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

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 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.

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

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.

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

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

This is good stuff!

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

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

I'm with you 100% Jerry ............. I don't like the new points scheme ............ I don't like multi car teams ........... I don't like breakouts and indexes ............. I guess it comes down to the fact that I don't like drag racing as a business rather than a sport

But then again, like you, I'm old and was on the dragstrips during the "Golden Age" of drag racing ............... and like you sir, it's time for my medicine

Originally Posted by Old Coyote

I'm with you 100% Jerry ............. I don't like the new points scheme ............ I don't like multi car teams ........... I don't like breakouts and indexes ............. I guess it comes down to the fact that I don't like drag racing as a business rather than a sport

But then again, like you, I'm old and was on the dragstrips during the "Golden Age" of drag racing ............... and like you sir, it's time for my medicine

I have said this before and as a former bracket-racer it really bites.
When I bracket -raced we where running three times a week.
I.M.O.,the down fall of bracket racing began as soon as everyone and their brother started to run delay boxes.
I am not sure what year this was here locally but when you need one to win that was when I was done drag racing.

Being as how I'll be 69 in three weeks I guess I qualify as one of the "old timers".

I raced stockers, Modified Production(remember them?), Junior Fuel (now there was a fun class) and Pro Stocks(in it's infancy) when Drag Racing was fun.

Unfortunately, while the new rules and the way the game is played may not be fun for everyone.......something had to be done if the sport is to continue to grow.

Sponsors....what a pain in the ass! But try competing in todays envirement without them. So, concessions have to be made.

Delay boxes....Outlaw em, it's supposed to be car & driver against car & driver. Not a couple of mini computors racing each other.

Of course it's about $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, isn't evrything?

If you're like me, unfortunately no matter how slanted things get...you still love the sport.

Hell, I can't leave a stoplight without being the first to move on the green!!!

Originally Posted by Geezer2

Hell, I can't leave a stoplight without being the first to move on the green!!!

We definitely have something in common.

As far as the rest of it goes, NHRA did tweak the point system for this year and time will tell.
Pro Stock needs to go back to "banging the gears" and delay boxes need to be outlawed.