure out and look for better ideas on increasing participation in NHRA and IHRA Sportsman categories.
The ideas I have are not new, at least I hope they aren't, but they have been run over by stacker trailers full of Sportsman cars so one driver can run three classes at a race. I know there is no rule against it because NHRA/IHRA needs every entry fee they can get. But does that make it the right way to approach it?

I do feel I am being pulled in two directions on this but the reasoning behind Editorials is to make people think and step back and see if an idea out of the ordinary might be a new way to approach things.

The new issue of ETDragRacing comes out the 22nd, the different ideas I have and those of others will be shared at that time.

Until then, you know how it works and if you are happy about the current program what I have to say about doesn't matter. I have participated in this sport at levels most of you cannot; as track owner, manager and having raced in every category but S/Stock I am not "blowing smoke" or "whining". I am concerned it is headed the wrong way; some agree and some don't... that is how Freedom works, we all have and get to express our opinion.

I think some of you will like the ideas I have about a true National Championship plan.

Thanks and good luck to you guys who are still racing this year,

Jok

[Ken Miele]

Jok,

I think you have missed the point, THERE IS NO PROBLEM. There is nothing to fix. There are close to 4000 racers competing this year, is that not enough for you.

Your turning racer against racer, and there is no need for it by creating something that is not there.

Your article, or should I say your opinion is not based on any facts. Its based on your perception that the sportsman is dying because of the very few racers that go to more races than most. There is no logic to your article, only an emotional response that some racers have an advantage.

You have a right to your opinion, and I do not have problem with you expressing your opinion. This is not personal, but I think you would agree when you write an article such as yours, other racers like myself will disagree strongly on forums such as these. We all can not write for magazines, and thankfully we have a place to express other opinions. Articles should be based on fact not perception if they are to have any credibility.

[Andrew Hill]

One of the things I love about drag racing is that anyone can win on any given day. Sure, the "professional sportsman" racers will win more often, but they have first round losses like anybody else. I don't think it's a big secret to anyone here that to become a better racer, you have to race as often as possible. I'd love to be able to race every weekend, or sometimes multiple times a weekend when bracket racing.

However, if we were doing any other kind of racing, circle track, road courses, where there were professional sportsmen, or touring sportsmen, or whatever you want to call it, racing in a class of normal sportsmen, they would win ALL of the time. Drag racing is much closer, thousandths of a second instead of seconds margins of victory. You never know who's going to win in stock of super stock when you're beginning the weekend.

Oh yeah, and it's even cooler when you beat somebody who wins often!

[pro7474]

Just how many true PRO/Sportsman racer are there? Just what does he consider a PRO/Sportsman Racer
Guys that do nothing else for a living but race and depend on the winnings and sponsorship to pay all the bills are they a true ProSportman?. Or does going to x amount of races a year make you a ProSportsman? Or does having more than 1 racecar make you a ProSportman? Does having a rig more than 75ft long make you a ProSportman?

I can only think of a couple that I would consider a True ProSportsman Dan Flechter, David Rampy, Michael Beard, Peter Biondo but he does have a family business

Chris Lamb

[Bernie Cunningham]

Chris L,
Ya forgot ya buddy, 'The Brad', Mr. Plourd.
Should we consider the Butner camp? He has another visible means of support though and goes to a lot of races. Same for some of these guys.

We have Bertozzi, Emmons, Adkinson, Hill, Cotten, Phillips, and all of the other retired ones that fall into the same category, Who else?

When I did it, life and time and cost's were a lot easier to deal with.

What most don't know is that the dream of doing this for a living is actually a living nightmare, I've been there and done that ! Ask Dan F and Mark F, lot's of stories !!

Today with the entry costs and diesel and all the travel time, it's that crazy !! Don't forget about the liability of just pulling out of the driveway.

Please give some respect for the guy that goes out there by himself with all of the equipment necessary to compete week in and week out with a class car, no less, and you'll understand why there are less than a handful doing it. Now that the contingency has decreased it only makes it worse! Times have changed people ??

Jok, do it now and then you can report the facts, give it a try eh ???

[Jeff Lee]

Originally Posted by chevy620

Hey guys I didn't just throw out a "problem" without solutions or at least some ideas for solutions.
The follow-up article will outline several ideas of ways that will offer Divisional racers a much more level playing field chance to actually have a chance at a national Championship without travelling all over the Country or having to have two or three cars to increase your chances of a payday.
The primary idea of this article is not to tear down people but to figure out and look for better ideas on increasing participation in NHRA and IHRA Sportsman categories.
The ideas I have are not new, at least I hope they aren't, but they have been run over by stacker trailers full of Sportsman cars so one driver can run three classes at a race. I know there is no rule against it because NHRA/IHRA needs every entry fee they can get. But does that make it the right way to approach it?

I do feel I am being pulled in two directions on this but the reasoning behind Editorials is to make people think and step back and see if an idea out of the ordinary might be a new way to approach things.

The new issue of ETDragRacing comes out the 22nd, the different ideas I have and those of others will be shared at that time.

Until then, you know how it works and if you are happy about the current program what I have to say about doesn't matter. I have participated in this sport at levels most of you cannot; as track owner, manager and having raced in every category but S/Stock I am not "blowing smoke" or "whining". I am concerned it is headed the wrong way; some agree and some don't... that is how Freedom works, we all have and get to express our opinion.

I think some of you will like the ideas I have about a true National Championship plan.

Thanks and good luck to you guys who are still racing this year,

Jok

I've always felt the problem with the "Touring Pro's" concept is not the racers but the foundation upon which they can race and pick the events where they obtained the most points and ad them to the points tally.
The fact they can run from one event to the other across the country, throw out the not so good and keep the best towards the championship is the real advantage. Those that do not have the lifestyle that allows them to race all year and be away from home / school / family (or whatever) can almost never succeed against the driver that has the ability to travel all year.
The non Pro Sportsman has a limited amount of races he / she can attend and if he wins half of them and looses half of them, it wont go well against the Pro Sportsman that can go to 3x as many races; when his average rounds won is exceedingly higher when you can throw away the races that you lost first or second round.
The solution? You claim a race as you enter it. Not after the fact. That goes against the allotted Divisional & National events your entitled to run towards the championship. I understand that was once the way it was done. Under this proposal hitting every race in the country is no longer an advantage (other than potential win money), and a non-touring sportsman is on equal footing against the Pro Sportsman.
Additionally, there should be points given to top qualifiers (top 10?) as well as national records set. That gives a reward for your efforts and could upset the balance at the end of the year. These are supposed to be "performance based classes" so reward those that do.
There, I've offered my opinion and possible solutions.