Factory Showdown Cars and Indy 2014

[Larry Hill]

Lets start with the premise that it is the sanctioning body responsibility to make and enforce rules that are fair and applied equally to everyone. If fair for one it is fair for all.

With that being said, it has been unfair to the rest of us trying to qualify at the biggest race of the year to allow the Factory Shoot Out to be exempt from the AHFS rules.

First off I like the Shootout races. The "Big Three" involvement back in drag racing is good for the sport. It is always a great race within a race. It gives them a chance to win on Sunday and sell on Monday.

So lets look at the elephants in the room. NHRA: it is their rules and venue and NHRA is always trying to generate an income stream from some one or some thing, nothing personal just business. Corporate America: trying to sway the sanctioning body to give them the advantage over the other players; an example supplying NHRA official this or that. The AHFS: the system used to bring an out of line combination in line and to keep the masses happy, some times not so much.

So what do we do? There should be a common sense solution to the problem of Factory Shoot Out Cars being exempt from AHFS at Indy.
Common sense in abundance is genius!

My thoughts are these: NHRA a race within a race no problem, its a great show. When the Factory Shoot Out cars are placed on the qualifying sheet, then the rest of us trying to be #128 or above, then it becomes a big problem. My solution is this: If the Factory Shoot Out cars want to run in the eliminator, the fastest time ran during qualifying or eliminations would be the time used to place them on the final qualifying sheet. The final qualifying sheet would be including in the AHFS "Q" data with all the rights, privileges, and enhancements the rest of us get to enjoy. If a Factory Shoot Out competitor chooses not to run in the eliminator then the AHFS will not apply. Once the decision is made to get on the qualifying sheet it can not be reversed. The reason I think the fastest run should count for the Factory Shoot Out cars, is to stop the 1000' "dump" during qualifying. Fans pay to see a good show. Give them value for the dollar spent.

What is your idea?