The Future Of Stock

Dwight Southerland · 04-18-2017, 12:29 PM

I have been following this with interest. There are two issues that are evident. First, whether you like it or not, heads up runs are a critical part of the value and attraction for Stock Eliminator. It is missing in just about every other sportsman eliminator definition, yet it is core to the idea of all forms of racing. The majority of race fans and participants find head to head competition much more exciting than handicap breakout racing, and it is easier to sell and understand. Secondly, while it seems that the common opinion is that NHRA makes a bunch of money from Stock eliminator participation, if you talk to them they state the opposite. We do not have hard facts to support either position. It would seem that if Stock Eliminator were such a cash cow, NHRA would put more effort into supporting it. But the evidence seems to point to a different reality. I think it is time to have the facts come out into the open and see what the real situation is. A healthy Stock Eliminator program will be better served with cooperation from both sides in this "association".

In reference to the first point, combining stick and automatics as well as eliminating half pound breaks will help create more heads up races. I know that will rub the wrong way because it threatens some protected corners that racers have found and will erode some racers' little fiefdoms they have built, but it will vastly increase the percentage of heads up runs.

In regard to the second point, trust from both sides in large quantities is the commodity that will be required to make it work.

04-18-2017, 12:29 PM	#15
Dwight Southerland VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Arkansas - In the middle of everything. Posts: 1,999 Likes: 63 Liked 772 Times in 192 Posts	Re: The Future Of Stock I have been following this with interest. There are two issues that are evident. First, whether you like it or not, heads up runs are a critical part of the value and attraction for Stock Eliminator. It is missing in just about every other sportsman eliminator definition, yet it is core to the idea of all forms of racing. The majority of race fans and participants find head to head competition much more exciting than handicap breakout racing, and it is easier to sell and understand. Secondly, while it seems that the common opinion is that NHRA makes a bunch of money from Stock eliminator participation, if you talk to them they state the opposite. We do not have hard facts to support either position. It would seem that if Stock Eliminator were such a cash cow, NHRA would put more effort into supporting it. But the evidence seems to point to a different reality. I think it is time to have the facts come out into the open and see what the real situation is. A healthy Stock Eliminator program will be better served with cooperation from both sides in this "association". In reference to the first point, combining stick and automatics as well as eliminating half pound breaks will help create more heads up races. I know that will rub the wrong way because it threatens some protected corners that racers have found and will erode some racers' little fiefdoms they have built, but it will vastly increase the percentage of heads up runs. In regard to the second point, trust from both sides in large quantities is the commodity that will be required to make it work. __________________