NHRA At It Again

[Rory McNeil]

Originally Posted by Larry Hill

With it being a Sunday and no Honey Do's left on the list I thought take my shoes of and try to do some math.

I looked at a Gainesville that had Stock, and Super Stock Class eliminations.

At this race TF had 25 entrees, FC had 19, PS had 35, PSB had 29, for a total of 108 Pro entrees. I wonder how many Pro teams we will have this year? I guess I should count the alcohol in with the pros since there rigs are the same size. TAD had 15, TAFC had 14. Add those 29 rigs brings the total of pro size rigs to 137.

Now if we add the 70 SG cars, the 104 SC cars, the 89 SS cars, the 109 Stockers, plus the 137 pro type rigs we get a total of 537.

Stock and SS got three shots at the track and the rest of class eliminations.

This is why I think NHRA was a lite on Race History

Larry, keep in mind that most of the Nitro "Pro Teams" have multiple tractor trailer rigs for a single 2200 pound race car, not to mention "technology trailers", hospitality centers, and, sponsor display trailers, always parked in prime pit spaces. Years ago, I was at Gainesville, where there was Class Eliminations in both Stock and Super Stock, and both classes had more cars trying to qualify, than the 128 cars fields allowed. AND, there were a lot more Pro categories back then as well.

[James Perrone]

Don’t forget the Manufacturer Midway
Oh wait a minute…it doesn’t exist
Why is that. Where are them sponsored race trailers?
It’s more like a swap meet just shirts a trinkets

And don’t forget. Credit card only at some venders

[jmcarter]

Doesn’t help that so many sportsman racers are pulling in huge stackers with multiple cars, double entering and such. It’s encouraging though that so many are getting their kids/significant others involved and that helps with infusion of new blood. Ton of youngsters doing a great job and for them I’m sure the allure of a National/Wally is very compelling. To essentially turn them away with low quotas does not bode well for growing class racing. The reasons NHRA has given would indicate they have all of these strategic and logistical considerations in play but abruptly bumping up the AZ quota at the last moment would suggest otherwise. They can continue to cater to the Nitro crowd almost exclusively and watch the sport slowly die, lose venues in areas that push EV adoption, or lay out a strategy that truly grows the sport. Otherwise it’s essentially back to bracket racing which is looking more attractive for many. They can start by overhauling the quota system.