If an advocate could be found - what would you say?

[Lenny5160]

Originally Posted by SS/1230

However, I get what you are saying here but you'd be crazy to think that the contingency sponsors and NHRA don't have some kind of contract that NHRA benefits from.

NHRA definitely has a hand in the contingency cookie jar, which has driven away companies that would otherwise participate. There are several companies that run independent contingency programs for this reason. I am sure (yes, Ed, I'm assuming; not fact) that other companies have just thrown up their hands and walked away from the idea.

I'm still baffled that you're upset about losing 5th round and 'only' getting 5th round loser money. "If the quotas were higher, I would have lost at 8 cars and still received 5th round loser money!"

[SS/1230]

Originally Posted by Lenny5160

NHRA definitely has a hand in the contingency cookie jar, which has driven away companies that would otherwise participate. There are several companies that run independent contingency programs for this reason. I am sure (yes, Ed, I'm assuming; not fact) that other companies have just thrown up their hands and walked away from the idea.

I'm still baffled that you're upset about losing 5th round and 'only' getting 5th round loser money. "If the quotas were higher, I would have lost at 8 cars and still received 5th round loser money!"

If you make it to the Semi in a 6 round race its 5th round loss money... not semi finalist. If you make it to the semi in a 7 round race its 6th round/Semi money (more $)... by creating smaller fields the payout is less, only thing that remains the same in winner and R/U.. its NHRA's version of nickle and dime'ing.

I wasn't upset... its the principle of making the quota 65 cars just so they can pay us less money. Yet when fields are smaller, the payouts are less and the entry remains the same.
*The max in SS is 80 cars, so it would never be an 8 round race at a National.

[1320racer]

Originally Posted by SS/1230

I wasn't upset... its the principle of making the quota 65 cars just so they can pay us less money.

again, that's your assumption, not a fact.

[SS/1230]

Originally Posted by 1320racer

again, that's your assumption, not a fact.

Well doesn't seem like it... I won the 2014 Summernationals at E-town in SS and it was an 80 car field. every year following it was 65 cars until the track closed. And the year I won it started at 65, but D-1 begged to up the quota and they changed it the last week because racers were complaining they couldnt get in. Keystones too... doesn't seem like a fluke to me... that's all I'm trying to say.

No way to prove its a fact, NHRA would never admit to doing that.

[1320racer]

Originally Posted by SS/1230

I meant towing... Working is one thing, you have to go to work, and I doubt you take your rig to the city everyday.. It normally takes me 3 hours with the trailer just to get to the Verrazzano Bridge from Oceanside (29 Miles).. lol Used to take me almost 4 hours to get to Englishtown on a Thursday.. and that was only 65 miles.. so I feel your pain, but in a different way.

I have taken my trailer to Kennedy airport in years past so I could leave right from work. I'm a racer and will do what has to be done.

I don't need an advocate, I can speak for myself.

That said, lets talk about what we do like about NHRA Sportsman Racing.

For me, my comparison is to bracket racing...

1. I like the professional vibe
2. I like the quality of the cars
3. I like that an official is actually looking over/teching every car, at least for the minimum safety requirements
4. I like that the daily program is typically done around dinner time.
5. I like that we aren't racing every week
6. I like that we are competing for a Wally, the most coveted award in the NHRA from day one
7. I like that we are racing in a points series for a championship
8. I like that my son enjoys class racing.
9. I like winning

That said, what could they do better?
1. track prep
2. consistent rollout at every track and use the same tree at every event
3. parking

[Lenny5160]

Originally Posted by SS/1230

I wasn't upset... its the principle of making the quota 65 cars just so they can pay us less money.

Are you aware that 65 cars is a 7 round race? And that is before any provisional entries get in.

At this year's Gators in Super Stock, the 5th round loser gets $500 and 6th round loser gets $650. Do you honestly think that the primary motivation of cutting quota from 80 to 60 is to avoid paying two guys an extra $150 each? The Winner and R/U purses do not change.

If we assume NHRA is being honest about the insurance charge and the entry is $210, they are choosing to give up $4200 in entries to save that $300 to the semifinalists plus a couple more cars in the earlier rounds?

[CMcAllister]

Originally Posted by Lenny5160

Are you aware that 65 cars is a 7 round race? And that is before any provisional entries get in.

At this year's Gators in Super Stock, the 5th round loser gets $500 and 6th round loser gets $650. Do you honestly think that the primary motivation of cutting quota from 80 to 60 is to avoid paying two guys an extra $150 each? The Winner and R/U purses do not change.

If we assume NHRA is being honest about the insurance charge and the entry is $210, they are choosing to give up $4200 in entries to save that $300 to the semifinalists plus a couple more cars in the earlier rounds?

They can't load the schedule. There has to be the ability to get the TV stuff done on time AND get the race completed. They probably make that $4200 up, and a lot more, playing ads on the jumbotron during down time/track prep. 20 years ago, that entry ($245 IIRC) got me and another person in. Likely a case of oil, brake clean, deals from people on the Midway, maybe some other swag. $15k+ if the car was stickered half decent. And 650 to lose 6th round IIRC. God only knows how much less a competitive car cost to build and maintain, and the tow rig and travel cost.

Back then, the purse was relevant. Now, it's so insignificant, most people don't even pay attention or know what it is. Unless you go to the final, it's just grocery money for the weekend. Just another detail that's no longer published in the Dragster.

[1320racer]

as I stated in my 1st reply in Billy's thread that lead to this thread and a few others...

Originally Posted by 1320racer

the world changed, our country changed so why is it shocking to some that drag racing has changed. It was always about the Benjamin's. Drag racing nor our country is going back to what it was 10 years ago no mind 50 years ago and that should be obvious to all by now. Motorsports is on life support. Enjoy what time it and you have left and stop complaining.

and this...

Originally Posted by 1320racer

Stop complaining about the money, who has it, who gets it, who spends it and focus on the fact that we are all fortunate to be able to do this.

[rognelson777]

An idea for grade points for national events in home division. So your 2nd in division divisional you attend you get 2 grade points, so 2 events, 3 grade points, your 3rd in division event you get 2 more points, so 3 divisionals ls 5 grade points and 4 divisionals is 7 grade points. And no withdrawals if you enter and do not show up for national event.
This would give the in division racers a better opportunity to participate at their local national event.

[rognelson777]

Contingency, I believe one of the reasons some of this has gone away is it has moved to other series. In the 80's you had NHRA, IHRA, AHRA and only a few others.
Now you have NMCA, NMRA, PDRA that all pay contingencies. Ducks races payouts are partially funded by sponsors.

At Cecil county street car races which occur once a month april till november, Strange and others put up money to increase the race purses and a end of season champion bonus.
So there are more places to race and the money is getting is spreading out across these series.