Index Racing

[Eman]

Originally Posted by oldskool

A couple of 1/8 mile tracks in my area are running what I call index racing, at least once a month. They have several classes like 8.0, 7.0, 6.5, 6.0, and 5.5. Is this still considered bracket racing ?

Do they run races like this all over the country, or is this a local deal ?

It's bracket racing, but your dial in is set at the index. I don't know where you are but it's popular and growing. Why? you ask. Simple reason is it's more like heads up and spectators can grasp it better with both cars leaving at the same time. They don't allow throttle stops so it looks like a real heads up race. Some classes use transbrakes and most are on a pro tree, some .400 and some.500 rules vary.

[jmcarter]

Division 2 has been running 10.0, 11.0 and 12.0 classes at most Divisional Events for at least three years. Car counts have been increasing for the most part and they get several crossovers from Stock and Super Street primarily. They cater to the lower budget racers in many cases and you can generally show up Saturday mornings and get 2 qualifying runs. Details on the D2 website...

[67champ]

Wish they would run it more everywhere! It's a blast to run... Make slight adjustments to your car based on weather changes run to run; Pro tree, Heads up on the index, work the finish like a bracket race. Fun City!

[Mike Pearson]

Originally Posted by jmcarter

Division 2 has been running 10.0, 11.0 and 12.0 classes at most Divisional Events for at least three years. Car counts have been increasing for the most part and they get several crossovers from Stock and Super Street primarily. They cater to the lower budget racers in many cases and you can generally show up Saturday mornings and get 2 qualifying runs. Details on the D2 website...

This year they are only running the 11.0 class in div 2. Never had very good car counts in the index class. But then all of the classes are down in numbers. IHRA actually has a better payout than NHRA at a points race.

[rognelson777]

It does have one big advantage over bracket racing and that is worst Red light looses. So no faster car advantage on redlights.

Usually here in the PA NJ area, no dragsters or altereds, must have doors and be left hand drive and most no sponsors on sheet metal, windows only.

Top racers in this area tend to use some type of throttle stop, changing nitrous timers, shift points, adding weight or some allow under carb mechanically adjustable plates that restrict flow.

[Bill Baer]

The name "bracket racing" came from the 60's where they created different brackets with common breakouts. It wasn't dial you own handicap the handicap was fixed and we left at the same time .
we used-to run ET6 which had a 12.50 breakout (index) ET 7 had a 13.00 breakout and so on.
So the only thing new about index racing is the name in the 60's we simply called it bracket racing.

[NYNitro86]

there should be a thread for heads up Index Racing regardless if it's 1/4 or 1/8 Mile. Here in the Northeast we have 8.50, 10.00 and 11.50 Index at Cecil, Atco, Island, Maple Grove, Englishtown, Epping etc. The Summernats will have 11.50 invitational Again as well.

[Todd Geisler]

Originally Posted by NYNitro86

there should be a thread for heads up Index Racing regardless if it's 1/4 or 1/8 Mile. Here in the Northeast we have 8.50, 10.00 and 11.50 Index at Cecil, Atco, Island, Maple Grove, Englishtown, Epping etc. The Summernats will have 11.50 invitational Again as well.

Index racing is very well supported by racers here in the northeast.

Here's some rules from 8.50, 10.0 and 11.50.

8.50 Index
¼ mile race, 16 car field, 28+ cars will run 32 car field.
1. .400 Pro tree heads up start with 7 second auto start.
2. NHRA Pro ladder.
3. Deep staging allowed, but auto start will be on at all times. Courtesy staging
advised.
4. Minimum weight 2800lbs. Cars will be randomly selected for weight check.
5. Full bodied street appearing cars only. No roadsters, altereds or dragsters
allowed.
6.Lettering on windows permitted. Lettering on car must be approved before
competition.
7. Full roundand square tube chassis prohibited.
8. Stock style front suspension mandatory, bolt on aftermarket parts permitted.
9. Trans brake & two step permitted.
10. Throttle stops/controllers, delay boxes/devices PROHIBITED.
11. After market automatic shifters or shifting devices PROHIBITED. Car must
either be shifted by driver or must be a function of OEM stock equipment.
12. Mufflers mandatory on all vehicles except turbo charged vehicles inserts are not
mufflers.
13. Car & Driver must meet NHRA & track safety rules.
14. Gasoline, E85 and alcohol permitted. Nitromethane prohibited.
15. Maximum tire size of 33x10.5w or any size drag radial.

10.00 & 11.50 Index
- ¼ mile racing, 16 car field, 32+ cars will run 32 car field
1. 500 Pro tree heads up start with 7 second auto start.
2. Full bodied street appearing cars only.
3. Finished interiors with either a full front bench seat or 2 front bucket seats
mandatory.
4. Mufflers mandatory except on turbo charged entries, inserts are not mufflers.
5. DOT tire maximum size 30x13.5, any size drag radial or slicks maximum size
of 29.5x10.5(non “w”)
6. Gasoline, E85 & alcohol permitted. Nitromethane prohibited.
7. Stock frame and back half cars permitted. Full round or square tube chassis
prohibited.
8. Tubbed cars permitted.
9. Throttle stops/controllers, delay boxes/devices PROHIBITED.
10. After market automatic shifters or shifting devices PROHIBITED. Car must
either be shifted by driver or must be a function of OEM stock equipment.
11. any type power adder permitted
12. NHRA Pro ladder.
13. Deep staging allowed, but autostart will be on at all times. Courtesy staging
advised.
14. Wheelie bars prohibited

[Todd Geisler]

Originally Posted by mustangf111

I think index racing could invigorate bracket racing. Not just for racers but
for spectators too. Wouldn't it be nice for track operators to have a bigger
pool of cash to pay purses & take some of the load off the racers to support the purse & the track operator. No spectator enjoys watching
staggered starts, it just doesn't look like a drag race. The biggest
drawback to index participation I find is they draw up the rules like it's
for streetcars only. I raced index, & would love to do it more, but the street rules keep my car out. To me index is index as long as you have
a door car, what difference does it make?

In the northeast these classes are run at street car events and are designed for cars that are street appearing race cars. Most of these guys prefer to race against other street appearing cars. If they wanted to race against tin can, light weight bracket cars they would do just that and bracket race.

At Cecil we have no issues with car counts. They are all qualifying fields and the minimum field is a 16 car field, most get a full 32 car field. At the Yellowbullet Nationals (8.50 index) we usually have 65-70 cars trying to qualify for the field which btw pays out $7500.

Normal race day payout 8.50 Index is winner $1,250 - r/u $550 - semis $200 - ¼ Finals
(16+cars) $75

http://northeastindexracers.com/

[Keith 944]

I have been running my streetcar in the 1150 index class although I also have a super gas /super street car. I like the fact that this is more of a street oriented class with Limited modifications and it usually pays fairly well and is a blast to participate in