Should we split nationals/divisionals? Regionals?

I`m going to play the devils advocate, and look at this from the track and sanctioning body's side,
1- most say they race for the fun of it, anntt, you want to get into the races for free because you think you put on a good show?, anntt, look in the stands, no ones there.
2-you want bigger payouts, the only way that`s going to happen is to have a gamblers race, where every one puts up x amount of dollars before the race and the winner and runner up get that money, or any other way you deside to do it.
3-if your in it for the money, you are dreaming, unless you have a steller year, then maybe just maybe you will break even.
4- you need to have a alky rep that will among other things keep an eye on track conditions, make sure every one is getting there fair treatment, ( just because some one is a newbe dont meen nhra,or ihra can s#it on them, they payed there money to get there car ready just like every one else) if you guys cant get fair treatment then the deck is stacked aganst you.

 

Eli- IF there is a lack ofspectators it is the promoters responsability, not the Alky racer!!(some LODES races appear to have great crowds!!

 

Why???

What is the reason the divisional tracks don't want The Top Alcohol classes?
Is it strickly the purse? I think so. Evidently NHRA has mandated that if you want this big money race this is the way you have to do it. No track under the current format could not run the class.
The regional idea is worth considering but will not alter the present situation much and at the risk of degrading even futher the division races.
I am for leaving the division races as is and making the National Championship what it should be, the results of how well you finished at National events.
There are some weak divisions where a top 3 finish in the division is much easier than others. This dilutes the meaning or points gathered under the current format as applied to the National standings. There are some people who know this and have the resources to take advantage of it by claiming a division that might be easier to finish well in points that would help them secure a National championship. Most of these cases would be negated because there would be no incentive to travel great distances if what you are after is the National championship. The divisionals woud come closer to representing the division. However you would still have the problem of holding a division race the week before or after a national event. There would be no incentive however for out of division racers attending if they could not claim the race for out of division points . I agree with the 8 fo the first 10 races to count for points concept but would also agree with 10 of the first 12. Either would favor slightly the east coast and middle of the country racers as they would have less traveling to compete in 10 or 12 races. An open discussion of this topic is a good idea and healthy. NHRA I think believes that racers are strikly selfserving but in fact maybe they should pay attention as there are a lot of racers with great ideas out there and if left to them most of the present problems could be resolved.

 

Lack of Spectators!!!!!!

Hell most division races no one knows there will be a race there except the guys running who look up the schedule in ND. There is a great race with quality fast cars at most division races. You tell me there are no race fans that will show up if is advertised, bolony. What is happening is that it is such a good race financially that the owners figure this is their payback from NHRA
and they are lazy. They promote every other race that they come up with so they must make so much money they don't care. If they had a few thousand spectators it woud just be a distraction to them and might have to hire a couple more track personel. I quess their money bag is not large enough to handle the extra cash. What a shame. It seems as though the smaller out of the way tracks with divisionals do advertise and get spectators out. When you have people who are competing for a national championship and the fastest cars in the country at your race you are letting the race fans down by not letting them know about it. No some of them had rather talk about eliminating the alcohol racers to increase profits. What a loss for them and the racers!!!

 

Franchise tracks

While I am on my soap box how about NHRA requiring that all tracks who hold division races must alocate a certain amount of dollars for promoating the event. They have the power and control. It would benefit them as well.
enough said.

 

Lets face it, drag racing is up against some stiff competition for people's entertainment dollars. We may need to spice up the show, like when there is down time for track prep or clean up. Maybe hire some comedians to do the anouncing who could then launch into an act during the down times. Imagine Jeff Foxworthy, "If yur race trailer doubles as a livestock hauler, you might just be a redneck racer." Or maybe Ron White?

 

I dont know about that, its not like the 70s where you could match race 16 alky funny cars, and get the fans in the seats, even Manzo cant draw the fans like he did in the 70s and 80s ,so the answer is if you want to stay alive you got to take matters into your own hands,or as my brother Dante says you got to take care of YOUR business, so keep the ideas coming. just another tought, instead of promoting the drivers name on the side of the car,how about some cool names for the cars, like chris`s The Fly, or like my old one Italian Stallion, or the Ginny Gelding-( just kidding )

 

Regarding National event only national champions. How many racers are looking for top ten status or have a goal of top five or number one throughout the country in TAD or TA/FC? 30? 40? 60? 100?

How many teams on the west coast would need to relocate to chase a top ten since most of the NHRA races seem to be held withing 750 miles of Nashville?

NHRA caps the entries at National Events at less than 30 per class per event. I think that will discourage or shut out many racers. Many who are looking for sponsors by promising and hoping to go a round or two on TV.

I think you are right about division parity. Division 7 has a lot of strong cars to go up against, as evidenced by Division races held at places like Phoenix and Infineon where the TA/FC bump has been 5.70's WITHOUT the flood of "guests" from other divisions. Division champ in division "X" didn't mean you had to wade through 6-7 multiple National Event and current/prior top 10 winning teams to get there compared to Division 7.

To me, I don't see how seperating and creating regional and national championships would be good. This conversation has been going on for years. Like I said, once the national schedule is determined (16 races or whatever), it will be just like Las Vegas, with car quotas and no place else to race (for national points) who do you tell to stay home? Will Hanna?

 

Yep. The check written to the sanctioning body just to host an event ain't chump change. Add the guaranteed purse for the Alky cars to that, and the track owner needs a back gate entry of at least 400 cars plus 2000 people over the weekend at the front gate to break even (not counting concession sales - if the track owns most/all of the concessions, that number would/could be much lower).

Yep again, but there are glaring examples of successful spectator turnout at divisional events when the track owner also understands promotion of this type of event. Billy's done it at the ''Plex by partnering with a local radio station to give away thousands of spectator tickets, and has made up for the freebies at the concessions. Bandimere has too, for the last couple of years, by finding a marketing partner to give away thousands of free spectator tickets.

That's the toughest part of the whole picture. Mandating minimum advertising would be a move in the wrong direction I think. Presenting real examples of how to successfully promote these events to non-national event track owners would be a much better move.

 

http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12036&highlight=gateway

i don't think gateway would have had much to lose giving away tickets...

 

Wow this is a really long post, get ready.

Alright I'm torn on the issue but do have a strong opinion and a couple of random suggestions.

STRONG OPINION: DON'T, DON'T, DON'T make the National Championship a NATIONALS ONLY points series. Out of 16 races if you have to run 10 like Goodwin said, there would be some serious miles logged by any team. Meaning you might as well buy a pro stock bike and be considered a professional that just doesn't run every National event. (Better TV coverage in PSM, more sponsors) Oh, and get used to not qualifying because the fields at first will be insane to get in to.

Going to this system would instantly decrease the number of competitors by at least half. Why, well most people don't want to just settle for being the divisional champion. It's nice, don't get me wrong, but for the money that has to be spent on these cars to win the division in front of the still non-existant crowds would not be satisfying. (At least with the current system if you win the division there's a good chance you've finished top 10 nationally too) If it gets divided up, you will go for either the division championship or the national championship not both. Right now you have to perform well at both levels to win a championship. As soon as a national event only points system is put into place the class stops being a sportsman class, its a full time job to chase national points. (I guess it kind of is now too, but...)

What's stopping the racers now from going to every national to get TV time for their sponsor? Well nothing technically. Force/Payne run nearly, what, 14 nationals a year. So why doesn't Riechert, O'bannon, Manzo, Newberry? They all have sponsors to keep happy. The TV time, as well as ND coverage is always better at nationals. I think that it just doesn't make sense economically to travel all the way across the country. Or maybe it is a points thing, it hurts your chances at a championship when you run the first 8 nationals no matter where they are or how good you can do there.


IDEA: Yes, the car counts aren't consistant from one division to the next, so maybe we look at splitting the "divisions" differently and going to 16 car fields at each. Still count 5 of 8 and 5 of 8 but redivide the "Regions" to West, East, North, South Just for TA classes. Example: West= division 6,7 (This would need more investigating but you get the idea.) Hold the events as Regionals and offer NATIONAL POINTS to Comp, S/C, S/G.......(This still brings in the backgate money that track managers get a chubby over) And hold the events at national event tracks (or their equivallent) with plenty of pit area for the possible 50+ cars that would show up, and 700+ others looking for national points. DON'T hold these events anytime near a national in the same area. The tracks know how to promote match races with crappy shows so why don't they promote this "National points series event." Divisionals would still exist (now 2 day events since TAD+TAFC aren't slowing down the show ) and would maintain the current points system for all the other sportsman classes. Maybe even restructure the points for those classes so that they now have to count 5 of 8 divs and 5 of 8 nats. (they only count 3 of 6 nats. now) This encourages more participation from them because it opens up more chances for average Joe racers to compete for a national championship.

BETTER IDEA: Have the Regionals count the same as National Points best 8 of 14 or 10 of 16 and they could ALL be Nationals OR Regionals. So someone with a major sponsor travels the whole national circuit and isn't pennalized points wise for doing so. Someone running out of their own pocket without the funds to travel the circuit runs 10 Regionals and 4 Nationals. Both choices have an equal chance at winning the national championship, one just results in more opportunity for TV time than the other. The arguement can be made that it would be easiest to win all the Regionals than the Nationals. Maybe back 5 years ago but there just aren't that many slouch fields anywhere anymore, esspecially if we reorganize to 4 Regions. Also there wouldn't be 49 divisionals, probably only 30 Regional events.

Its easier for a track to promote 16 car fields instead of 8, esspecially if each race is for national points. I think I like my 2nd idea best. It makes the Championship chase simpler as well as still attainable by those who run good but don't have the time and money to travel the whole circuit. Oh, and give these regionals to those tracks and managers that deserve it and want to promote it!!!

OK that wore me out,
Cody "The Flash" Perkins

P.S. I know most of these ideas aren't mine originally (especially the term Regional) but a combination of others into what I feel is the best setup for the class.

 

I wasn't at the race, but about 2 years ago Denver organized a Buy one get one free ticket promotion with some Auto part store. They actually advertized the race, what a concept! I heard they had over 10,000 per day! I've heard similar promotions have worked wonders at Houston and like Bob O says, Dallas!

 

Cod....damn your smart!!!!

I agree

KB

 

Thanks Kev.

And yes, the Denver Divisional is an a$$ kicker when it comes to crowds. I've described it before but what they've done in the past (2004,2005 we didn't go this year.) was GIVE away tickets to Grease Monkey customers. (Grease Monkey is a quick lube franchise.) The race is also on Fathers day, which certainly helps. All these families start fileing in to use their free tickets. They're backed up on the freeway, filling all the parking lots, and each parking spot is $5. The track makes enough to pay for the entire alcohol field just with the money from parking. The first year they didn't expect the turnout they got, they sold so many $3 hotdogs and $5 beers they were unable to keep up at the consession stand . I'm just guessing that Grease Monkey might pay the track a little bit as well. And the fans loved it!

I've been thinking, 25-30 events with two 16 car fields, "Regionals" would even be able to support a good action packed 30 minute TV program as well. IDR is putting on all those ProMod (or variations thereof) races, and some are held on 1/8th mile tracks. If the fans could follow their favorite drivers week-to-week, it would make track opperators more willing to advertise and get fans in the seats.

Flash

 

Will, I think this would be great, but what are the chances of these changes happening? or any changes?

If you end up at Vegas come by and say Hi.