Thread: NHRA points system

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I had mixed feelings, until yesterday. Now I'm against it.

I hate watching guys who have been good performers have to "jump through hoops" at key races, then, if they jump successfully, have their points leads cut. Then they have to gamble it all on the last four rounds of racing, only to watch someone else steal the title away.

"Fair is fair". If you win any round, you get "X" points. If you qualify a certain way at a race, you get "X" points. It you set a record, you get "X" points. If your points total more than anyone else, you are the winner.

I 'think' I agree with you. It seems wrong for the points to reset with two races to go. Gives little room to stumble even if a car was dominant all year, but its the same for everyone. Looked like it was going to be a snooze after vegas but everyone tanked first round it shook things up. TP won by the rules but doesnt seem quite deserving of a championship compared to the others. I bet the points system will be tweaked a little for next year.

A friend here in Tucson talked with WJ at the SEMA Show. He said there was already discussion of changes for next year.

at least greg anderson didnt win. i was sure rootin for conolly though

I like it better than having the Championship decided when there are still two races left in the season. I was really pulling for Hot Rod Fuller in TF. But he was not able to perform, either in qualifying or in eliminations. All the guys that had their leads just had to win a round or two to wrap it up, seemed like none of them were up to the task. Made for some exciting racing and drama. There may need to be some tweeks, but I think they have a good idea. Gives the race called the World Finals some significance.

Pat

I agree with Stu, the system needed an overhaul. While this may not be perfect, it's a start. If champions are crowned with three or four (or more) races to go.....everybody loses.

Originally Posted by gassersrule_196

at least greg anderson didnt win. i was sure rootin for conolly though

Me too! Likeable kid. I don't think he counted on his own team mate shooting him down at the last event, but Jeggie won't let anyone get in his way!

I'm with the others, guess I like the concept, but it sure does need some tweaking.. As successful as NASCAR is with the chase, like it or not, NHRA probably figured they had to do something. I guess it depends on where you are in the points, if you had a "miracle year" and a huge lead, only to have to start dead even with the teams who had an average year I'd hate it.... But if you had the average year, it's like getting a Mulligan!!!!!!!

Well. exciting as I thought it was, I don't like it---but I'm probably looking at it differently than most of you---as a car owner, I didn't like the drivers getting the points--In 1970 we had three different drivers--Norm Wilcox, Steve Carbonne, and Rick Ramsey--we didn't have enough points to get into the Supernationals at Ontario,.Ca----Steve Gibbs got us in as a fill in for some east coast car( Field was to be east/west) but Bernie Partridge wouldn't let us in as he wanted all full bodied cars!!!(we got best appearing car at the race)

In a later year, NHRA and AHRA had there World Finals both on the same weekend and we sent the funny car to the AHRA race and put John Stewart in the RED for the NHRA race in Amarillo as they weren't planning on taking there own car so he agreed to drive ours---If I hadn't been flying all night and then going to Amarillo maybe I wouldn't have put the main fuel valve in backwards after a jet change----

Anyway, I think the driver/car that has the best season should be the champion and that means the best seasons totasl points, even if it ends 6 races early----
What I don't like is the 2,3, and 4 car teams----buddies and friends is ok but teams??????this isn't a stick and ball sport, its dragracing, taking on one other car at a time---no laterals, passing, punts, time outs, or subsituions---

Qualifying points for the shoot outs, extra points for low et and topspeed, track records and national records and so many per round of racing-----do away with the oil down point BS( with this level of performance oildowns and occasional fire will happen)

And get them darn hospitility trailers out of the pits---when Kenny Berstein got Bud, his flower bill was more than we spent racing!!!What happened to the day that you could be working on your car and you could ask a spectator to hand you something?

Maybe its time for my medicine

Jerry

All good stuff Jerry, but it all went away when the big bucks came into racing. So many considerations for sponsors, etc. A sponsor doesn't want his car out of the points chase with 5 shows left.... Sure, it's a sell out. Unfortunately it's all about money these days.

Friend of mine was up for lunch today, talk around the table was "the good old days" when a couple of regular guys with decent jobs could build a car and be competitive.... Not so anymore... We were talking about sprint cars, but the same holds true for drag racing. If you wanna race big time, you have to have sponsors---if you have sponsors, you have to make concessions to them. Same is true with NHRA having to cater to the sponsors. Keeping them all happy, and running a program that is at least half fair to the competitors is a thankless and impossible job.....

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

What happened to the day that you could be working on your car and you could ask a spectator to hand you something? Jerry

some of us are just waiting to hear that and jump in and help.

the other fun thing was to see someone jump when they picked up something heavy ( Very hot )

I think the catering to the multimillion dollar sponsers has went over the edge and it is impossible not to have conflicts( team orders?????)
Nascar has a better grip on the sponsership thingy.

How about Torco??? ON how many cars??

we felt lucky to get tires and oil for the tow truck---now Shoe has more rigs than Werner freight lines

Jerry

I also dont see the good in four car teams as far as the sport is concerned. When one team can cover 25% of the starting field that cant be good especially for the scrapper teams.

Originally Posted by Mike in Motown

I also dont see the good in four car teams as far as the sport is concerned. When one team can cover 25% of the starting field that cant be good especially for the scrapper teams.

Again, it would depend on which team you're on, the well sponsored or the not so well sponsored.... How or why would you want to put the brakes on Schumaker, Force, or Prudhomme teams after they have accomplished so much in drag racing and without a doubt paid their dues along the way???? They've earned every advantage that the multi-car teams give them.... But at the same time the amount of data they can obtain from their multiple cars puts the single car teams at a distinct disadvantage.... But do you penalize the guys who are good when all they're trying to do is get better? That's not really fair, either.... No easy solution, but for sure the little guy is being pushed farther and farther away from becoming a major player in the Pro ranks... or maybe that's why they're called the pro ranks? The best teams attract the biggest money and get better. Isn't that what competition is all about, trying to get better regardless of what level of performance you're at now????

Really tough decisions coming, glad they're not mine to make!!!!!!!

The point at which I gave up "the dream" of being a pro racer, was when I realized that 2-3 motivated guys were no longer enough to field a pro car. That would have been in the early seventies. I am glad that I had another "passion" to follow, but I am still sad about the decision that I was not going to be able to race those fabulous cars. (That's why you have never heard of me.) LOL! :-)

Today, I am also disenchanted with "cookie cutter" racecars. I miss the competition between different brand engines, and bodies. I don't like cars that look like a bottle or box of product, and I could list a few more gripes.

The one thing that has kept me interested at all, is the fact that television coverage has helped us come to know the competitors. I love to see the underdog win, and I literally cheer when certain spoiled, whiney, and egotistic personalities get "skunked".

I know that nothing ever stays the same, and I truely am happy that the sport I fell in love with is doing quite well...even if it is becoming inhabited by 4 cylinders with nitrous and a hairdryer. (Buddy Ingersoll is smiling somewhere.) :-)