Make Divisionals Great Again

[1320racer]

over 30 years of juniors have shown they won't with only a fraction still racing 5 years after they age out. That said, most class racers don't share your sentiment about them included in the divisionals.

[jmcarter]

Juniors certainly have a place in Divisionals. If nothing else they provide invaluable family time that might otherwise not happen. If my grandkids had shown any interest whatsoever in Juniors then I know I would have been to more races helping them, as it was the baseball field was my frequent hangout and I’m completely good with that.

I loved seeing Cooter helping his kid race Juniors at Belle Rose, then I thought “oh great, when I’m 85 and racing then even his kid will be kicking my butt”.

[DG]

My complaint with running Juniors at Divisionals is the same as running Summit ET/local bracket cars and other eliminators such as WW Williams .90 eliminators, they take runs away from traditions classes. This stretches the event out an extra day, reduces qualifying runs and forces the eliminator to start on Saturday. Less runs for increased costs, not to mention getting pushed out to less desirable pit areas.

[HR9121]

I must admit that there was a time that I thought the Jr's were a collosal waste of time at the division races but as some of you know my oldest daughter started this year. I avoided it for a couple years hoping she would just wait until it was time for her to get in a big car so I didn't have to deal with it mainly. This first year has really opened my eyes as to the value this will bring to keeping our sport healthy for the future and it is more revenue for the tracks. I was stunned at the amount of kids that were first generation racers and the amount of people that they bring to the track to watch these kids race is a lot more than come with us. I was equally impressed with some of the kids that came from non racing families knowledge of some of our classes.

[1320racer]

Originally Posted by DG

My complaint with running Juniors at Divisionals is the same as running Summit ET/local bracket cars and other eliminators such as WW Williams .90 eliminators, they take runs away from traditions classes. This stretches the event out an extra day, reduces qualifying runs and forces the eliminator to start on Saturday. Less runs for increased costs, not to mention getting pushed out to less desirable pit areas.

Most class racers feel the same. The only ones that don't is those that had or have a child or grandchildren competing in juniors.

Originally Posted by HR9121

I was stunned at the amount of kids that were first generation racers and the amount of people that they bring to the track to watch these kids race is a lot more than come with us. I was equally impressed with some of the kids that came from non racing families knowledge of some of our classes.

I saw just the opposite with my son racing in the JDRL for 9 years and after being out for 9 years, only 6 including my son of at least 25 weekly junior racers from our home track still race

[HR9121]

Originally Posted by 1320racer

Most class racers feel the same. The only ones that don't is those that had or have a child or grandchildren competing in juniors.


I saw just the opposite with my son racing in the JDRL for 9 years.

Here in Division 2 we had 8 or 10 kids through the 3 classes who were completely new to the sport that had just gotten introduced to it because they had a friend that was doing it.
In one of your earlier post you talked about how kids don't care about dreaming of the day they get their driver's license, interestingly enough I read the other day that only about 15 percent of teenagers get their license now as soon as they're eligible I was floored by that stat. I knew it was nothing like it was when we were kids but 15 percent WTH!

[1320racer]

Our country and culture no mind love of cars and driving in general has changed drastically over the last 25 years no mind when I was in high school from 75-79. My son tried many times to get his little league and grammer school football teammates and later high school teammates to come to the track and not one ever did. I myself spoke to the grammar school principle about bringing his junior to school for a Q&A and that fell on deaf ears. We had a great time in juniors with much success but unless you're the kid of a bracket or class racer, they have no interest



we sold the car literally right after this win which was the biggest payday ever at the time for juniors and were done. It's still raced today and has turned on many wins lights for at least 3 drivers after my son.

we last saw the car in April of 2020 at Dragway42

[GUMP]

1320,

Did your Son race at Divisionals? Or just your local track?

[tommy d]

Originally Posted by 1320racer

over 30 years of juniors have shown they won't with only a fraction still racing 5 years after they age out. That said, most class racers don't share your sentiment about them included in the divisionals.

Where did you get that figure? If the national average is anything like I see at our local tracks I'd say way more are staying.

[1320racer]

and you'd be wrong