How about severely limiting "Super" class entries?

[GUMP]

The place to watch .90 racing is at the finish line. Some of those guys are going to have serious neck issues when they get old!

[Bobby DiDomenico]

Originally Posted by GUMP

The place to watch .90 racing is at the finish line.

That is the best place for all the Sportsman Classes. Sadly every track has NO stands there.

[Joe Martens]

Originally Posted by Bobby DiDomenico

That is the best place for all the Sportsman Classes. Sadly every track has NO stands there.

Norwalk does! Used to be called the creature bleachers!

[cmracing]

Originally Posted by Bobby DiDomenico

That is the best place for all the Sportsman Classes. Sadly every track has NO stands there.

E-Town did, though that doesn't matter anymore.

[Greenlight]

It took 8 grade points (GP) to get in Gainesville in Stock, yet Top Sportsman is not full with 3 GP at Phoenix (10 spots still open). That's certainly not fair to the NHRA Stock racer who works hard and spends lots of $$ to attend a bunch of races.

I suggest that at the next level of GP entry date (i.e. going from 6 GP to 5 GP), the NHRA looks at the "unfilled" categories and distributes "open" spots to the other "filled" classes. Then, the following year the class that didn't "fill" it's spots early, have fewer spots (quota) the next year and the class that did "fill" it's spots early get a higher quota the next year.

The process should lend itself to all classes being full with the same number of GP requirements. The total number of vehicles remains the same.

The negative of this COULD be that you only have 7 Top Sportsman cars and 4 Comp. Elim. cars. Bare minimums could be set at 16.

[Brent Kopejtka]

Honestly for car quotas would like to see 64 or 128 quotas, at a National Event I don’t think there should be gummies. If quotas fill comp byes would be the only ones. I don’t know the answer but I am sure most would agree the pros could have the entourage more under control. I guess that’s where the midway disappeared to.

[BKSG1198]

I understand we all live in a blind tunnel sometimes and the truth hurts but, the reality of it all is “they don’t want us” at National Events. With the TV contract they have with FS1 to do “live” Friday Night Qualifying or Sunday Events the less chance of having a Sportsman car hit the wall or oil down the track the better off. The reality is if you think 50-70 count car quotas are bad, I think the worst is yet to come. They really want the hardcore racers who are mentally set on running for a world championship at Nationals. They don’t want the “average joe” who’s been going to the Maple Grove National since it’s been in existence and it’s a tradition that it’s what him and his buddy’s do every weekend in September when they have no prayer of going a round. They want the guys & gals who run 8 -10 divisional races per year at these events so they can market them to the fans. I think eventually when they go to 3 day Nationals (it will be coming sooner than later) for ALL events you’ll see 32-48 car quotas. One less day to pay staff, less cars to tech and tear down so in turn less people to hire for doing credentials and all. It really is ashame but, it’s now forcing the hand of people to run more Divisional races and still not get into a NE.

[Larry Hill]

Greenlight Stock closed with eight grade points in about 24 hours.

[jamie2370]

[QUOTE=BKSG1198;606441]I understand we all live in a blind tunnel sometimes and the truth hurts but, the reality of it all is “they don’t want us” at National Events. With the TV contract they have with FS1 to do “live” Friday Night Qualifying or Sunday Events the less chance of having a Sportsman car hit the wall or oil down the track the better off. The reality is if you think 50-70 count car quotas are bad, I think the worst is yet to come. They really want the hardcore racers who are mentally set on running for a world championship at Nationals. They don’t want the “average joe” who’s been going to the Maple Grove National since it’s been in existence and it’s a tradition that it’s what him and his buddy’s do every weekend in September when they have no prayer of going a round. They want the guys & gals who run 8 -10 divisional races per year at these events so they can market them to the fans.

The truth other than I think they DO want us at the National Level. I really feel they are making the National Event level special again. Instead of just another race. With that said, Div 2 makes it real easy to get into ANY national you want. The schedule I think shows 14 races to get a grade point. My opinion, like it or not. Yes some of those are Opens and 1/8th mile. Quit complaining and go race! Fire away lol

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by BKSG1198

I understand we all live in a blind tunnel sometimes and the truth hurts but, the reality of it all is “they don’t want us” at National Events. With the TV contract they have with FS1 to do “live” Friday Night Qualifying or Sunday Events the less chance of having a Sportsman car hit the wall or oil down the track the better off. The reality is if you think 50-70 count car quotas are bad, I think the worst is yet to come. They really want the hardcore racers who are mentally set on running for a world championship at Nationals. They don’t want the “average joe” who’s been going to the Maple Grove National since it’s been in existence and it’s a tradition that it’s what him and his buddy’s do every weekend in September when they have no prayer of going a round. They want the guys & gals who run 8 -10 divisional races per year at these events so they can market them to the fans. I think eventually when they go to 3 day Nationals (it will be coming sooner than later) for ALL events you’ll see 32-48 car quotas. One less day to pay staff, less cars to tech and tear down so in turn less people to hire for doing credentials and all. It really is ashame but, it’s now forcing the hand of people to run more Divisional races and still not get into a NE.

People keep assuming that the NHRA is a normal business. It is not! It is a not-for-profit organization. It's sole purpose (as per it's orig. charter) is to keep all of us hooligans (Sportsmen, in the 21ST century) from racing on the streets and killing innocent women and children. Whether "they don't want us" or not, they can't make us go away without major changes to their organization or business model or what ever you want to call it. I can only imagine how much the thoughts of an organized, well supported "Sportsmen Organization" must terrify them.