2006 IHRA Banquet Highlights

[Mike Bradley]

I had the opportunity to attend my first IHRA banquet this past weekend in Greensboro. I was great to see the sportsman racers share the spotlight with the professional racers. It made for a diversified representation of drag racing from grass roots level on up to top fuel.

Saturday morning prior to the banquet we had a round table discussion with the various track operators in attendance, moderated by IHRA vice president Skotter Peaco. The overwhelming topic was safety. We must continue to keep safety our number one priority in drag racing.

I want to throw out a few things that was discussed over the course of the weekend. I sincerely want feedback regarding these questions.

IHRA would like to see each one of our classes reflect somewhat the name and format they have laid out in their classes. What this would mean for us is a few wording changes on categories from say Pro to Top Eliminator and so forth. Nothing major there in a few name changes. The real question here is the participation in the IHRA Summit Super Series. We have looked at joining the IHRA SSS and it looks to be a good deal for the Saturday night sportsman racer. It gives them, the sportsman racer, the opportunity to compete on a national level as well as the local level. The series races would be our IHRA points races.

Question: How many racers would like to have a chance to compete in the IHRA Summit Super Series?

Also in the IHRA SSS program is a third class that we don't see much here in the south. We are encouraged to add this class to keep the program in step with the classes set forth in the class layout. The actual name of the class is Modified Eliminator. This class is a No Box class that is basically a Top Eliminator car without the delay box. This would be a IHRA SSS contingency paying class BUT at this time doesn't compete at the Divisional Bracket Finals. My real concern is class participation. If we were to add a second No Box class how is that going to effect the participation in the two classes we have now? Will you see racers remove their delay boxes and bottom bulb race like in the past or will you see racers add a trans-brake, 2-step and shifter to their No Box car and move up to Modified Eliminator?

Question: Would there be any interest in adding Modified Eliminator to our points races and what will the be effects, positive/negative?

This post got a little longer than I'd intended. Thanks for reading it and I welcome your feedback.

Mike

[BHicks9411]

It will cost the drivers to enter the SSS, which I would be glad to do and have done before. My current car # is 9411. This would change to 9X11 when running the SSS points series. I think the cost for a SSS number(9X11) is like $10 added to your IHRA license.
As far as the name changes--most tracks already call PRO cars Top Elimantor and have for years. This will be no big change for JPD. As far as Modified, they have called footbrake class modified also, hence putting MOD on a footbrake car for the bracket finals. I don't understand having three classes. Is this something new? I've kept up with the SSS over the years and I've only seen BOX and NO BOX classes used for points. I have been under the assumption that NO BOX was nothing more than our regular "footbrake" class.
As you saw at the braket finals this year, all the tracks except for JPD, Darlington and I think Dorchester ran the SSS. This is why Anne Jackson and Staten Nichols didn't get to run in the "Race of Champions" which is now called the SSS Division runoff. Not saying that they would have been our participants though as the SSS uses a totally different points system.
Anyone that doesn't want to enter the SSS is crazy. My buddy in Carolina is 19 years old and got picked to run at the Rockingham National event to run for the SSS championship. It cost him what $10. He was getting paid $500 just to show up. He won the race and won a BRAND NEW 2006 RaceTech 4link dragster Turn Key with a Hemi motor on it. My point is if you don't enter new things, try new things you're gonna get left sitting by yourself.
Just some food for thought. Hope everyone has a good holiday.

[Rick Rafferty]

I would like the opportunity to compete in the IHRA SSS and think
most would want that option.:cool: The Class names are very common
and widely accepted. The No Box / Modified Eliminator Class appears
to be more common north & west of us and more often with Top cars
taking out box rather than the other way around. Adding this class
would give both current class participants the opportunity to compete
in two classes each race - right? and we don't have to add this class to
be eligible for the SSS do we? Few, if any, NC / SC SSS tracks have the NO BOX Class.

[Joe McCoy]

I haven't paid alot of attention to this because I was running heads up the past 2 years but at Greer when I go with friends or race in brackets there they do support it. In fact Greer has had 3 people do extremly well in it with JJ Brock winning the dragster and 50 grand in 2005 and Bill Cummings and Ronnie Dotson leading the points for much of the 2004 season I think it was. My point is Greer doesn't run a separate class for these guys. They earn points running in the normal race. Is this something new for next year or what? RM

[BHicks9411]

That's right Joe. The thing is your points don't start until you say they do. In other words if I can't race until May then I'm still eligilble. But once you delcare yourself in the SSS points it counts your next 40 or 50 rounds and they divide your wins against losses to determine your PRI. In other words if you win 27 out of your next 40 rounds once you declared then your PRI is .680. So in other words you can have a different SSS track champ than you would a JP track champ. The SSS will only count against your 40 or 50 runs where as JP points are kept from start to finish. I could be wrong on any of this but I think I got it right:biggrin2: . The nice thing also is anyone entered in the SSS with a PRI over .500 is eligible to be drawn at random by computer to be picked as a wild card to enter the 8 car field at Rockingham. That's how the current SSS champ Joe Gary got in.
Thanks Mike for being interested in partcipating in the SSS. Really helps the racer's and should help the tracks. If someone only wants to run the SSS maybe they'll at least run 40 or 50 rounds with JPD, which could be 1 month or 6 months depending on their luck:smile: .

[Tony Brown]

From the responses, it looks like people are open to a little change. I know most of you don't know me except as the pro tree promoter with the PTRA. However, I do race and have run Super Stock over the last several years, mainly because I enjoy "no box" racing like it was when I started. I have dabbled into all of it at one time or another and mostly ran "Top Eliminator" delay box style for most of my 25 years of racing. My point is, there are lots of racers out there that have either quit altogether or very seldom race because of the "evolution" of local racing, namely, the electronics with all the relatively easier .00 packages, and buybacks. I see a need to bring back no box racing like they do up north. I don't see why a footbraker would oppose running against another bottom bulb racer. I have done both for years at a time and I would not have a problem with it as long as it could be policed. Someone on the line watching button fingers would mostly do the trick. Also, a very strick "one time caught and you are permanently banned" rule would also do. I think it is a great idea and would eventually bring back several racers that think the electronics have changed drag racing in a negative way. Not wanting to offend any .00 package people, because I know that takes skill also. It's just all the losing .00 packages that are a very real reason that people get frustrated and stop racing as much as they used to or would like to. Anything to keep people racing is what we need to do to help keep our tracks in good financial shape. Just my thoughts. P.S. I commend Mike Bradley, Jeff and Tim for not being afraid to rock the boat a little to get to better waters.

[CFH1250]

Sounds like a good idea Mike, I have been reading about SSS in DRM the last couple years and wanted to give it a try, so keep us updated!!!!!

[Mike Bradley]

The Summit Super Series tallies you first 30 runs for the P.R. ranking system. I spoke with Skooter again yesterday and things are looking good for the SSS to debut in 2007 at Pageland Dragway.

Brian you're absolutely correct about the good luck story of Joe Gary. The young man went into Rockingham as a wild card entry having NEVER won a race period. He left Rockingham with the 2006 Summit "Box" World Champion title. He did a great job at the banquet sharing the spot light with the people who have supported him so far in his young racing career.

The only two classes that the IHRA Summit Super Series tracks is Box and No Box. I'll confess I was a little fuzzy on the fine print as well. You could have a SSS Box champion at your track in the motorcycle class if you allow "Boxes" on them. I like the idea of a true Modified Eliminator class where trans-brakes, 2-steps and shifters are allowed. IHRA gives the member tracks the option to set the rules however they choose to maximize car counts for each class. Super Eliminator is the Foot Brake as we know it today.

I hate to sound like a broken record here guys but I would add a true Modified Eliminator class to the program tomorrow if I thought it would/could be a healthy addition to our program. Unless racers are willing to experiment with a different format i.e. entry fee/purse for a new class our hands are pretty much tied. I would love for nothing more than a group of racers say, OK I'll commit to the Modified Eliminator class and here is what we'll do to grow the class. Set the entry fee at a number, whatever, say $50, every round winner gets $50 round money. This puts money in the racers pocket starting first round. Granted it takes the top heavy money off the table but it helps the guy come back each week if he can win a couple of rounds each week. Does this make any since at all or did I loose you?

I would love to see the payouts start sooner and pay better for 1st-4th round winners. Many racers will go 2, 3 maybe even 4 rounds and never ever win a race. I'm just not a fan of top heavy purses resulting in money being split on the back end of the program. Start round money 1st round won and have it structured where if you win two, no more than three rounds and you've at least gotten your entry fee back.

Maybe it's time to step out and be a maverick.LOL Heck if it doesn't work we can always do something different. Maybe plow the place up and make a dirt track out of it. TAKE A DEEP BREATH! I'M JUST JOKING ABOUT PLOWING IT UP!

Mike

[Rick Rafferty]

On the No-Box vs. FB issue, I suspect that the majority of our FB class would
be willing to run the No-Box class for SSS. I will put my name in the hat now.

Mike, your idea on payouts starting sooner is what most racers want.
Car counts have been dwindling across the country due to top-heavy payouts, all the buy backs, etc. The heavy-hitters might not want it but they will be there regardless of a revised payout structure. Car counts and the purse will grow when the guys that win a round or two each week win some $ and others will realize they actually have a realistic chance to win back their entry fee and other expenses.

Racers all across the country, including myself, are talking about this issue and most everyone wants more round money, less buy backs and a quicker run program.

[Joe McCoy]

Is it possible to pay 15 a round starting first round and cut the purse to say a grand? I race at a track that does that and I for one like it. Others do 50 if you win 3rd round but that doesn't do much for me. Just a thought. RM

[Mike Bradley]

Joe I've honestly spent hours crunching numbers in spreadsheets looking for the "perfect" balance. One that I keep coming back to is, 1st round winners $10, 2nd round winners $15, 3rd round winners $25, Semi' $100, R/U $350 + SSS contingency, Winner $1,000 + SSS contingency all WITHOUT a reentry/buy back. I don't want this to come out sounding wrong but I'm not sure the average Saturday night bracket racer is ready for this much change. This would be a major shift from top heavy, multi-round buy back events. Do I think long term this would be good for the health of the sport, absolutely 100%. More racers need to leave the track with a little something in their pocket not just 6 time slips and a ATM receipt where they had to withdraw money to buy back, maybe win 3 rounds and get nothing.

I'll confess, I don't have all the answers figured out but I can tell you this if we can ALL get on the same page we can make this a win win for the racers and the track. Do I believe this? Absolutely or I wouldn't be spending so much time and effort on our 2007 programs.

Mike

[Joe McCoy]

Well I throw stuff out as food for thought not a mandate for radical change. I was up at Fultons yesterday and while there I asked Tommy if he'd been racing any. I figured he'd been going with Stacy or whatever. He said he quit racing when he couldn't break even doing it and that was years ago. So here's a guy who has been around drag racing forever and gave it up due to the pay back system. I'll bet there are lots of guys in the same place. RM

[staginglt]

Class names in IHRA can have different meanings depending on what Division you're talking about. There aren't physically enough cars to support as many classes as what they have up north. Modified up north is "No-Box", while Modified in the Carolinas is "Footbrake". In terms of the Summit Super Series World Championship program, Footbrake is considered "No-Box". The track does not have to create a new class to participate in the SSS. The Footbrake guys run with No-Box at the World Finals for the runoff. Craig Austin from Richmond Dragway was a Footbrake car, in the finals.

FYI, the No-Box classes in IHRA Div. 3 are heavily populated by Footbrake cars, probably about 70%. They are not strictly transbrake cars by any means.

Adding No-Box would be drawing from the cars you already have. You're looking for new cars. Who's *not* at the track? The guys that quit for one reason or another, and Street Legal cars.

BTW, a new "Hot Rod Trophy" class doesn't necessarilly have to be strictly DOT, purely street legal cars. It shouldn't be a problem to allow a set of slicks. That's one of the first performance upgrades guys do! Just by paying out nothing but trophies and such, should keep the hardcore Footbrake racer out of the class.