Class Racer Nationals - The Future
 

Sorry folks, this is just a repeat of my post in the live from thread. In hindsight I should have started a new thread to get your opinions and thoughts on future Class Racer Nationals and similar venues. I would like to get a feel for what you all think. Can races from Tyler Bohannon, Bo Butner and myself work, or does NHRA hold all the cards?

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Hey guys, some final thoughts on the 3rd annual Class Racer Nationals. I do appreciate the kinds words, but without my partner Tim Fletcher, it would not be possible to put this race on. That also goes for our staff... without them there is no CRN. So anytime you thank me, please have a kind word for them too.

As I'm thanking my partner and staff, I also have to thank the racers. It was a warm weekend, but from all the feedback I received from racers and from their crews... all were having a blast. I greeted everyone who came through the gate. Everyone was so nice and so happy to be a part of this race. I was so humbled with kind words and support. With all the negative crap in the country, it was so nice to see everyone just happy to be racing, enjoying each others company, it really does humble you.

Moving on to thanking people... sponsor's that are willing to support sportsman racing. We don't have the companies supporting us like we did in the past, but I have to say the sponsors that came on board for the Class Racer Nationals are there for us. Our title sponsor Micro Strategies, associated sponsor Testo really made this race happen. So when you need something for your race program consider the companies that support us. $5800 in cash and $5000 in product was given away, that's beside the purse and round money, a win for everyone.

PC Richard.com
Gold Rus Trailers
Weldon Performance
ATI
Biondo Racing Products
Holley
Jegs
Mahle
Weldon Performance
Port-A -Tree
California Car Covers
IRC
Dan Fletcher Trailer Sales
Sepanek Racing Transmissions


And then there's the racers that support us with there businesses because of the passion they have for Stock and Super Stock.
Oakes Landscaping
Gutters By Design
Thomas Dairy Queen
SDS
Finish Line Mobile Detailing


I didn't want to make this a a promotion thread, but I had to thank everyone. Its not easy to put these races on without there support... I'm not complaining. I'm grateful I have the opportunity to be apart this. A special thanks to Numidia Dragway... the DiMino family and their staff... a great facility and a great play to race.

Class Racer Nationals was a success, and for those who could not make the race I understand the reasons why these types of races may not work for your program. The Walley is important... I get it, the NHRA experience... I get it, the grade points, the points structure... I get it all. There are so many types of races for us Stock and Super Stockers to choose... Nationals, Divisions, Associations. Its seems like there is a race almost every weekend.

All of us have to decide what's important for our own race program. The Class Racer Nationals was just another option in a crowded race schedule. I wish more of you could have experienced it, I know you would have had a great time... but I do I understand guys. I just wanted to put a race on that catered to Stock and Super Stock. To give you all the respect you deserve, and treat all the races like they were the stars. To give you guys a good payday, lots of giveaways and with cool ways to win cash and products... and just giving stuff away at random. Its an experience that we don't get from NHRA. I'm not bashing NHRA or anyone here. I get it, I'm an NHRA racer too and a like to race NHRA. I just think we deserve a little more from NHRA... not a lot, just throw us a bone once in awhile. This is why the Class Racer Nationals came about, to give us a little more.

As far as the future for the Class Racer Nationals... that's up to you all. If you support us I will get the sponsors. If a good pay day, cash and giveaway's its not what you want, we do understand... there is a lot of races to choose from... please let us know whats important to you. We would love to here your feedback. Are these type of races viable? or is NHRA the only game in town?

Thanks everyone for your support, I'm humbled by you all.

Re: Class Racer Nationals - The Future
 

First one to the lanes....there must be a prize??? ;)

At the beginning of each season I fill my racing calendar with as many events as I can find in the order that schedules are released...no prioritization up front. Yes, there are weekends where I would expect to be at certain tracks based upon history of annual events that rarely shift from their typical dates. As the year unfolds, we make decisions based upon an ever changing list of influences, and no two years are identical. This is where things get complicated because loyalties, habits and even superstitions can hold racers to a pattern from which they can be reluctant to switch.

Taking all of the variables out of the conversation that have been kicked around as long as choices have been entertained, I think change comes about most reliably as a result of one racer convincing others to give something different a chance to become a "must attend" experience. The promoters can only do so much and in this case have proven that they deserve to see a great deal more response for their effort. A business that treats a client with respect and delivers good value is usually well on the way to attracting more customers through referrals and positive reviews. On this, my first trip to both Numidia Dragway and the Class Racer Nationals I left with nothing but positive memories and a good story to share with my racing friends back home.

It's up to me and others with a similar message to start working on next year NOW. With no assumptions of the climate we may be served in 2023, I will do my personal best to convince some of the local Stock/SS community to give this event a chance to impress them as it has me. There were over 20 of our gang that did not turn a wheel last week and I believe that we can convince some of them to do otherwise next year.

Best of luck with your plans for the future and much respect from my corner.

Re: Class Racer Nationals - The Future
 

I think you know where I stand on this. There's a lawyer here where I live and his slogan is "we're with you all the way" and that pretty much sums it up. I don't attend as many events as I once did but I try to make these types of races priority especially this event in particular.
I don't have an answer we absolutely love going to Numidia but it may be better suited as far as numbers go to have this race further south. I don't know how the numbers worked out as far as financial but I didn't have a problem with the way the purse structure paid out this past weekend combining it at the end.
Just let me know if there's something I can do to help y'all.

Re: Class Racer Nationals - The Future
 

Thanks for this thread, Ken

I've already left a few thoughts and I'm sure there will be more..

Meanwhile, let's keep this discussion narrowly focused on the matter at hand, as seen above.

Re: Class Racer Nationals - The Future
 

Hi Dave, it was nice chatting with you and your wife, thanks for the cold water and letting my friend and I hang under your tent for a while to escape the blazing sun, Paul.

Re: Class Racer Nationals - The Future
 

For us to attend we need a race the week before or the week after, it’s almost 900 miles to Numidia. Round trip would be 350 gallons of diesel. We hope some schedule will let us race at the CR National.

Re: Class Racer Nationals - The Future
 

A few short years ago racers embraced the opportunity to attend big dollar independent races. They are viable, but the current economic climate has defused enthusiasm. With the N.H.R.A., N.M.C.A. and the Associations schedules the competitors have had to make decisions based on their budget and time.
When the economy recovers so will participation.

Re: Class Racer Nationals - The Future
 

With the schedule the way it is this year, it's been nonstop with race weekends. Numidia LODRS, the Sportsnationals, back to the Classracer race, the Dave Ley race this weekend, the Atco LODRS, another Dave Ley Race, a weekend off and then for some Bowling Green and Indy. Then throw the Keystones in after Indy, and then VA, we end up racing 10 races in 12 weeks. The perfect storm classracer race was the 1st one..because of Covid, and the ability to race 2 weekends in a row at the same track, gave people the ability to leave their trailers there and race 2 weeks when everything else was being cancelled.

Most Classracer people are not money chasers. A big dollar race will not draw the cars that a Wally race will draw. Wether its the structure of NHRA races, the Wallys , some kind of tech, heads up races or a combo of all of it, most will flock to the NHRA race. Even over ane NMRA race top.

But the Classracer race is different. Everyone respects what Ken does on this site, and many including myself came to support him. If this was just a money race like some of the other there have been, I would have taken a weekend off to cut my dead grass and catch up on things around the house. Ken added an element of prizes, giveaways, qualifying money, and other elements that made it enjoyable.
I liked to Top Stock race and only hope somehow that can come back with some enthusiasm from the racers who would participate.

Hopefully the schedule will allow a slot next year to try this race again. Some have said an August race pre Bowling Green /Indy would be a god tuneup for those events, but who knows what next years schedule will be. I only.hope it works out to have one again next year and we can get more participants.

Re: Class Racer Nationals - The Future
 

I didn't make this race this year, but based on the last two years, I wouldn't change much at all. Last years weekend right after the divisional helped a lot, the first year you had guys attend from all over MI, FL, it felt like more fun Indy. I'm pretty sure I'm correct on this, but last years class racer national was a better experience for my wife than when I won a big Wally this year.......So its not about the Wallys, the "why don't you race this way all the time?" comment doesn't go away it just confirms that what you and Tim are doing is spot on. You can't control the economy, the weather and someone being sick like me for last weekend. Are there additional ways to make it such a special event, it becomes an annual Woodstock for stock and superstock, with fans, that would be perfection. It could get there.

Re: Class Racer Nationals - The Future
 

These type of races are the future and they will succeed! Just give them a little time people will start coming!! Thanks for all who put these races on its what we need !!