Interesting Thoughts-- Future of Stk/SS

[Gary Smith]

Originally Posted by X-TECH MAN

I'm glad that my post did not make you mad but the point is that there are way to many things allowed in stock and super stock today. Each year it seems that new things are allowed. That means expensive things. . I agree with the other guy posting here about the cost. The only thing about the super classes is that the start stop and go in the those classes are not generally spectator appealing. Why build a 155-165 MPH 9.90 car. Yes you can build a complete running Super Class car for less than a killer stocker engine today if you are half way good at doing things yourself and stay in a reasonable MPH rang for whichever class you are competing in. . I have heard some guys have 3 to 4 thousand dollars tied up in the "Stock" heads alone of today. That is CRAZY ! I hope Wesley will be able to help get stock back on the right road again and the new equipment being brought in at INDY will put a stop to it. . If not then I see stock dying in a very few years except for those who are made of $$$$$$$.

I fully agree. In my opinion, the big money has (and always will) continue to influence that direction. And like any economic model, the money is like a pyramid, with the participant herd thinning the higher up it goes. And that small herd no doubt continues to have influence on the rules. Those same rules for aftermarket parts were relaxed while I was building my car AFTER purchasing what was previously required (Beehive valve springs in stock come to mind). My son was also in grade school who watched what I went through, leaving impressions that ultimately would influence his lack of interest as an adult. He now says "why would I spend $50k on a car that runs 10 seconds flat out when I can spend the same amount to go 8s or faster in something else?" Then he says "besides, that class car stuff is way too confusing, and NHRA isn't the only game out there. Most of my friends haven't even heard of it anyway, while everyone knows about imports, mudding, and street outlaws. The huge crowds prove it, dad."

In retrospect, NHRA should have never caved to outside influence, instead pour their energy into compiling lists of approved parts (if it ain't on the list, you're DQ'd PERIOD), and follow a better suited protest/claimer program commonly used in circle track racing. At least in that system, it keeps out players with deep pocket influence while still forcing the low buck racer to pay his dues without destroying his budget in the process. And it would lessen NHRA tech enforcement workload, putting more responsibility back on the racers to ensure they stay within the boundaries instead of pushing them, or paying someone else to push them.

[DG7050]

Car Sharing! It's a sharing culture for mellenials. They share experiences, they share costs and time together. NHRA needs to change the grade point rules such that a couple of young guys/gals who don't have a lot of money to own a car, share costs and take turns running at different divisionals and still get into the local national event with only 1 or 2 grade points for the driver. You get large groups coming out to run one car. Cost per individual to be part of the racing experience will be way less. A single car might be raced by 2, 3 or more drivers in a given year and still get into National events.

Keep car counts in check with Qualifying on Thursday. Make it a top 64 qualified field to keep the count down to 64 car field on Friday eliminations.

[Wade Mahaffey]

I love the Super/Stock and Stock Racing, it's my favorite of all motorsports by a long shot. I am preparing a car to compete in Super/Stock, but it will never be close to fast. But it can be competitive in the eliminator, as long as I don't wind up with a "heads-up" race. The future of the classes is very scary, as is most of what we had in life in the past ... it's not what it used to be. To me the bottom line in Stock and Super/Stock is just like Comp and the Pro Classes ... FAST IS JUST MONEY ! Plain and simple BIG MONEY BUYS THE LATEST PARTS, THE BEST SUPPORT EQUIPMENT, THE NEWEST TECHNOLOGY, THE BEST TEAM MECHANICS, MANAGEMENT, ***AND DRIVERS*** .... and then they take all of that, and throw it all at me with my little entry built in the back yard. Now I'm not saying it's unfair, especially in the "Dial-in" eliminator. I'm OK lined up beside deep pockets in a bracket format for sure. But deep pockets usually equal Seniors. And as the Seniors move on, and there is no back fill ... I don't know how it can live. The older crowd fell in love with these classes back in the day when things were simple, and have pressed on, and stayed with it. But todays folks won't do that, there's to much stuff to do that's a lot easier! Having said all of that .... FAST IS VERY COOL ... EVEN IF YOU JUST STROKE A CHECK TO GET THERE! Just think how cool it would be to have "Class" contested at each divisional and national. That way we could appreciate fast, as well as the Dial under Eliminator for us with less deep pockets. But please don't make it Class Winners only in the Eliminator ... oh no! mo money, mo money! There are no "new blood lines" on the farm. All of the youngsters (18 - 45) racing have family that raced. Super/Stock and Stock racing has some serious challenges ahead and pretty soon. The amount of energy needed in the form of MONEY, EFFORT, DEDICATION, MOTIVATION, AND DETERMINATION all for the chance to say you won an NHRA event and a lit bit of money ... is not as enticing as it used to be!

Wade Mahaffey