New Grade Point System
 

I propose a new grade point system which I believe benefits racers and NHRA

• All former World Champs and racers with 9+ grade points become Grade 0 and are guaranteed national event entry.

• Grade 0 opens the week after Grade 1. This is the Wednesday 5 days prior to the Monday deadline.

• Grades 8 to 1 entry schedule remains unchanged.

• Racers in 2 classes will have the option to combine their grade points in attempt to reach a 0 in order to guarantee themselves one entry or take their chances entering 2 classes with the grade points they have in each class.

• Racers would still have to run Divisionals and Opens to secure their grade points for the following year.

• To prevent Grade 9+ and former world champs from "forgetting" to enter during their 5 day window, they will have the ability to enter when Grade 8 opens, but will not be added to the list/quota until Grade 0 opens.

• Withdraw rules/deadlines remain unchanged. Grade point averages, hardship cases, etc. remain unchanged.

• This reduces the need for saving/selling entries and rewards a loyal NHRA customer base who indeed invested lots of money and time by traveling to many races. It keeps them from having to sit on their keyboards at 8AM PST time and hope they are the quickest at keying in credit card numbers.

Re: New Grade Point System
 

Racers being racers, you will see a lot of grade 9+ entries. The NHRA would have no way to plan for parking if they wait to enter.

One good change suggestion that someone brought up recently was to exclude the World Champions, etc. from the quota.

Re: New Grade Point System
 

Bobby, as always, another idea with merit. My question would be if we
assume the current entrants at Gainesville have 9 or more grade points,
that would be 35 entries. I believe that Gainesville would fill at least 50
entries besides 1/2 of the ones already entered. That would give us 85
entries for lows. I love it, but will NHRA? They then need parking for
4 classes x 15 extra entries, which there is room for in Gainesville,
albeit on the round track (bring lots of fuel). If anything of your efforts
get us 10, 15, or 20 more entries, we will have to promote you to
running for Governor Of New Jersey. I was going suggest President
Of The USA, but then I remembered that Ford thing, which I think
automatically disqualifies a person from the Oval Office.

J.R.

Re: New Grade Point System
 

the NHRA ain't going to change a damn thing about sportsman racing, not the grading system, not the quotas, not the payouts but they will increase the entry fees.:D

Re: New Grade Point System
 

Even though you’re probably right with your comments But
It doesn’t hurt anything to try and ask nhra about any suggestions
to better the sport as a whole.

Bobby has some great ideas and maybe it might help if the negative comments
are not posted on here.

Re: New Grade Point System
 

I am right and Bobby as well anyone else can post their opinion here as I have as well they can suggest whatever they want the NHRA to change BUT history as shown NOTHING will change that benefits the racer...grade point system, entry quotas nor payouts.

Re: New Grade Point System
 

I like your ideas Bobby, but I think it would be hard to get NHRA to accept for the exact reasons Daren stated.

I think the proposal NHRA might accept would be open up entries a week earlier ( not 3 hrs. Lol) for grade 9.

Re: New Grade Point System
 

I think that opening Grade 9s a week earlier than grade 8s has some merit. I want to thank Bobby for continually trying to promote our sport and coming up with ideas to improve it. Mike McMahan 2543 G/SA

Re: New Grade Point System
 

I have 11 grade points and couldn't get into the gator nats . All good ideas but change is needed at the top of the NHRA . Ed /660 chill out or switch to decaffeinated.

Re: New Grade Point System
 

Monday deadline has not changed so they will have the same amount of time as always. I do not see any difference. I will elaborate on the issue and address all your comments on Tuesday night so be sure to tune in!

Re: New Grade Point System
 

Ken, I'm chill, just expressing my opinion, my view like everyone else, I just speak the truth and the facts. Oh and I don't drink coffee but I do drink Tea, Hot Lipton 3 large cups a day.:D

Re: New Grade Point System
 

IMHO, it's an easy fix. No quota's. Anyone that want's to enter can, starting from grade 8 down. NHRA makes all the $$$ and then qualify 70, 80, 90, 100 whatever NHRA feels they need at that race with time and space. Then the AHFS will work quicker and it makes the classes more performance based like they used to be. Too bad it will never happen.



Bret Velde
2003 I/SA

Re: New Grade Point System
 

Right now, months before the race they know that they have 70 registered and possibly 5-10 more that will enter at the last minute. Imagine if that 5-10 became 30. Multiply that by the number of classes and they will have parking/ scheduling issues.

I think that the NHRA machine takes a lot more planning than most think.

Re: New Grade Point System
 

An upgrade to the system is needed. That way they can write into the program that any racer with a guaranteed entry would not count against the quotas. That would be a good place to start.

Re: New Grade Point System
 

How have we done it at Divisionals all this time?

Re: New Grade Point System
 

If you have no quota then there is no need for a grade point system at all. This leads to less participation at divisionals and opens will be even more pointless than they already are.

Re: New Grade Point System
 

NHRA's gross income has dropped by over 20% in the last decade. Their net income has surged and now at all time high's for profit. With the old adage that "LESS IS MORE" I believe NHRA will continue on its current business model path. It has put in place individuals that are numbers people that have never raced, not racing people who know numbers. Its somewhat comedic, since everywhere I look in the pits, PRO and especially sportsman, all I see are racers who know #'s lol. Although I do not agree with how they operate overall, I also do not foresee any divine intervention to increase payouts, increase quota's, increase manufacturer participation in the contingency program/manufacturers midway and/or create a better experience for sportsman racers. IF anyone was to question them and how they operate, they would simply point to their income statement. Wally ran it(NHRA) to zero and in some years even a negative. He believed in creating and experience for both the fan and the racer...those days are gone. IMHO

Just be happy they haven't figured out a way to stay in the black without us! LOL

NOTE: Someone here suggested to apply the next time an opening for a corporate position becomes available. To that, my opinion would be that anyone who poses a threat to the current hordes way of life, compensation or mindset would be dismissed as a viable candidate rather quickly.

Re: New Grade Point System
 

I think the big problem is, the Pit areas were not designed for everyone to drag in a 2 bedroom house with a 3 car garage.

Randy Wells
I/S 5628

Re: New Grade Point System
 

I understand. Okay, have a quota at each race at least 80 and then qualify whatever NHRA thinks they need for that race. It would still work. You would have partcipation at divisionals and opens and NHRA could really get a true car count at each race, as far as how many racers want to race that event. It could be done.



Bret Velde
2003 I/SA

Re: New Grade Point System
 

part of the problem as I see it is with the advent of Motorhomes and Stacker trailers you now have the equivalent of literally hundreds of Semi Trailer trucks attending every race. Now some guys still use 20=28 foot trailers and a suburban but MOST do not herein is where the problem begins---where to put everyone's 50-70 foot rig.

FED 387

Re: New Grade Point System
 

If you go to a qualified field for every race, there will be some racers that get tired of being bumped and will stop coming.

Re: New Grade Point System
 

Then maybe they need to pick another class or work on their combo. Just sayin.



Bret Velde
2003 I/SA

Re: New Grade Point System
 

I don't disagree. I was just pointing out that there would be some hurt feelings.

Re: New Grade Point System
 

this entire thread really is about hurt feelings ;)

Re: New Grade Point System
 

1320, I had enrolled you in a "Come Out Of Your Shell" public speaking
program. Upon further review, I have cancelled that program. What I
have done now is nominated you as a direct assistant to Tony Robbins,
to travel the globe and help Tony sell his new book, "The Power Of
Positive Thinking". At the end of this season, I will also be politicking
my Div. 1 friends to vote you in as Mr. Congeniality 2024. I can't guarantee
how you will do in these new ventures, I just have a feeling you'll have a
lot of eyes on you.

Thank You for your involvement,

J.R.

P.S.-What Part of the Truth and Facts don't I like? I like it ALL!!

Re: New Grade Point System
 

Just a thought how about alternating stock and superstock at popular races like Gainesville. Then you could allow 140 entrants and qualify 128.

Re: New Grade Point System
 

Bobby propose a new grade point system which he believe benefits racers and NHRA
All former World Champs and racers with 9+ grade points become Grade 0 and are guaranteed national event entry.
Grade 0 opens the week after Grade 1. This is the Wednesday 5 days prior to the Monday deadline.
Grades 8 to 1 entry schedule remains unchanged.
Racers in 2 classes will have the option to combine their grade points in attempt to reach a 0 in order to guarantee themselves one entry or take their chances entering 2 classes with the grade points they have in each class.
Racers would still have to run Divisionals and Opens to secure their grade points for the following year.
To prevent Grade 9+ and former world champs from "forgetting" to enter during their 5 day window, they will have the ability to enter when Grade 8 opens, but will not be added to the list/quota until Grade 0 opens.
Withdraw rules/deadlines remain unchanged. Grade point averages, hardship cases, etc. remain unchanged.
This reduces the need for saving/selling entries and rewards a loyal NHRA customer base who indeed invested lots of money and time by traveling to many races. It keeps them from having to sit on their keyboards at 8AM PST time and hope they are the quickest at keying in credit card numbers.



How could you/NHRA guaranteed national event entry to the current 150 plus racers with a 9+ grade and past world champs from the past 40-50 years, when NHRA has quotes of 60ish cars per class now? If NHRA did this that 150ish at 9+ currently number would jump to over 350 racers trying to get to a 9+ grade points to guarantee entry at all nationals. First off that is not even realistic idea. Its already a blood bath trying to enter now and NHRA love's it.

I'm not seeing it. Now racers are going to haft to enter more worthless points meet and terrible paying national opens to get 9 grade points instead of 8. Great if you live in D1 or D2 where you can pick up a ton of worthless national open grade points cheep, but for the rest of the world its a joke.

But I still don't see how this does anything to fix the real problem of guys saving/selling spots to friends/racers with low to mid level grade points?
That's the main issue with the system and has been for around ten plus years or so, when people first started to figure out how to scam the system. We see it all the time when racers with 6,7 and even 8 grade points get blocked or locked out of race's while someone with a lower total gets in due to spot holding.
A guy in D6 with 8 grade points or a past world champ can save a spot for a buddy for a race that's a crossed the country that he had no intension of racing at with zero penalty (there is a racer who does this at events east of the Mississippi river every year the past 3-4 years can anyone guy who it is?). I'm not mad at these people doing this. I think its pretty funny at times watching people beg for spots on class racer or Facebook. The best part is its always the same clowns year after year. Like you did not know these National events were going to fill up like they do every year LOL. Its basically allowed by NHRA because they don't want to do anything about it. So more power to these people that figured out how to use this in there advantage.

Come up with a solution to fix that. O wait someone on the SRAC committee did that 6-7 years ago and to quote the NHRA employee
(yea you don't understand, when the quota is full and we collected that money for the budget needed for that event we really don't care what happens next, you racers can figure that part out good luck).

NHRA doesn't care about this period.
Someone on Cassracer pretty much made a business model on here a year ago selling/holding spots for national events for racers without a grade 8. So what did NHRA do about this after it was brought to them by many on the NHRA staff and STK/SS SRAC members at that time?
NOTHING. NHRA did nothing to fix the issue big surprise.
(or is the Business Fake?)

We keep coming back, just accept it like some of us have. I mean they say they care but we all know deep down the truth. I mean come on guys, what is so much better now with NHRA SS/Stk then 10-15 years ago?
I love is sport as much as the next guy and the people in it. But its NHRA's deal and we the racer have never really had a voice on issues within our classes and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

This solution fixes the problem
64 car field at national events with 80ish car quota. Put the performance back in the class. But what about the people that don’t qualify after a few DNQ they will quit coming. Who gives a sh!t about those people. work on you combo or build a More economical slower class car that’s better on index. It’s a performance based class not bracket 1. Right now there are plenty of racers that will fill that spot at national events.
All Nationals events 64 car field but Indy stays 128
points meets stay at 128 car field
national opens all run.
Right now SS/STK is a performance based class with no reward for performance.

O one side affect from this the AHFS will actually work because people can't sand bag in qualifying if they want to race, they actually will haft to work and run cars all out to qualify for a national event, what a concept.
Pretty simple. NHRA makes more money on entry's, its takes a little of the bracket racing style out of the class and all nationals events are 6 rounds so TV time is not messed with.

Re: New Grade Point System
 

(Quote)
This solution fixes the problem
64 car field at national events with 80ish car quota. Put the performance back in the class. But what about the people that don’t qualify after a few DNQ they will quit coming. Who gives a sh!t about those people. work on you combo or build a More economical slower class car that’s better on index. It’s a performance based class not bracket 1. Right now there are plenty of racers that will fill that spot at national events.
All Nationals events 64 car field but Indy stays 128
points meets stay at 128 car field
national opens all run.
Right now SS/STK is a performance based class with no reward for performance.

O one side affect from this the AHFS will actually work because people can't sand bag in qualifying if they want to race, they actually will haft to work and run cars all out to qualify for a national event, what a concept.
Pretty simple. NHRA makes more money on entry's, its takes a little of the bracket racing style out of the class and all nationals events are 6 rounds so TV time is not messed with.[/QUOTE]

This is a triple WIN, WIN, WIN solution and I can't believe there's no traction or discussion, why is NHRA so ignorant!
I brought this up about 8-10 years ago and lately, Darrin G has been on it as well so people have definetly seen or heard of the idea.
For the racers that will tire of not qualifing for the 64 car field, well, we see them come back to Indy every year for the exact same thing.

Re: New Grade Point System
 

Just a idea

Couple of notes
1. I Don’t pursue National points so there is no thought of those implications
2. This model implies that National Events are for the best of the best. They are a prestigious event to showcase grass roots sportsman racing. Increased TV Coverage… purses…. and stronger contingency is put into place. Entry Fees are escalated to support all the above. 25K to win 500 entry comes to mind 20K is purse rest is sponsored incentives bonuses
3. This is far from a detailed analysis of how this would work it is a spitball idea and needs to have due diligence performed
4. This idea is shared with all respect of all of us who live this life those just starting and those who have a legacy built in sportsman racing. Our passion our lives are built around this
5. Nothing stays the same forever


Do away with grading points and set the entry openings based on divisional points standings at last posted standings

Open Date 1 Hosting Division Top 20 Cars in the respective Class
Open Date 2 Top 10 Cars All Divisions in the respective class
Open Date 3 Top 20 Cars All Div
Open Date 3 Top 30 Cars All


And so on

Re: New Grade Point System
 

A lot to think about with all of these ideas and proposals. I do not feel that the size of any class racer rig is the problem. You only have to look at the number of pit spaces the Pros buy. Those spaces push sportsmen racers out of the better pit area and out the gate.
I believe it's critical that all events be qualified and have enough entries to push people to open up their qualifying numbers and trim up the soft classes. I'm coming for comp background and playing with Top Dragster. I feel if I can't run comp Stock or SS is a step up from TD as it is truly a performance-based class.
Just tossing out a ideal if there were more entries but one fewer qualifying round and run the first round. If you a single-car group you move your rig to a parking area at end of pits. Giving room for the other classes. Alternate with stock and superstock. First day run 2 qualifying and first round. The other class is moved is and does the same. Sucks moving but it could double enterys.

Re: New Grade Point System
 

Not all but a lot of good ideas in these pages. It's too bad their doesn't seem to be anyone in power that really cares about any of them. Just ask our SRAC. Stock was not long ago the fastest growing Sportsman category. Do they even have a Sportsman category that is growing. Loud noise, flames and fans. If you're not part of that show who needs you. If you haven't already stuck the needle in your arm as a new person why would you get involved in a Sportsman Categories. Give up your summers, spend a lot of money, have no ROI, and get pissed on with no representation. Hmmm sounds like something I'd want to get anyone else involved in.

I hope Bradenton is a Home Run. Think about the largest payouts ever for most categories. Not even close to what they race for now. Yet if they are successful, they should take most if not all the purse money in through the gate and live feed. Thats without all the sponsorship money involved. The Pros may be working themself into one of the largest purse raises in NHRA history. And well deserved. BP

Re: New Grade Point System
 

Which makes me remember something but not all the details.

Remember the PRO race at Tulsa? That was the first time I remember a serious effort to show the NHRA their racers were not happy. And I remember talking to a number of legendary racers when that guy got all the fame about never missing Indy. For most of them, it was that Tulsa race that was a one time break from their string which in many cases was longer than his.

Anyhow, for the old timers or historians here, did the NHRA make any changes in the next year or so?

Re: New Grade Point System
 

Dan I believe the Pro purses were increased. That may have been at the same time the Pro's started their organization. BP