The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

In order to grow the class racing brand, the performance muscle-car show, one that performs on stock components, who else thinks we need to showcase class eliminations in front of a crowd? Heads-up, performance based, easy to understand, no dials/breakouts, just wheelies and first to the finish. The Thursday format at Maple Grove is not conducive to what we are trying to accomplish here. As recent as 2015 we always ran class on Friday at Etown and Maple Grove. We need eyes on us, then we have an angle/pitch to attract sponsors and increase contingency participation. We have a handful paying class contingency now and we are headed back in the right direction there but NHRA should give them their monies worth! We have to show NHRA that there is a rather large interest in watching our classes that they may not have known about years prior. I do think they are starting to notice as they are interviewing Stockers regularly on the starting line and posting way more videos. What say you?

https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net...0A&oe=62FFA5FA

https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net...eQ&oe=62FE3981

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

Absolutely, I am one of the few that leaves the stands when the Stock and Super Stockers are done with their session, and the Nitro cars start running! Since I mostly lived on the West Coast of Canada most of my life, until recently, I was only able to watch Class Eliminations a few times, at Pomona, Sonoma , Vegas, or Gainesville, the closest of which was over 1000 miles each way. In 1994, when I went to Gainesville, there were over 128 cars in each category, it was fantastic.

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

I'm sure this will go over like a lead balloon. Run the eliminator on Friday and Saturday. Run class eliminations on Sunday. What day is your biggest audience. Like I said lead balloon. Lol

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

Considering the overwhelming response to the heads-up A/SA race, Gray vs Shaul, may I suggest that at least some upper-class runoffs be included on final elimination day - even replacing the stock eliminator finals would be OK with me. Fans want to see heads-up races as it is exciting and simple to understand. Heads-up racing is the avenue for growth in Sportsman racing.

Ron B.

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

CLASS, CLASS, CLASS is what it is about anyway. We are not a bunch of Bracket Racers, although many guys running class are. Nothing wrong with that because they increase the fields and that's good, they really don't care anything about class. Most class racers are older guys who grew up in the performance car era and can relate to a 428 Mustang competing with a 427 Biscayne or a Road Runner. I thought those days were gone forever, wrong, I now own a Dodge Hellcat and the performance is incredible, the ride and handling are amazing and lot's of fun to drive.

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

ABSOLUTELY! Class runoffs and heads ups are why most of us chose these classes. If not we could just run brackets on weekends or one of the Super categories.

Indy for me is as "old school balls out heads up cool" as it gets. Every car is pushed up to the starting line, ice bags and dry ice and hoods popping open and shut all over the staging lanes as every racer tries to squeeze a few more thousandths of a second out of their car. Trying to become the Class legend by running fast or winning class or Qualifying in the top half of the field or just making the field. It is like Grumpy & Dick Landy spreading the gold dust rosin and doing dry hops. It's the coolest thing you ever seen.

That is why many of us run the class. I for one may never be able to run a true heads up class like Comp or Pro Stock or something but for one fleeting moment at any time during eliminations at any given race I may be able to pretend to be one of the "Big Dogs". It's what we all aspired to be when we first pulled up to a Stop light in our beater street cars with a new license in our wallet and a guy in the car next to us inched up and gave the nod.

Keep heads ups, class eliminations, and promote them NHRA!

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

There is no good answer for the class run offs. With the quota being so low at most national events there is only a few classes that have class runs. Everyone else ends up in the combos. Seems NHRA has decided that top dragster and top sportsman should run in the time slot that we would like to be in. over the past 20-30 years NHRA has added many different eliminator groups that were not part of NHRA. maybe there could be a rotation in the schedule at different events.

Super Gas, Super Comp and at some nationals Super street
Top Sportsman and top dragster
Pro Mod
Mountain Motor pro stock

Adding these groups has watered down the classes and taken time away that was once used for class eliminations.

As many of you know the class eliminations at the Gatornationals has been moved to the divisional race the weekend before the Gators. Not really a bad thing as there are more cars at the baby gators than the national.

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

I want to run against the fast guys heads up.

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

Mike is right, the current quotas have largely made it a combo deal which removes the thrill of having heads up runs. Granted, combos are competition and we’re all competitive (with the possible exception of 5 who’ve taken the poll) so Indy and the Baby Gators (plus possibly a very few others) are the only places that feature “true” class competition. I’m not sure the Nitro junkies who attend on Friday would understand a combo run any more than they do the .90 classes but any exposure is better than what we’re getting currently.

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

As much as I hate combos and have never stood a chance in them, they are easy to understand for the novice spectator because there is no breakout. They can actually be kind of fun to watch at that point.

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

The first question by said "novice spectator" Why are they letting off at 1000'? 9&10 second heads up races aren't exciting, even when we know what it takes to get these cars that fast.

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

OMG !! here we go again !! Bubski is like what?? Lets see !! there's a million different classes in Stock ,Super Stock !! Why !! No one knows for sure but its all fair and equitable !! How about STICKS and AUTOS run heads up !! How about cars with same index regardless of class run heads up !! the indexes are fair don't you know !! You cant run a class elimination type format if everyone is in a different class and there's no competition !! Due to car quotas or manipulating the "system" Its a joke being played on the racer !! After all Sticks and Autos and same indexes are run then it comes down to combo class for whatever that is !! Class should be heads up no BS till theres a winner !! not a manipulator !! who's F$@king the system and laughing at everyone else !! Bubski is tired of the woke AZZ BS and game playing !! YOUR stuff is BAD azz ?? run whoever is next to you with the same index !!

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

WHOA!..OK so I'll be the only one here that thinks the guy or gal who DRIVES their way through the whole field should have the spotlight on Sunday. I understand the class eliminations and heads-up runs are what makes our class unique, If we are going to throw the indexes up on the scoreboard and first one to the finish line is the winner, let me know cause I'm going to Oklahoma to buy that V6 Malibu.

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

You have to admit that Bubski is right about way too many classes. That's the first step that gets overlooked.

Al Corda

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

This thread just went into left field. Let's not argue about too many classes and quotas, we can start another thread for that. Read the original post and decide/vote if you think class runoffs should be on Friday at a national event. Thanks.

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

Good luck with that Bobby! Getting S/SS Racers to agree on anything is kinda like herding cats. Getting S/SS Racers to just answer to YES/NO is even harder.

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

I think the poll itself is giving you the answer. The posts might have gone off track, but a pretty good percentage is giving you what you wanted to know.
Hope you can work some magic with NHRA, I know you will try your best.

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

We miss the days when each class ran as a whole and then the next class would run. It's spotty to try and watch a pair or two of one class get interrupted by another and so forth and so on. Regarding time, it is certainly understandable why NHRA decided to just run us as we all pull up with our pair.

*Especially at Indy with the long run to the burnout from the lanes, it was exciting to watch (from inside your car) each pair go down in your class seeing who beat who.

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

Bobby it's a wonderful idea and one of the primary reasons we compete in Stk/SS for the thrill of a heads up victory. Unfortunately, I believe the Negaholics have it right in their belief that this will never happen. We are nothing but fodder for NHRA and haven't been since the days of Sox/Landy/Jenkins.

As much as the purists want to minimize the fact that we are just a more expensive form of bracket racing that is indeed what we are. When is the last time you headed to the lanes without shoe polish in the car.

If there ever was a time when a race was to feature class runoffs I think it would be made much more interesting if they talked about what makes an A/SA car an A/SA. Why is a 69 Big Block Camaro so awesome and how does it relate to the car they had "back in the day". Every person I've ever known had a Grandma or an Aunt that had a Duster at one point. If the announcer would discuss what it takes to make that lowly F/SA small block Mopar a real hot rod it would become more interesting.....for about 11 seconds....especially if it bends the rear license plate on the way out of the hole!!!

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

I'm a Stock Eliminator newbie but have raced alcohol dragsters since the late 80s. I've always loved heads up/first to the finish line racing. Running class eliminations on Friday could only help with the popularity.

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

Maybe we could help the announcer talk about our stockers. At National events and Points races if we racers tried to pair up same classes during the qualifying sessions it will be a comparison of the 350 Chevy, the 340 Mopar, and the Ford 351C in E/SA.
Think how much time that will save you looking up your competition on live timing. One of your competitors will be on the same time slip.

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

There you go, Larry, making sense again.

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

Bobby, class runoffs are the backbone of dragracing. YES have them of Friday. Move the All Star race to another location. I have gone to Indy 5 times and to have Thursday as a day for Stockers, and Friday for Super Stockers was the best not being in my racecar a Stocker could have.

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

John you forgot the Friday teardown of the Stockers and Saturday teardown for Super Stockers. It's all part of the Indy Experience. Plus Class Racer followers enjoy the "Live From The Teardown Barn" reporting.

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

To run class on Friday. Which part of the schedule needs adjusting? Some spectators still work on Fridays as well. Stock runs at 8:00 am.. Maybe a display area for our cars up front for those that can and want to. Let Reinhart do some morning walks with a mic and a camera. Bobby I enjoy your interviews. Send them to NHRA's broadcasting office.

Paul Haszlauer
7019 C/SA

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

Last year I asked for Super Stock class on Friday and they said not enough time but then they somewhat obliged by giving us a Q4 on Friday morning which I had never seen before.

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

Unlikely cause the announcers are usually encouraging the spectators to go to the pits to watch the nitro classes do their thrash and get autographs. The NHRA is selling their product to the general motorsport fan..They already have our money! LOL

Re: The Importance of Class Runoffs
 

Bobby-thanks for all that you are doing for class racing. I truly enjoy your interviews-keep them coming. For me, truly exciting class racing comes from the level of competition (and high car counts of class cars) at an event. Obviously, nothing rivals class at Indy. There are a good amount of die hard class racing fans spectating (many of them competitors) but the stands are certainly not jam-packed. I will say that I used to thoroughly enjoy "Hard Core Thursdays" at Nationals- can remember those at Gainesville, Vegas and maybe Charlotte. These were typically Sportsman only run days and not a lot of fans. But always great class racing when the quotas were larger. I have yet to compete at class at a Divisional but look forward to it. My thoughts are that as long as the quotas remain what they are (Indy being the exception) that strong class fields at Nationals will be hard to come by. Nothing more exciting than a 3 or 4 round class "get-down". Good luck with efforts to enhance exposure to class racing. I'm thinking that most of us will support this.