Skooter Peaco's Open Letter To All IHRA National Event Sportsman Competitors

[Dave Turner]

Originally Posted by clutch man

low car counts? Las vegas NHRA points race had over 800 cars last weekend! IHRA better learn how to run a race and not a circus!

Location, location, location!!! I think you should offer that venue and date to the IHRA before you measure their success with a crooked yardstick......or offer the NHRA a hot date in Tulsa?

[mcaruso]

Originally Posted by Myron Piatek

Are the 2009 payouts posted anywhere yet?

WHAT IT PAYS


“Tournament Of Champions” World Championship Prize Money
The Tournament Of Champions during the World Finals will determine the Top 10 in national standings as outlined above. The qualifiers will be racing head to head for the following payout:

Top Sportsman and Top Dragster
$10,000 – World Champion (winner)
$4,000 - # 2 (runner-up)
$1,500 - # 3 and # 4 (semi finals)
$750 - # 5 through # 8 (quarter Finals)
Super Stock, Stock, Quick Rod, Super Rod & Hot Rod

$10,000 – World Champion (winner)
$3,000 - # 2 (runner-up)
$1,000 - # 3 and # 4 (semi finals)
$500 - # 5 through # 8 (quarter finals)

[Ted Barnes]

Originally Posted by Jim Wahl

You have to give Scooter credit whether you agree with the new system or not, he is addressing a very serious issue. It should be given a chance. NHRA is still in complete denial to all racers problems and will no doubt pay for it in the future, and in turn we all will be adversely affected. Jim

I agree. Sportsman drag racing as we know it has been fading in recent years. Something had to be done in order to draw new participants and keep it alive for you & me. Skoooter and IHRA deserve ALOT of credit for making a change. And doing it with the sportsman racer's wallet in mind. Whether you agree or disagree with the new format, there is no arguing that something had to be done.

Nice work IHRA
Ted

[mcaruso]

Here's the problem I see.....A person could potentially NEVER support a divisional event, win one national event & become the WORLD CHAMP! I don't see how that is good for the sport?!

They should ATLEAST implement something that states you have to attend a minimum divisional events within your division just like you have to attend a minimum to claim a division.

[donald j raiser]

it sounds good to me. let's all give to a chance.
dj raiser

[mcaruso]

Originally Posted by donald j raiser

it sounds good to me. let's all give to a chance.
dj raiser

You'll try anything twice, just incase you were prejudice the first time!

[Ven302]

I think this is a great idea,
Interesting however is the fact that the "Live from Pomona" thread has 7600+ views, this thread has 1700ish views. the IHRA has deeper problems that has kept the cars away notwithstanding the dismal weather and travel costs. The NHRA racers I talk to put little value in the IHRA system. There are some who race both but a lot will only go NHRA racing, they seem to have an issue with the IHRA credibility gap. What will the real value of an IHRA champion become? What is a divisional win really worth?

I bet that this will not cut travel costs one bit, only going to a national and wining the first event and then staying home is foolish(there will be 30-40 others trying to do the same). First you would have extra gas money, and why on earth would you not practice all year (within travel restraints)? How will one ever beat Bertozzi, Marshall, Cummings, Richardson (you pick em, we all know who the hitters are) etc. If we are only running at our local "bracket track. That is not why I built a Super Stocker. Matter of fact if one wins an entry it might even be worth driving to the rock for a pre race orientation. So much for travel budgets, I gotta go get this bullet out of my foot.

I really hope this will help IHRA get on the path to growth. Something had to be done.

Bring back Modified, Heh Heh

[Jack McCarthy]

hell i might even rejoin IHRA if they fix the HP issue i have a problem with...

sounds like a real circus at the finals... could be FUN > really !

jack mccarthy

[Tim Kish]

Originally Posted by mcaruso

Here's the problem I see.....A person could potentially NEVER support a divisional event, win one national event & become the WORLD CHAMP! I don't see how that is good for the sport?!

They should ATLEAST implement something that states you have to attend a minimum divisional events within your division just like you have to attend a minimum to claim a division.

While this is possible its likely to be a rare occurrence - but not an impossibility, I could see someone like Biondo that happened to have won one of the first races this year IHRA (prior to the start of the NHRA season). Usually a race win enable someone to attend more races. The way the program is structured being 1-3 in the division also gets you in the finals, that should encourage attendance. Another thing to consider is that the more races a single racer can win, the fewer competitors he will have at the finals.

But to prevent the rare occurence noted above a min # of Div races is probably reasonable since Div races are usually the closest to home (least travel).

Would be nice to see the Div points fund increase (maybe if divisional attendance is up a second year increase could be justified). Increased odds of winning (ie: divisional purses) should bring up attendance.

[dannyw]

quote:"Interesting however is the fact that the "Live from Pomona" thread has 7600+ views, this thread has 1700ish views."quote.

No question, that link has more hits, but you must keep in mind this thread was started two days after the Pomona thread. We all know that IHRA is not NHRA, nor can IHRA measure up to their financial capabilities. IHRA is an alternative choice for sportsman racers and is not as wide spread. These changes will hopefuly help IHRA, but NHRA will still be geographicly bigger and will have more tracks/members/participants.

Just another .02 from me...