End of Stock and SuperStock Racing??

[Gary Smith]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lee

I've been saying this to deaf, SELFISH ears to years. Decrease the amount of classes which will push towards more heads-up runs, make those that try, try harder and sponsors will be happier all at the same time. I know that the two out of two OEM's I've spoken to whole heartedly agree with me and I've not communicated with the 3rd OEM representative.
How to do this? Simple. Combine classes like Top Stock; I.e., A-B-C race together on B weight, D-E-F race together on E weight, and so on down the line. At the same time, combine sticks and autos.
This gets shot down due to those trying to protect their turfs, plain and simple. But I'd rather loose a small turf than the whole turf.
I'm at Boy Scout camp this entire week. It's a lot more rewarding than drag racing but I see the politicos here too. Damn, everybody's got an agenda and turf to protect!

Unfortunately the very reason I got so obsessed with class racing may be the very reason of it's impeding doom - over complexity to the average spectator. When you count the number of designations, confusing rules, unexplainable slower cars, bracket-index-breakouts, it's no wonder the average fan ends up walking away from the stands. And as I've said before, lack of self-marketing from most racers to non-traditional outlets (car-shows, seminars, other varying non-motorsport venue solicitation) and less than desirable engagement with spectators continues to seal the fate of Stock & Super Stock. It is no longer up to the "HRAs" to sustain its future, but the participants and supporters.