NHRA Stikes Again................
 

In their infinite wisdom NHRA has struck again……………………….
The race at Las Vegas 2 includes class runs for Stock & Super Stock…..
However the brain trusts at NHRA have set a quota limit of 75 cars in each eliminator….
Stock Eliminator is at 77 cars and the quota was filled at 4 grade points……
Our closest Class Eliminator race besides this one is Denver, which is a 1200 mile 1 way tow…..
NHRA just gives lip service to the Sportsman Racer and no support…..
If NHRA cared about us they would support us and not discourage us from racing…
Stock Eliminator covers 66 different classes & Super Stock has 110 different and diverse classes…………With a quota of 75 how does this work???????
Could anybody explain to me how HNRA supports the class racer with quotas that prohibit HEADS UP CLASS ELIMNATOR racing…….
Why would NHRA put on a race for class type racers and NOT have a high enough quota to allow racers, who support NHRA with their $$$$$$, a place to race??????
I just don’t get it……
But again I forgot that we are just filler for the PRO show…….
But there is a bright side…….
With the PRO’s dropping like flies we might end up with all they have got????????????
It might become a brave new world with Stock & Super Stock as the stars as we once were…….
It could happen or we will just watch as NHRA self-destructs under its own weight and stupidity......................
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Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

While I am not one of the NHRA bashers, I really do enjoy racing NHRA events, and have never been treated anything other than fairly by NHRA at the races, the whole quota issue is a very very hard thing to take. It is so frustrating to see national events with a quota of only 65 cars. And the fact that we run early, means the field is usually already cut in half before the first Professional car even makes a qual and the spectators are few and far between.

I'm in this boat right now. On the outside looking in for the Keystones at Maple grove, with 3 grade points. My absolute favorite race, at my favorite track, an easy tow from me, and I'm not in. Meanwhile, the grove has enough parking in the back field for many more cars. Guys, we're dying to give you our $300+, please take it !!!

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

Bob, You know the deal..
Now you have to go to more points meets...Many, many more.
Imagine that!



(Outside, looking in, ..at our local Stock Class race)

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

I think the quota should definitely be higher when class is being run. Carolina only took 55 super stockers and ran class. The stick shift combo had one racer. Keystone Nationals at Maple Grove is only taking 70 stockers with class runoffs and in this northeast division they could easily get 100+ stockers. It filled at 5 grade points.

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

The working guy is all but out, especially in stock eliminator, it may very well take a grade 5 to enter the world finals.The working sportsman who supports the NHRA and the manufactures, engine builders, and speed shops are asked to take in some cases to take four days off to go to a points race and five of them at that, they use their vacation,sick days and even worse may lose their jobs.

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

My issue is one of fairness to the racers.........................

Kevin who lives in PA has 7 count them 7 National Events that run class that are closer then the Denver Race..............................

In Division 6 or 7 Las Vegas is the ONLY race that is close enough to race class at...............................

With a quota of 75 cars, most of the Class racers have no place to compete..........

It didn't start out that way, but this is the new NHRA that's dedicated to money and not safety or the racers...........

I love racing NHRA, it's the Big Show.....

But I am not sure that NHRA loves me back........

Back in the day we had a saying "I love the f**king Navy and the Navy loves f**king me"

Just substitute NHRA for Navy and you will understand.........

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

And what happens when all of racers do what NHRA wants, which is to go to 8 divisional races??????????????????????

With a quota of 75 you still can't in........

I try not to bash NHRA, but it is a love hate dysfunctional relationship....

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

Always been an NHRA guy too, but it appears to be run by a bunch of suits that have nice pads up in The Foothills.

A very wise , retired racer once told a group of us..."If you think it's bad now, just wait until Wally passes away"

I don't think there is much that can be done about this..Just remember the good times
.
..And whatever you do, don't ever think about why NHRA was formed, and by whom.
You'll have an uncontrollable shudder come over you.

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

I cant imagine driving 1200 miles to race.
When the New York sports teams go bad for a decade and the owners raise ticket prices, the fans threaten to stop attending and stop watching it on TV. If they did, the owners would be in trouble. But they always attend and they always watch. They just can`t help themselves.
I don't think sportsman racers have the same juice with NHRA.
I could see a consolidation in our sport at National Events
Reduce sportsman cars and shorten the event
Spectators don`t watch them anyway
Could FS/X and FS/XX replace S/SS?
TS and TD replace all the Super classes?
Pro Mod on the menu fulltime?
Giants and Mets already won. I'm just bored and rambling

Mike A114
P/SA

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

What are grade points? I'm a newbie

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

You earn a grade point for attending a Divisional
Grade points are used to determine who will attend National Events
With quotas and all...
It took 4 for this years` Keystones, I read in this post

Mike A114
P/SA

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

Mike - Stock at Keystones closed out at 5 grade points.

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

That is outrageous! When did they start doing that?

Actually, out of the 10 times class was run in stock this year, Las Vegas 2 has the third highest quota (75) behind the Gators (85) and Brainerd (80), excluding Indy and BG.

The quota in stock at Las Vegas 1 was only 70.

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

Thanks Bob
I assumed 4 after reading that a racer with 3 couldn`t get in.
5 is a serious commitment
Are you going?

Mike A114
P/SA

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

I should add, a World Champion is exempt from the grade point system
Peter Biondo has won 7, in different eliminators
He doesn't have to go to Divisional races to enter National Events.

Mike A114
P/SA

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

Tell me again, why its a good idea to sink thousands into building an NHRA legal car?

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

Because ihra is dead

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

Has any one thought of putting a group of guys ,each representing all divisions and going to Glendora,and voice this decision ,or is that a waste of time as in they will not listen,its a idea

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

Quoted for truth!

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

Not sore if the SRA still exists but I think you are butting your head up against a wall Dounds great but no I think they just say we (Nhra) will take it under advisement but that's as far as it's going to go. FED 387

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

NHRA, like most big business, is probably run by lawyers and accountants,
They are operating a business and are looking to profit.
What should we say to Glendora?
We don`t seem to have much juice...
But, I`m for finding a rep.from D1.
Mike A114
P/SA

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

IHRA isn't dead, might be on life support but it's not dead. For those who enjoy racing and the atmosphere, IHRA is perfectly fine. And it won't cost and arm and half a leg to enter and the payouts are pretty close. Has a lot to do with location, being in NC, I'm surrounded by just as many IHRA tracks as NHRA.

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

What really surprises me is that it's not like
Vegas is short of pit space. At many tracks
this is a big issue but not there for sure.

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

Ask Jeff Teuton how this worked out several years ago?:mad:

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

Unfortunately people that want to race at national events are going to have to go more points races. It's a bad deal that NHRA has come up with. They care nothing about sportsman racers, but they are also trying to keep there own deal from dying as well.

Maybe they need to put aside s race with no AFHS and run class at it. Give out Wally trophies. 1 per division, then keep Indy the big race.

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

Actually it is a listed not for profit organization. 501c(6) I believe.

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

[QUOTE=Kevin Panzino;515196]Actually it is a listed not for profit organization. 501c(6) I believe.[/QUOTE
Thanks Kevin,
I am surprised to learn that...
What is their cause?

Mike A114
P/SA

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

Actually NHRA has not been a "not for profit" organization for many years. Everyone thinks it is but it is not. It is also self insured. Jim


.

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

just fwiw, brainerd,mn from Morrison,colorado is 960 miles.....is there anything farther in div 5?

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

NHRA has been steadily reducing the number of sportsman racers at the national event level for the past 5-6 years. I am not sure what level they want to get the final number down to. I am only able to go to 1 or two national events per year due to my work schedule so I guess that means I probably wont be able to get in from here on. I don't know the underlying reasoning for reducing the sportsman competitors. By the looks of the recent event car counts stock and super stock have been filling up their quotas. The super categories, comp, gas have not been filling up at some of the events. It looks like they may be loosing some of their interest in the national events. Most of the super gas and comp guys are bracket racers as well. Top sportsman and Top Dragster number are down too. Comp eliminator is slowly dwindling in numbers. Comp does not have a quota for their class. NHRA should look at those numbers and see who is supporting the program and reward those classes with more entries. I also believe the racers in the home division should get the first chance to enter the nationals in their home division. Champion and other provisional entries should never be counted against the quota no matter when the actually enter. Just my .02

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

I saw peter get RU. In stock at E town .Division1
Then win at Carolina in super stock. So to me he races in Division1at times.

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

Latest tax return I found was 2014, and it sure was a non-profit 501c at that time. Did it change in 2015?\

http://pdfs.citizenaudit.org/2016_02...90O_201412.pdf

https://projects.propublica.org/nonp...ions/951686172

Mike, their cause is listed as "To preserve and promote the sport of drag racing and improve safety in the sport"

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

No, I don't think it changed recently. I may be wrong about being a 501c but I'm sure I read about it a few years ago before they tried to sell the NHRA. Jim

.

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

Yes, but he doesn't have to.
He doesn't need grade points to enter National Events, because he is a past World Champ

Mike A114
P/SA

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

OK thanks mike for the info.

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

A little bit off the subject, but I have a time clock job, and can only run so many races. But sometimes i will wait till I get close to the actual race date, and it will be full. The thing I noticed this late in the season, are that most racers have topped out there points, because they are at the max for races that can add to the points. So when they attend, they cant get any more points. So what is the point in going. They go there because they like going to the races, and seeing there friends. The racers that can do this, are on a different level, than I am. It takes a lot of effort, to do this. And I don't believe I can do it, at that level. It is awesome from my perspective, the cars are awesome!

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

I'm all for it Todd .... Great idea !!!!!!!

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

Their tax status hasn't changed, they are a 501(c)(6) tax-exempt organization. Their tax returns, showing this, can be found all over the web.

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

NHRA is a 501c 6

Re: NHRA Stikes Again................
 

I don't know why, but I`m surprised that they are tax exempt...
I guess that could explain why there is no marketing push to put people in the seats at Divisionals
and I`m sticking with lawyers and accountants being in charge...lol

Mike A114
P/SA