Who Gets The Bye at National Opens?
 

Just got back from Bowling Green from the D3 National Open, what a great place to race.

But the conduct of the Stock portion of the race was a little confusing and I think we should have some published race procedures to help avoid confusion on who gets the bye if necessary.

National Opens are great for racers just starting or trying to get a combo sorted out and if you want so set a record have at it, no AHFS!

What prompted this post was the unpublished complete race procedure.
Published: No heads up first round random paring, very important to racer with a car still being sorted out. After first round racers will be laddered off of qualifying just like always at the NHRA races.

So to answer my question who gets the bye if necessary? The Race Director said it was announced that the best reaction time during our two qualifying runs, (please remember "two qualifying runs") would get the bye. Are we at a bracket race or at a performance race? I say its a performance race. #1 gets the bye.

So racer A gets the bye first round because of the best reaction time. The Race Director said they announced best reaction bye over the PA system. Does anyone hang on every word said over the PA system, I miss some stuff.

Round two Racer A gets the bye again based on performance, not off of the "two Qualifying Runs" (remember them) but off of furthest under Index in round one. If the race procedure is to not use Q1 and Q2, just have us go down the track with Pro ET. NHRA you don't have to weigh us.

Lets look at racer A round one. If he knew the rules for the round two bye, I don't know but other racers including myself did not. From what I see there is no down side to racers A bye run. He is not going to lose due to break out so go for it. It's kind of an unfair advantage. I can never remember round one being in the Q data unless it was first round of class.

So what is the answer: Have a race procedure published consistent with NHRA rules and follow it. Remember this is a performance based category

Re: Who Gets The Bye at National Opens?
 

Sounds to me like a rather unusual set of circumstances. The best reaction time in qualifying I agree with.
Then,he went farthest under for the next bye.
On one hand,nobody should be able to get two bye runs in a row like that.
On the other hand,maybe it should just be run like the National Open in Earlville. There was a qualifying sheet and there were heads up runs in all rounds.So this issue wasn't an issue at the Division 5 National Open this weekend.

Re: Who Gets The Bye at National Opens?
 

A qualifying sheet is generated. Wouldn’t it be easier to just pair us off the ladder for R1?

Why random pair R1 of Opens?

Re: Who Gets The Bye at National Opens?
 

Nick, some OPENS in previous years were notorious for racers entering the race, making a hit and then loading up for home. This resulted in MANY bye runs. That is why D3 runs random pair first rd. Accordingly, there is not a LADDER in the free world that would give a competitor 2 straight bye runs. Since racer A had the first bye, the DD should have given the 2nd bye to the number 2 qualifier. I think even DUMBO would agree to this reasoning …LOL. !!!!! Upon further review, to open another can of worms ….I concur with Larry Hill…ie….This is (was) a PERFORMANCE class and the number one qualifier of the race IMO should have gotten the initial bye run. However, if the announcer did state the requisite of the bye run on the PA …..then so be it ….

Re: Who Gets The Bye at National Opens?
 

Bingo!

Re: Who Gets The Bye at National Opens?
 

If any National Open was the way the Earlville National Open was,I doubt a lot of people would have left.
Entry was $100.Win ONE round and win $100.
Who would pass on a deal like that?

Re: Who Gets The Bye at National Opens?
 

The HEMI guys ….

Re: Who Gets The Bye at National Opens?
 

Did anyone at Bowling Green hear an announcement about how the byes would be determined?

Re: Who Gets The Bye at National Opens?
 

I did not. Heard who received the 1st rd byes but never heard how they would be determined.

Re: Who Gets The Bye at National Opens?
 

Since this is a problem looking for a solution,I'll offer another.
If so many people just want a grading point and then they leave anyways,just run the Division 3 National Opens like a bracket race with no heads up.No ladder.Bye to the best reaction time.No multiple byes unless everyone left already had one.And also have buybacks.lol.

Re: Who Gets The Bye at National Opens?
 

Number one qualifier.

Re: Who Gets The Bye at National Opens?
 

No heads up and buybacks, I'm just getting overwhelmed by your ideas, I hope you're just trying to stir the POT.

Re: Who Gets The Bye at National Opens?
 

First round Ladder determined by final Qualifying.

Re: Who Gets The Bye at National Opens?
 

No heads up and buybacks, I'm just getting overwhelmed by your ideas, I hope you're just trying to stir the POT.

If you think that's something...
Wait till they introduce the third round lottery!...

Re: Who Gets The Bye at National Opens?
 

There are 2 types of racing formats being used. Bracket style and class style. First round bye due to last car in line is fine. That car can not have a chance for a bye run until all cars still in have had a bye run.
Now class is from a ladder and #1 gets bye if odd number of cars. And when using ladder you can have lots of bye runs depending on ladder and car breakage.
So having both styles introduced a predetermined rule needs to be in written when the rules of eliminations were written for event.
If first round is #1 qualifier and he wins and gets second round bye then make it clear up front.
My opinion is #1 gets his bye run in second round and first round can be however you want. Random, or reaction time on last time run. Clear as mud.

Re: Who Gets The Bye at National Opens?
 

Jeff, If you think we have trouble getting people to the lanes noe, give the last car in line the bye run. Mike McMahan 2543 H/SA

Re: Who Gets The Bye at National Opens?
 

What do you have against heads up runs?

Re: Who Gets The Bye at National Opens?
 

I think the second round pairing works. I know why the random pairing negates heads up because of the potential jockeying for advantage. I don’t see any reason to cut heads up for the remainder of the race. It is easy to keep track and pair from there.