No Sportsman at Northern Nitro Jam
 

I am not looking to start another bashing of the IHRA, because I have had some great times at IHRA events. I am also not looking to start yet another debate on why NHRA cars don't go to IHRA events, because we have gotten no where with that one. I am simply trying to find answers and create some productive dialogue as to why the new IHRA has decided to not run any sportsman classes at probably their best facility, and definitely the largest drawing facility on tour.

http://www.ihra.com/pro-am-tour-news...ortsman-racers

We MIchigan class racers have lost the LODRS event at Stanton, MI and moved it as far away as possible in Division 3. and now we have lost class racing at the only national event in the state. I am not looking for sympathy or comparisons of other "enhancements" and geographical challenges. I am simply hoping that we can rally a stronger voice that will get the new IHRA ownership to change their mind about this decision they made.

Bill Lent
O/SA 3158

Re: No Sportsman at Northern Nitro Jam
 

I found out about this at the PRI show.I was disappointed as you are,but they still are going to have TWO Pro Am races the week after,as well as TWO races at the recently added Cordova National.

I doubt that they will change their mind,but I am planning on actually renewing my membership and racing with them more next year.

Keep in mind that you can still bracket race at the Northern Nitro Jam which probably will pay way more than winning in Stock would have anyways.

Re: No Sportsman at Northern Nitro Jam
 

So spectators are going to see,5 old funny cars a couple pro stockers , a few altereds and Harleys :rolleyes: I don"t know what kind of crowd they can expect to get. I think a lot of racers will be nervous to build pro stockers because of the way they were kicked to the curb a few years ago. I also see the average spectator using there entertainment dollars cautiously. This should be interesting.

Re: No Sportsman at Northern Nitro Jam
 

Maybe they will like the jet trucks.

Re: No Sportsman at Northern Nitro Jam
 

Bill,

Your post is well worded.
I am not sure there is much that can be done to change their mind, but it is worth a try. Here are my suggestions.
You can try to sell the lure of wheel standing, classic Stock and Super Stockers to the IHRA brass. People love wheel standing, classic cars.
You have a little time to let them see what kind of ET fields they will have. IF they feel they need more sportsmen cars, then I would suggest you get a group of Stock and Super Stockers together that will commit to the race, and see if you can talk IHRA into running a combo? Better than no class racing at all? You could present them with an official letter, with xxx number of racers committed to running the combo?
Show that your car count will more than cover the purse and added work for them. Gives them something else to advertise... and they have time to add it to the local media releases, etc.
All they can do is say no?

Good luck!
Ken

Re: No Sportsman at Northern Nitro Jam
 

Palm Beach Nitro Jam is brackets only also. I was told that the Pro-Am schedule is already set and if it was a Pro-Am it would give Div 2 too many points opportunities. I wonder if a non-points Pro-Am class structure would bring in the car count? Sure would be more entertaining for everyone than box/no-box.

Re: No Sportsman at Northern Nitro Jam
 

I don't like either and I'm only 45 minutes from Martin. I'll probably still run the event, but run in the Modified bracket class.

Re: No Sportsman at Northern Nitro Jam
 

Late last year, rumors had it that IHRA was trying to do just that....give Florida enough ProAms to be it's own division, like North Carolina has been. That would require giving Lakeland, Palm Beach and/or even Orlando IHRA divisional events. The same person who runs Lakeland under IHRA also runs Orlando under NHRA. We'll see if it holds true in 2015.

Re: No Sportsman at Northern Nitro Jam
 

Same deal at the San Antonio race. Sucks only an hour from me.

Re: No Sportsman at Northern Nitro Jam
 

That was the hope. New owner of Orlando was being persued to switch O-town to IHRA. That would have made it happen. The decision maker was the lil no-points Pro-Am held at Lakeland on Halloween weekend. Lakeland had a pretty short shutdown and the race was not very well advertised. The turnout sucked. Ozzy was a little leery after that and then NHRA promised him a Div 2 race so here we are. Keeping my fingers crossed for next year.