"Live From" Englishtown, NJ Summernationals

[Mark Markow]

Originally Posted by Pistol Pete

I noticed they ran: Top Fuel Harley, Snowmobile's & X275 at the Epping Nationals.
I guess this is the "new norm" at National Events.

don't forget snowmobiles

[Ken Miele]

Good morning all, the sun is starting to come up, although its a little chilly it looks to be a nice day. Hats off to the NHRA parking crew, its not even 9am and the stacking area has been cleared. Anyone arriving now will have a no wait time for parking.

I will get some photos of cars as soon as people start to unload.

I'm not one for piling on, but I have to say having that et cars here seems like a slap in face to all of the sportsman racers that support NHRA on a division level and national level. I understand that NHRA wants to give the local racer the experience of an NHRA race, but I don't think a national is the place for it. We have plenty of division races they could attend. We have to earn points and spend lots of time and money to get to national event, I just don't thinks its right.


Be back in a bit with photos....

[Dennis P Chapman]

Ken I agree I live 45 min away and can't get in dam shame.

[Robert Costantin]

This is a national event , I don't think they should be adding groups and making quotas less when there are sportsman who spend a lot of money and devote a lot of time can't get in.

[Mike Jones]

Originally Posted by Ken Miele

I'm not one for piling on, but I have to say having that et cars here seems like a slap in face to all of the sportsman racers that support NHRA on a division level and national level. I understand that NHRA wants to give the local racer the experience of an NHRA race, but I don't think a national is the place for it. We have plenty of division races they could attend. We have to earn points and spend lots of time and money to get to national event, I just don't thinks its right.

Should raise quotas for those who participate on the Divisional level, instead of providing space and a hand out to others.


Mike A114

[Jeff Jewell]

I respectfully disagree with all of you. The bracket cars aren't there to just let a few people run a national event. They are there to showcase the track's local classes in an effort to get them exposure to help the local bracket program grow. This helps the track on all the weekends the big show isn't there. Also, I'd venture to guess that most new racers to S/SS (not next generation racers) come from a bracket racing background. Just thinking bigger picture here.

My $0.02...

[mat H/SA]

Originally Posted by Robert Costantin

This is a national event , I don't think they should be adding groups and making quotas less when there are sportsman who spend a lot of money and devote a lot of time can't get in.

I agree with you robert but then i was looking at last week in Epping, only 39 superstock (quota 60) and 57 stock (quota 60) super gas 30 (quota 60)

so even with 80 or higher quota, i don't see it would have been full... where were the 20 missing SS in epping,

BTW Ken thanks for the live reporting

[Ken Miele]

Originally Posted by Jeff Jewell

I respectfully disagree with all of you. The bracket cars aren't there to just let a few people run a national event. They are there to showcase the track's local classes in an effort to get them exposure to help the local bracket program grow. This helps the track on all the weekends the big show isn't there. Also, I'd venture to guess that most new racers to S/SS (not next generation racers) come from a bracket racing background. Just thinking bigger picture here.

My $0.02...

With all do respect Jeff, I totally disagree with you. While bracket racers are the backbone and true grass roots racing, they do not support NHRA on a division level or national level. I have great respect for all bracket racers. The fans here are not interested in local bracket racing, heck they have a hard time with our sportsman racing.

As for where most racer come from, yes of course they come from the local tracks. They already know about NHRA sportsman racing, they don't need to be showcased to get them in interested and supporting there local track. In most locations the local tacks do very well. Do you think 8 et cars racing at a national event is going to make an impact on growing bracket racing locally. I bet 75% of the bracket racers here at etown don't even know about this et race. The reason most bracket racers don't race on a divisional or national level is the time away from work and family, and the money it takes. Bracket racing is alive and well. The big picture is not bringing a class in for the few. The big picture is treating racers that have supported and followed all the rules and requirements to race with NHRA on a divisional and national level.

We give NHRA a major commitment of our time and money. We don't expect much, but we do expect a little respect for the support we give NHRA year after year. I think its an insult to all sportsman racers when NHRA fails to look at the big picture for us.

Okay back to my live from. Not many cars out, without tech there seems to be very little reason to pull the car out of the trailer, unless you need to do maintenance. Credentials went smooth just as parking did, I think the stacking was completely empty by 9:30. Glory Ley always makes getting credentials easy and quick.

Racing starts at 10:15 with Stock out first tomorrow. Sorry about the rant, I know it was long, but it needed to be said.

[Ken Miele]

A few more.... last photo is Mike Cotton still on tour.

[James Perrone]

Point is it Englishtown. Racing 1015.am To. 7pm
There is no time for bracket racing. National Event. $340. Entry
Get It? Us sportsman racers get fffed. Every time because There isn't enough time for us. Nhra. Make us wait all day to race 10 hours later. Get it?
Night of Trills is where this belongs. And I have friends racing the bracket deal. Get it?