[Dave Turner]

I’m trying to keep my sarcastic side under control because the topic warrants our due respect....but it’s tough not to let loose!

I can only speak to the Canadian Division 1 NO events, where the IHRA classes have been welcome since they were shunned by their parent. Car counts were most definitely enhanced by recognizing the orphan CM & Pure Stock entries. As I recall, those folks would have been scrambling to field a traditional Sportsman car for the first event following the IHRA announcement. (Cayuga, Ontario 2017 ) Plain & simple, the olive branch was never intended to be the whole tree. If a competitor with a former IHRA combo is satisfied with the 6 Canadian races combined with a local Stock/SuperStock series schedule, 20 odd trips to the track makes up a busy summer in these parts.

HOWEVER, I truly believe that the NHRA was forecasting an unknown percentage of converts from the defunct IHRA program. In no way am I suggesting that everyone has the means to shed their skin and move on, but it just makes sense to conform to the structure of a strong organization which has done a great deal to soften the blow of rejection.

I don’t give myself credit for much, but I am very happy to say that I saw the graffiti on the bricks and stuck with an NHRA legal combination well before the fan blades turned brown!